Frequently Asked Questions about TravelStar Emergency Medical Insurance

Buying Emergency Medical coverage

There’s no age limit when it comes to purchasing Single-Trip coverage. For Multi-Trip Annual Emergency Medical, the limit is 79 years old or younger at the time of application.

We know travelling as a family can be expensive. We allow adults purchasing a Single-Trip Emergency Medical plan to include up to six dependent children under the age of 16 to their plan for free. 

Only if the grandparents have legal custody. Otherwise, each grandchild will need their own policy, with consent from the parent or legal guardian and contact information listed on the application.

Yes. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements. When applying for coverage for a child under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must declare on the dependant’s behalf that the child also meets eligibility requirements — regardless of whether a premium is charged for the child or not.

You must have valid provincial health coverage to be covered under a TravelStar Emergency Medical plan. It’s your responsibility to contact your provincial health care provider to make arrangements to maintain your provincial coverage when your trip extends beyond your provincial limit.

Not to worry, there’s still time. TravelStar plans purchased online or over-the-phone are approved at the time of application. Give us a call or buy now online and you’ll be covered as soon you’re finished with the application.

If you have a TravelStar Emergency Plan, you can use the confirmation document as proof. The confirmation document was included in the email we sent when you purchased your coverage.

Coverage and medical condition stability

We cover emergency medical expenses for pre-existing conditions that have been stable for a minimum of 180 days before travelling. Even if your doctor gives you the “all clear” to travel, your condition needs to meet our specific requirements. The specifics can be found in our policy wording. 

Our TravelStar insurance is designed for unpredictable medical emergencies when you’re away. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or develop one before you travel, we need to know that it won’t cause you any trouble while you’re away from home. We consider a medical condition to be stable if your condition or treatment hasn't changed for a period of time before you travel. Click here to read the specifics. 

When purchasing TravelStar to top-up an existing GMS plan (for example a Multi-Trip Annual plan or a GMS health insurance plan that includes travel coverage), stability is measured according to the stability period of the existing plan.

When purchasing TravelStar to top-up a plan with another carrier (for example a SunLife group plan or a RSA credit card plan), the stability period is 180 days prior to the effective date of the GMS TravelStar plan.
 

It could. You’re required to let us know of any changes to your health or medications before you travel so we can make sure you have the coverage you need. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to give us a call.

For most work travel, coverage is provided for emergency medical conditions that aren’t related to the work you’re travelling for. Work-related injuries are not covered under our Emergency Medical plans, as these claims are the jurisdiction of the employer’s insurance plan (typically a Worker’s Compensation Board).

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 departure date; and
    • TravelStar Emergency Medical Plans bought on or after October 5, 2022:
      • The Government of Canada hasn’t issued a travel warning of “Avoid All Travel” or “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” for your destination.
    • TravelStar Emergency Medical Plans bought before October 5, 2022:
      • The Government of Canada hasn’t issued a travel warning of “Avoid All Travel” or “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.

We understand that even when you’re away, unexpected things can happen, and you might need to come home. When this happens, we offer a coverage continuation benefit that will continue your TravelStar Coverage after you return to your destination without the need to re-apply for coverage, provided this is before your original return date. You must let us know if you had any medical treatment and/or medical consultation during your return trip home.

There is no additional cost for this benefit and no need to re-apply. Coverage continuation doesn’t cover the costs associated with your transportation home or back to your trip destination and doesn’t provide a refund for any unused days of coverage.

Medical Emergencies and claims

A sudden and unforeseen medical condition that requires immediate medical treatment.

In the event of a travel medical emergency, please contact GMS Travel Assistance prior to seeking treatment.  Our 24-hour travel assistance is available to help you obtain medical treatment, verify coverage, coordinate medical care and transportation, and provide foreign language support.

