YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE > FAQS

Why do I need travel insurance?

Regrettably, we all know someone who has needed and benefited from having travel insurance. There are many kinds of medical emergencies including:

• Car accidents
• A trip or fall
• The flu
• A bad burn in the kitchen

Medical care outside Canada can be a very expensive. Provincial health care covers only a small portion of that cost. Obtaining insurance is a wise decision.

HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT POLICY FOR ME?

It’s important to do your research by examining the policies of many different providers. An independent insurance broker, such as Snowbird Medi-Quote, can do this for you to find the best option for your needs.

HOW CAN I AVOID DENIED CLAIMS?

Most claims are denied for reasons related to these three areas:

• Incorrect Medical Questionnaire
• Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion
• Eligibility Criteria

Insurance companies include clauses in their policies to limit their risk of claims. As a traveller, it is important to be familiar with the most commonly used reasons for denial of a claim.

For more details click here.

Travel Insurance - General Descriptions

What is Travel Cancellation Insurance Coverage

This insurance is coverage for money that you have deposited or paid in advance for your insured travel arrangements which may be subject to applicable financial penalties in the event where you cancel your trip due to an insured risk that is described in the policy you have purchased. Cancellation due to an insured risk means that a covered risk or event occurs prior to the commencement or departure of your trip which subsequently prevents you from starting your trip. As a result of your cancellation, you become subject to financial loss.

Not all reasons that cause you to cancel your trip are covered. Provisions, definitions, conditions, exclusions and limitations applicable to the insurance coverage you have purchased are outlined in your policy.

What is Travel Interruption Insurance Coverage

This insurance is coverage for unexpected and unforeseen expenses you must incur when a covered risk occurs after the beginning of your trip and as such, prevents you from pursuing and/or completing your insured travel arrangements as planned. In many cases, this results in additional expenses for new or alternate travel arrangements or accommodation which you must pay. Additional expenses could be required to resume your trip or return home prior to, or, after the scheduled return date of your insured travel arrangements.

Not all reasons that cause you to interrupt your trip are covered. Provisions, definitions, conditions, exclusions and limitations applicable to the insurance coverage you have purchased are outlined in your policy.

What is Travel Emergency Excess Hospital Medical Insurance Coverage

This insurance is coverage for eligible emergency medical expenses that occur outside your province or territory of residence which are in excess of those medical expenses normally covered by your Canadian provincial and/or territorial Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP), and; any other health insurance plan under which you may have that provides out of province coverage and benefits. It is important to note that Emergency Excess Hospital Medical insurance is not a substitute for the coverage and protection you have under your Canadian provincial and territorial Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) at home. Private insurers are generally second payers of the excess coverage, and payment applies only in the event of an emergency which outside your province or territory of residence,

Not all medical expenses are covered. When purchasing this type of coverage you may be required to complete a medical questionnaire to determine your illegibility.

Provisions, definitions, conditions, exclusions and limitations applicable to the medical insurance coverage you have purchased are outlined in your policy.

What is Travel Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage

This insurance coverage refers to the occurrence of unforeseen death, and/or dismemberment as a result of an injury, sustained by the insured during the period of insurance. This coverage is often referred to as twenty-four (24) hour accident insurance, flight accident insurance, and/or common carrier accident insurance.

What is Travel Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance Coverage

This insurance is coverage for baggage and personal effects you have taken with you on your trip. This insurance coverage must be purchased prior to departure and for the full duration of the return trip. This coverage applies to baggage and personal effects against delay, theft, burglary, loss, fire, or transportation hazards which occur during your trip. This coverage is valid anywhere in the world during your insured travel arrangements.

This coverage is subject to provisions, definitions, conditions, exclusions and limitations as described in the travel insurance policy.

What is Physical Damage Protection Coverage

This insurance is coverage for expenses applicable to repair or loss of the automobile that you rent from a rental agency. As a rule, persons other than the insured who are authorized to drive the rented automobile according to the rental car agreement are also covered by this policy. This coverage generally indemnifies the policy holder against financial loss caused by physical damage or loss of the rented automobile.

This coverage which normally has a dollar limit, is subject to provisions, definitions, conditions, exclusions and limitations as described in the travel insurance policy.

What is Assistance

This service is generally included in the travel insurance coverage that you purchase. This service is provided to you by contacting the Travel Emergency Centre and is for the purpose of helping you when an emergency or insured risk occurs. This assistance generally applies to emergency medical situations but can also apply to legal situations, emergency cash transfers, emergency message centre, replacement of travel documents, interruption, and emergency medical situations occurring during your trip, and cancellation occurring prior to your departure.

