COVID-19: Are you thinking of travelling this winter?
Are you thinking of travelling abroad? Do you rely on your group benefits Out-of-Country coverage?
Here’s what you need to know:
Travel advisories: You should check the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website before deciding to leave Canada. The Government is advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. NOTE: Canada has issued a Level 3 advisory for COVID-19 for all countries, with the exception of cruises which are currently at a Level 4 advisory. Some borders could close as the COVID-19 situation changes and in such a case, you could have your coverage end while you are still abroad. This is why it’s important you know your policy’s time limit for out-of-country coverage and keep up to date on the information communicated to you by your carrier.
Coverage for COVID-19: Most benefit contracts cover medical emergencies outside of Canada, even those relating to an epidemic or pandemic. Insurers will standardly treat a medical emergency resulting from COVID-19 in the same way as any other medical emergency. For a case to be considered a medical emergency, the person would have to have acute symptoms of an illness. A positive COVID-19 test without acute symptoms would not be considered a medical emergency.
It’s crucial for you to understand travel advisories and your coverage details before you commit to a trip abroad.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime.