Emergency Medical Care

Emergency Medical Care coverage applies to expenses resulting from a sudden illness or accident during your trip that requires immediate treatment. 

This could be something relatively minor, like gastroenteritis, food poisoning, heatstroke, a urinary tract infection, a sprain or strain, or something more serious, such as a fracture, car accident or severe allergic reaction. 

If you experience a medical emergency during your trip, you’ll be covered for up to $5,000,000 for expenses including hospitalization, medical and paramedical care, transportation, subsistence allowance, and medical follow-up in Canada after repatriation. 

Refer to the insurance policy for full details. 

Our travel insurance provides worldwide coverage, although certain limitations and exclusions may apply. This includes destinations with a Government of Canada travel advisory recommending that travellers avoid non-essential travel or avoid all travel. 
 

Check the Government of Canada’s travel advisories by destination and refer to the insurance policy for more information. 

Yes. Even within Canada, travel insurance can help protect you from significant unexpected expenses. 

When you travel outside Ontario, OHIP generally reimburses covered medical care based on the rates in effect in Ontario. Since medical costs can vary from one province to another, you may be responsible for part of the bill. 

Your provincial health insurance plan doesn’t cover all health care services received in other Canadian provinces, such as ambulance transportation, emergency repatriation and prescription drugs. 

Travel insurance can supplement your provincial coverage and help you avoid these unexpected costs. 

Learn more 

Credit card travel insurance can come with its own limits and restrictions, so it’s important to review your policy carefully and understand exactly what’s covered. Additional insurance may be recommended to give you more complete protection. 

Additional insurance is often recommended to help ensure you have complete protection. 

Here are a few things to check when reviewing your credit card coverage: 

Trip duration 

You need to purchase your travel insurance before leaving. Be sure to check how many days your credit card covers, as well as any age restrictions. 

Emergency Medical Care coverage 

There are often strict eligibility and stability requirements based on your current health. Make sure you understand any exclusions that apply to your coverage before you leave. The last thing you want is to find out that a medical condition is excluded when you need emergency medical care. 

Also make sure the coverage amounts provided are sufficient and check how much you would need to pay as a deductible. 

Trip Cancellation and Interruption 

If you’ve paid for travel expenses in advance, make sure your Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage is sufficient to protect you from financial losses. Most travel insurance provided through credit cards doesn’t cover trip cancellation or interruption, and when it does, the maximum amounts are rarely enough to cover the full cost. 

Blue Cross can provide coverage to help protect you when the unexpected happens. 

Yes. It’s important to contact Blue Cross Travel Assistance immediately if you have an accident, are hospitalized, or need medical care during your trip. If you don’t, some benefits may be denied. 

Our assistance team is available 24/7 to help direct you to the best possible care.

At some health care facilities, our worldwide network of partners allows us to pay covered medical expenses directly. In these cases, you won’t have to pay anything upfront. 

At other facilities, you may need to pay for the care you receive and then submit a claim for reimbursement. 

If you have an emergency while travelling, contact Blue Cross Travel Assistance immediately. Our agents can direct you to a safe, reputable and accessible health care facility. They can also provide more information about paying expenses or submitting a claim for care received at that facility. 

Blue Cross travel insurance offers several deductible amounts if you’d like to lower your insurance premium. However, choosing a deductible is optional. 

If you choose one, you’ll be responsible for medical expenses up to the deductible amount you selected.

Yes, under certain conditions. A pre-existing medical condition is a health condition, such as an illness or injury that existed before your departure or before your insurance coverage took effect. 

To be covered, the condition must be stable for a specific period based on your age and coverage: 
 

Emergency Medical Care: 

• Ages 0–54: stable for 3 months before departure 

• Ages 55 and over: stable for 6 months before departure 
   

Trip Cancellation and Interruption: 

• Stable for 3 months before the date you purchase your insurance or make your first trip payment, whichever is later. 

More information will be provided when you get a quote or purchase online to help you understand the stability requirements. 

Refer to this article and the insurance policy for full details. 

Yes. Emergency transportation and repatriation expenses may be covered when required by your medical condition and approved by the appropriate medical authorities at your destination. 

Depending on the situation, coverage may also be available for the return of your travel companion or dependent children. Other expenses may also be covered, including transportation for someone to visit the insured person, expenses to return a vehicle, and expenses related to the return or disposition of remains in the event of death. 

Refer to the insurance policy for full details. 

To get reimbursed for eligible expenses, you’ll need to submit a travel insurance claim. 
 

1. Log in to your Customer Space. 

2. Select “My claims.” 

3. Click “New claim.” 
 

You can then submit your claim and supporting documents online.