Normally, an emergency worldwide telephone number is provided when you purchase a travel insurance policy.

The Three Most Common Things to Watch For When Buying Travel Insurance

If you have ever read a travel insurance policy or been personally denied a claim by a travel insurance company, you will know that travel insurance companies write in a number of clauses which serve to limit their risk of claims even though they have agreed to sell you a policy. If you haven’t read a policy or been denied a claim, and you are traveling to the US often to visit your newly purchased property, it could save you a lot of headaches to familiarize yourself with the most common things to watch for when buying a travel insurance policy.

The first is the application form. If you are age 55 to 60 years of age, or older, that form will also include a Medical Questionnaire. This form is usually made up of a list of medical questions that require a yes or no answer and serves to qualify you into a rate category and assign a pre-existing condition clause (we will learn about those later). This medical questionnaire becomes part of the contract between you and the insurance company. If any question is answered incorrectly based on the information contained in your file with your family physician, the insurance company will consider your entire policy null and void. This will leave the traveler without coverage for ANYTHING. Even if it is unrelated to the question answered incorrectly. It is of the utmost importance to your coverage that the questionnaire reflects the information contained in your doctor’s file.

The next is the ‘pre-existing medical condition exclusion’. This exclusion stipulates that any current medical condition that you take medication for must meet certain criteria before the insurance company will agree to cover it. If the definition uses the term ‘treated’, it means that any current medical condition you have been treated for (in any way including but not limited to medication or surgery) in the time period specified in the policy will NOT be eligible for coverage. If the definition uses the term ‘stable’, it means that any current medical condition you have been treated for (with either medication or surgery) in the time period specified in the policy will be covered provided that condition meets the criteria set out in the policy’s definition of stable.

Most stable definitions require that there be no new symptoms or more severe symptoms develop, or that no change of medication take place during the time period specified. Even decreases in medication (which you would think is a good thing…!) are not allowed in most policies. Some even specify that you cannot be referred to a specialist during the stability period.

If you do not meet the pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the insurance company will disallow any claim that is made relating to that particular medical condition only.

The third is the ‘eligibility criteria’. This criteria is either found in the medical question section or hidden deep in the policy wording, but is a very important part of the policy. If the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria, the insurance company will not cover any claim for ANY medical emergency for that applicant. We encourage all of our clients to read your insurance policy to understand exactly what applies in any policy you consider purchasing.

These types of policy specifics can certainly intimidate someone contemplating travel or purchasing property in the US, especially for those who live with medical conditions looking for coverage for those conditions.

To avoid hassles at the time of claim and protect yourself against the denial of your travel insurance claim, we suggest:

• You know your medical conditions, medical background and understand your medications, why you take them and when the dosage was last modified in any way.
• Use a qualified travel insurance specialist, like Snowbird Medi-Quote, who understands the intricacies of these policies to save you time and money and provide peace of mind that you have purchased the medical insurance that will provide you the coverage you are looking for so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

After all, you have worked hard to accumulate the assets you have. Don’t gamble them away by taking a chance with your travel insurance!

Credit Cards or Group Plans

Does your credit card or group plan provide adequate coverage? Ask the right questions!

At Snowbird Medi-Quote we suggest that you speak to the Insurance Company that underwrites the insurance coverage of your Credit Card or Group Plan to get the answers to these very important questions:

• Am I covered for all Emergency Hospital/Medical expenses and for what amount?
• Is there a difference in coverage depending on my age, my medical history or if I take medication to stabilize my pre-existing condition?
• Must I pay for my trip in full with my Credit Card in order for the insurance to be effective?
• Is there different coverage for the primary Cardholder than for the secondary Cardholder?
• Are my family members that are travelling with me covered for medical under my plan, or must I purchase additional insurance?
• Is there a maximum trip duration covered? Can I extend my coverage while on my trip through any travel insurance provider?
• Is the plan a first payor or must I submit my bills to my Government Health Insurance Plan myself?
• Does the plan provide a 24 hour, 7 days a week toll-free telephone number to call in case of an emergency?
• Are there medical professionals on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Emergency Assistance Centre?
• If my return home is delayed due to sickness or injury of my travelling companion or spouse, is there a subsistence allowance to pay for out of pocket expenses such as accommodation and meals? What is the maximum per day? Up to how many days?

Don't take chances! Travel protected!

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