Frequently Asked Questions: VIP Travel Plans & Group/Employer Plans
I’m going to be travelling outside Canada. Will I have emergency medical coverage?
The VIP Travel Optional Benefits under our Blue Choice, Conversion and Guaranteed Acceptance plans and our standard Outside Province of Residence travel benefits under our Group plans will provide Emergency Medical Care coverage for both domestic and international travel, including for COVID-related care at destination*. If you should contract the COVID-19 virus while travelling, the Emergency Medical Care benefits will cover you, provided you have not tested positive for COVID-19 or have shown symptoms of the virus in the 90 days prior to your departure.
It is important to note, access to medical care could be limited in some countries due to COVID-19 and its variants. The availability of health services may vary from one country to the next and the situation is changing every day. Our travel assistance service is there to help you get the assistance you need to find the right care.
*Important: The VIP Travel Optional Benefit contains an exclusion for any expenses incurred in a country, region or city where a travel warning of ‘Avoid non-essential travel’ (Level 3) or ‘Avoid all travel’ (Level 4) was in place prior to the date of departure. As of October 1, 2020, an exception has been made to this rule in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic only. If there is a Level 3 or 4 warning advising against travel for your destination for any reason other than the COVID-19 pandemic, you will not have emergency medical care coverage when travelling to that destination. Please refer to the Government of Canada’s Travel Advisories page to check advisories for reasons other than COVID-19 for your destination.
What should I do if I become ill while travelling?
Contact our Travel Assistance Provider using the phone numbers below within 24 hours of your medical emergency to open a case.
- Toll-Free within North America 1-866-330-3633 (if unavailable, please call the number below)
- Collect in all other locations 1-306-667-5299
For more information on what to do if you experience a medical emergency while travelling visit our Travel Assistance and Claims information.
Please note that you are not covered for Emergency Medical Care if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are showing symptoms within 90 days prior to departure.
Can I extend my insurance contract if I am unable to return home as planned due to travel restrictions?
If you must extend your stay due to a situation beyond your control, promptly contact our Member Experience team at 1-800-667-6853 or 306-244-1192 to find out if you are eligible for a contract extension. Make sure you contact us before the expiry date of your contract. Please note that any request to extend your coverage will be subject to our approval.
I’m a truck driver. Do I still have emergency medical coverage while working across the border?
The commercial trucking industry and truck drivers are deemed essential to bringing goods and supplies across our borders and your emergency medical coverage will not be impacted.
Am I covered by trip cancellation insurance?
Saskatchewan Blue Cross travel plans do not currently include trip cancellation insurance.
I have VIP Travel Benefits as part of my personal health plan. Can I switch to an Annual Travel Plan?
The VIP Travel Benefit is a preferred travel product that is part of our Personal Health Plan options. VIP Travel is a comprehensive product that provides coverage for travel both internationally and within Canada, including coverage for COVID-19. If you have any questions about your coverage, we encourage you to reach out to our office. Our Member Experience team is here to help with any questions you may have and to help you make the right choice for your needs.
What happens if I am quarantined at my travel destination?
In the event you are unable to return to Canada due to quarantine, we will automatically extend the travel insurance coverage of insured members who are quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and whose contract was in effect on the date the quarantine began.
We define a quarantine as being the isolation, for a determined period, of a sick or potentially infected individual to limit the transmission of a contagious disease.
To be considered “in quarantine” you must therefore be:
- Potentially infected or infected with COVID-19.
- Placed in isolation for a period determined by the health authorities (often 14 days) in order to protect the health of the population.
If you are placed in quarantine, your coverage will be extended free of charge until 72 hours after the end of the quarantine or until you return to your province of residence, whichever comes first.
Can you guarantee repatriation in the event of a medical emergency?
Repatriation is covered if it is deemed safe and necessary by Blue Cross Travel Assistance and the attending physician at the destination.