With the global spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to dozens of countries, you may be wondering if your coverage is affected.

As of March 9th, the Government of Canada has issued just four COVID-19-related travel advisories. Country-wide advisories for China, Italy and Iran, and a regional advisory for South Korea.

Effective March 9th, 2020 the Government of Canada also issued a recommendation to Canadian travellers to avoid all cruise ship travel due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Consistent with this advisory, GMS now considers all cruise ships to be destinations with COVID-19-related travel advisories.

When it comes to Trip Cancellation Insurance, we are taking a measured response to the COVID-19 threat.

KNOW BEFORE YOU PURCHASE: If a country has a regional travel advisory due to COVID-19, it’s possible the same advisory could be issued for other areas of that country. As a result, any Trip Cancellation plan you purchase on or after March 10th, 2020 will not cover cancellation claims related to a Coronavirus travel advisory if there is already a regional Coronavirus travel advisory in place for that country.

Example: There is a regional travel advisory in place for South Korea. Trip Cancellation coverage you purchase on or after March 10th for anywhere in South Korea will not cover cancellation claims related to COVID-19 travel advisories. You will still be able to make non-COVID-19-related cancellation claims, and make claims under the trip interruption provisions of your plan.

Otherwise, the protection offered by GMS travel insurance has not changed. Here are some scenarios to help clarify the impact of COVID-19-related quarantines and travel advisories. As always, be sure to refer to your policy for full details on all exclusions and limitations.

TravelStar coverage for trip cancellation and interruption

Travel Advisories: If you purchase Trip Cancellation coverage before a regional or country-wide advisory for your destination is issued, you’re eligible to make a claim. In the case of a Multi-Trip Annual Plan, you must have purchased the plan and booked your trip before the advisory was issued in order to be eligible for coverage.

Quarantine: If you’re in an area that becomes subject to quarantine and are unable to continue your trip, your Trip Cancellation policy would provide coverage.

Link to TravelStar Policy Wording

Travel Emergency Medical

TRAVELSTAR | PERSONAL HEALTH | REPLACEMENT HEALTH | GROUP

Travel Advisories: When an advisory for a specific destination is issued after you arrive, you have Emergency Medical coverage. If an advisory for your destination is issued before you arrive, you do not have coverage for that destination.

Example: If you were already in the South Korean cities of Daegu or Cheongdo when the travel advisory went into effect, you would have coverage. However, if you were travelling in another part of South Korea when the advisory for the two cities went into effect, you would not have coverage in those cities.

Quarantine: If you’re placed under quarantine and can’t return to Canada before your coverage expires, we can extend or top it up. As long as it's before the expiry date. To extend a TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan or top-up one of our Individual or Group health plans, give us a call.

If you become sick, you’ll be subject to the exclusion and stability requirements of your policy.

You can cancel your TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan or change the dates of coverage, if a travel advisory is issued before you leave.

Keep up to date on travel advisories

To check for current information on travel advisories, here is the Government of Canada website.