How Much Time Do I Need to Inform Blue Shield of Cancellation of Benefits
Global Affairs collects and reports on health, safety and security across the world, and provides this information on their website for the benefit of travelling Canadians.
Each country is individually assessed and assigned one of four main risk levels. These may apply to the whole country, or a region within the country.
The first two levels are considered travel advice:
- Exercise normal security precautions – no significant health or security risks are present, and the situation is similar to what you might expect in Canada.
- Exercise a high degree of caution - there might be some health or safety concerns in the country, and monitoring local media is recommended. This level might be used if there has been some localized crime or violence that a traveller should be aware of so they can do their best to avoid the situation while they are exploring their destination.
The next two levels are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are only issued when the safety and security of Canadians is compromised. When advisories are issued, Canadians can expect to be at risk if they choose to travel when an advisory has been called.
- Avoid non-essential travel – there are specific health, safety and/or security concerns that put you at risk. You are strongly advised not to go if your travel can be avoided, unless it is absolutely essential.
- Avoid all travel – there is extreme risk to personal safety and security. You should not travel to this country, territory or region, and you should leave immediately if it is safe for you to do so. Access to healthcare is extremely limited or unavailable.
When a country has been assessed an official advisory, the reason for the advisory will be listed as well.
HOW ADVISORIES IMPACT MEDICAL PLANS:
When this advisory is related to an infectious disease or specific illness, then your policy will not cover you against this infectious disease or specific illness because you have been advised of this risk prior to your travel.You are still covered for illness or injury related expenses that are not associated with the advisory.
There are two exceptions:
- If the risk level is 3, and you are considered by us to be an essential traveler, then you would be covered for eligible medical expenses related to the reason for the advisory.
- If you are fully vaccinated against the infectious disease or illness that is the cause for the advisory, then you would be covered for eligible medical expenses related to the reason for the advisory.
If the official travel advisory is called while you are already at the destination, then you will be covered for eligible medical expenses related to the reason for the advisory, even if it is risk level 4.
Travelling to a country in which the risk level is 4 is strongly discouraged as your coverage will be extremely limited:
- If the reason for the advisory is related to infectious disease or illness, you will be travelling against the advice of Health Canada's physicians and your medical claims would not be considered, even if you are fully vaccinated.
- If the reason for the advisory is related to war, terrorism, insurrection, civil unrest, acts of hostility, military, or other similar events, your related injury claims will not be paid.
Claims entirely unrelated to the reasons for a Risk Level 4 advisory may be considered, however are generally limited to accidental injury because travellers are advised that access to infrastructure and services such as healthcare are limited or unavailable.
HOW ADVISORIES IMPACT TRIP PROTECTION PLANS
When the Canadian government issues an official advisory of risk level 3 or 4 to your destination causing you to cancel or interrupt travel, it is considered an unexpected situation and is therefore eligible for Trip Protection benefits. However, your trip must have been purchased PRIOR TO the government issued advisory.
Travel Insurance is intended to protect consumers from sudden and unforeseen events that arise and leave them with out of pocket expenses that they did not expect to incur.
When a Level 3 or 4 advisory is issued by the Government of Canada, they are stating that Canadians can expect to experience health or safety concerns and so should not travel.
For any Trip Cancellation benefits, this means that a trip purchased after a Level 3 or 4 advisory is issued cannot be cancelled for the reason of this advisory. This is an expected event.
For any Interruption/Delay benefits, if you choose to depart on your trip after the Government of Canada has issued a Level 3 or 4 advisory, then all benefits on your plan are invalidated. You are not covered because it is expected that you could experience an issue causing a claim.
| Government Advisory Level |  TRAVEL MEDICAL PLAN Purchased as a stand-alone plan or part of a Package plan, Travel Medical provides coverage for:
|  TRIP PROTECTION PLAN Purchased as a stand-alone plan or part of a Package plan, Trip Protection provides coverage for:
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVL 1 & 2 | NO IMPACT TO COVERAGE | |||
| LVL 3 & 4 When travelling without vaccination, or vaccine unavailable | Advisory NOT COVERED | Advisory COVERED | Advisory NOT COVERED | Advisory COVERED |
| LVL 3 & 4 When travelling Fully Vaccinated | Advisory COVERED | Advisory COVERED | Advisory NOT COVERED | Advisory COVERED |
*As of March 12, 2020, COVID 19 remains a known event and is not covered under our Trip Protection plans. | ||||
About Regional Advisories
When there are Regional Advisories — some geographic areas of your trip are assigned risk Level 1 and 2, but some parts are 3 or 4 — your benefits will be impacted if your claim occurs in the region assessed at risk level 3 or 4. All of the same medical and trip protection rules will apply to your travel in that region, as they would if your whole trip was in that area. It is vital that you understand the risk associated with your entire trip to know how your plan will respond.
When risk levels remain Level 1 or 2, all of your benefits are in force and applied according to the contract. This would include contracting COVID19 during your travel, or being delayed because of quarantine.
This information applies to all of our plans, single trip or annual, stand alone or packaged.
We always recommend that you read your travel policy booklet and check the Government of Canada website prior to any travel, especially when world conditions are changing rapidly.
For any pre-travel trip destination questions such as travel advisory, shots, visas or safety concerns, please contact Medi-Assist who have the most up to date information for your destination.
As always, our customer service representatives are here to help.
Source: https://www.pac.bluecross.ca/travel-insurance/frequently-asked-questions-about-travel-insurance
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