Travel Medical Insurance (Benefit Tips ® - © 2014)

Be cautious when discussing travel insurance coverage with your staff. You’re not an insurance expert and don’t know the medical history of your employees or their families well enough to advise or assure them. It’s safe to say that we shouldn’t travel without having sufficient travel medical insurance that we understand.

Emergency travel medical insurance is kept affordable by covering only unforeseen medical incidents. Some policies also exclude large scale events such as terrorism war, and the like. The coverage and limitations of travel insurance policies vary widely but here are the most common exclusions:

  • Conditions for which during the 90 days prior to departure:
    • new symptoms developed,
    • symptoms worsened or increased in frequency,
    • new treatment was recommended or begun,
    • medication changed,
    • tests or surgery were performed, ordered or recommended,
    • hospitalization occurred.
  • Pregnancy beyond 7 months of gestation.
  • Excessive use of medication, alcohol, drugs or toxic substance.
  • Hazardous activates such as rock climbing or mountain climbing.
  • Commission of a criminal offence.
  • Intentional self-inflicted injury, suicide or attempted suicide.
  • Terrorism, war, insurrection, riot.
  • Radiation or radioactive contamination.

Travelling for relationship, relaxation and adventure should be enjoyable. Here’s a common sense approach to manage your risk:

  • Buy good quality cancellation insurance when you book your trip.
  • Don’t travel unless your health is stable.
  • Don’t travel to risky parts of the world.
  • Don’t take unnecessary risks.
  • Read your travel medical insurance policy and know the limits of your coverage.

If you don’t provide travel medical insurance a part of your health insurance benefit then it’s important to have a method of covering those employees who travel outside the province for your business.