These are questions about the travel emergency medical coverage for our Personal Health, Replacement Health, and Group Benefit Plans, along with our TravelStar Emergency Medical Plans.
If you have coverage through the 3sHealth Retiree Plan, please call 1-800-667-3699 for information about out-of-Canada travel coverage.
I have a plan that includes out-of-country emergency medical coverage. If I travel abroad, do I have medical coverage for emergencies?
As of November 12, 2020, you have coverage as long as:
- You’re travelling while your policy is effective;
- Your trip is within the number of days you have coverage for, from your date of departure;
- There is no “Avoid All Travel” advisory for your destination; and
- There is no “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” advisory for your destination for anything other than COVID-19.
If you have coverage through the 3sHealth Retiree Plan, please call 1-800-667-3699 for information about out-of-Canada travel coverage.
I have a plan that includes emergency medical coverage. Do I have coverage for COVID-19 if I travel outside of Canada?
You have coverage up to $500,000 for medical expenses related to a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. This $500,000 exception is part of the emergency medical coverage maximum identified within your plan – not in addition to. If you have coverage through the 3sHealth Retiree Plan, please call 1-800-667-3699 for information about out-of-Canada travel coverage.
You’re covered for emergency medical expenses related to testing positive for COVID-19 when:
- Your destination has a travel warning to “Avoid Non-Essential” travel exclusively for COVID-19.
- You haven’t had a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 during your stability period.
- You didn’t have any symptoms of COVID-19 before your departure.
- You’re within your allowable days of travel or effective dates of your plan.
You’re not covered for any emergency medical expenses when the Government of Canada has issued the following travel warnings for your destination:
- “Avoid All Travel” warning
- “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” for something other than COVID-19.
Examples would be (but not limited to) terrorism, high crime, violence, civil unrest, other health notices, etc.
Am I covered if I go on a cruise?
No. The Government of Canada has issued an “Avoid All Travel” advisory for cruise ships.
What happens if I'm on a trip to a country that only has an "Avoid non-essential travel" for COVID-19, but during my trip the advisory changes to a "Avoid all travel"? Is my coverage still in effect?
Your coverage would be in effect until your plan expires. Extensions would not be available though.
If you have coverage through the 3sHealth Retiree Plan, please call 1-800-667-3699 for information about out-of-Canada travel coverage.
Can I purchase a TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan?
No. Due to the Global Travel Advisory issued by the Canadian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re not offering new sales of our TravelStar products (Multi-Trip Annual and Single-Trip) or our StudentPlan until further notice.
Can I purchase a TravelStar Trip Cancellation Plan?
No. Due to the Global Travel Advisory issued by the Canadian government in response to the COVID-19, we’ve suspended sales of Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage until further notice.
Can I extend my GMS emergency medical coverage if I need to be away longer due to COVID-19 travel disruptions?
You will continue to have coverage up until your travel expiry date. At this time, GMS is not offering extensions or top up coverage due to the Global Pandemic Advisory.
What happens if I can’t get home before my emergency medical coverage expires because I’m in isolation or quarantine because of COVID-19?
We’ll automatically extend your policy for 72 hours after you’ve been discharged or deemed fit to travel as long as your policy was still effective when you went into isolation or quarantine. Please make sure to contact GMS Travel Assistance service toll free at: 1.800.459.6604 or collect: 905.762.5196.
Will I have emergency medical coverage if I decide to stay outside of Canada even though the Canadian Government has advised all Canadians to return home?
You’ll have coverage, according to the terms and conditions of your policy, up to the expiry date of your plan.
Can I cancel my TravelStar emergency medical plan if I haven’t left on my trip?
You can change or cancel your coverage for a full refund as long as it’s before the effective date. Just give us a call toll free at 1.800.667.3699 or at our local number 306.352.7638, or send us an email at info@gms.ca to cancel. If you purchased your plan through a broker, you can also contact them.
I came home early from my trip, can I get a refund for the days of emergency medical coverage I didn’t use?
Single-Trip Emergency Medical plans can be refunded. We’ll refund you for your unused days of Single Trip coverage as long as you haven’t submitted a claim for that trip
Be sure to send us a cancellation request by email no more than 30 days from the day you returned home. Once we’ve issued your refund, you’ll no longer be able to submit a claim under that plan. If you purchased your plan through a broker, you can also contact them.
Multi-Trip Annual Emergency Medical plans are not refundable.
I'm a truck driver delivering goods across the US/Canada border. Am I able to renew or purchase a Multi-Trip Annual Plan?
Yes. In collaboration with the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, we support the continuation of cross-border trade with the United States. During the COVID-19 pandemic we're waiving our Work and Travel Advisory exclusions in our TravelStar Multi-Trip Annual Plans. If you're interested in purchasing or renewing your coverage, please give us a call toll free at 1.800.667.3699 or at our local number 306.352.7638 and let us know you're a truck driver.
Single-Trip plans are unavailable for purchase at this time.