GMS Travel Assistance  

  • toll-free: 1.800.459.6604 (within Canada & the U.S.A.)
  • collect: 905.762.5196 (from all other locations)

GMS Travel Assistance will guide you through the claim process. A completed claim form must be submitted within ninety (90) days of the illness or injury. 
A claim must be initiated no later than 24 hours after receiving treatment or being admitted to hospital.

Any eligible claims could be limited to 70% of the expenses incurred, up to a maximum of $50,000.

We’ll cover you during the medical emergency, which may include a post-treatment follow-up visit. But ongoing and continuing medical care is not covered.

We know even the best-laid plans get interrupted. If you’re hospitalized while you’re away, we’ll manage your case until your medical emergency has ended. Once discharged from hospital, your coverage will automatically be extended for 72 hours to allow you and any travelling companions to return home.

The same 72-hour coverage extension applies if your transportation home is cancelled or delayed, or you have a vehicle breakdown that causes you to miss your transportation home.

Extending or topping up coverage

Yes, provided you haven’t incurred a claim or required medical treatment or medical consultation during your trip. Your request must be received at least two days before the expiry of your policy.

Yes. When buying a TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan as a top-up for a GMS policy, you must:

  • Apply for coverage two business days before the expiry of your current policy
  • Not have had a claim or required medical treatment during your trip
  • Meet the plans eligibility requirements of the policy you are purchasing

Please call us at 1.800.667.3699 (within Canada and the US) or collect at 1.306.352.7638 (from all other locations) if you need to purchase a top-up. Our call centre is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.  

Travel Advisories and Emergency Medical

Your coverage would be in effect until your plan expires. However, extensions would not be available. 

You’ll have coverage, according to the terms and conditions of your policy, up to the expiry date of your plan.

Be sure to send us a cancellation request by email no more than 30 days from the day you return 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.  


TravelStar Emergency Medical Plans bought on or after October 5, 2022:

No. There is no coverage for the entire trip if any part of it includes travel to a region where, prior to the departure, there is a travel advisory issued by the government to "avoid non-essential travel" or "avoid all travel" for a country, region, city or destination, including cruise ships, that are part of your destination. 

TravelStar Emergency Medical Plans bought before October 5, 2022:

No. There is no coverage for the entire trip if any part of it includes travel to a region where, prior to the departure, there is a travel advisory issued by the government to "avoid non-essential travel" for other reasons than COVID-19 or "avoid all travel" for a country, region, city or destination, including cruise ships, that are part of your destination.

Emergency Medical Coverage: COVID-19

You have emergency medical coverage for medical expenses under the emergency medical benefit maximum of $5 million. 

You’re covered for emergency medical expenses related to testing positive for COVID-19 when:

  • 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.

If you need to quarantine as an outpatient, expenses related to accommodations, changing your transportation dates, food, cancelling excursions, telephone and other related costs are not covered under Emergency Medical benefits.

No. We don't require you to be vaccinated to be eligible for emergency medical benefits.

If your TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan is still in effect when you started the mandated quarantine, we'll automatically extend your policy. Coverage will continue for 72 hours after you are discharged from a hospital or completed the required quarantine. Please make sure to contact GMS Travel Assistance toll free at: 1.800.459.6604 or collect: 905.762.5196.

If you or your travel companion need to quarantine as an outpatient, expenses related to accommodations, changing your transportation dates, food, cancelling excursions, telephone and other related costs are not covered under Emergency Medical benefits.

 

If your TravelStar Emergency Medical Plan is still in effect when your travel companion started the mandated quarantine, we'll automatically extend your policy. Coverage will continue for 72 hours after your travel companion has been discharged from a hospital or completed the required quarantine. Please make sure to contact GMS Travel Assistance toll free at: 1.800.459.6604 or collect: 905.762.5196.

If you or your travel companion need to quarantine as an outpatient, expenses related to accommodations, changing your transportation dates, food, cancelling excursions, telephone and other related costs are not covered under Emergency Medical benefits.

No. This is not a benefit of the policy. 

No. Vaccinations are not covered.

Yes. If you have no symptoms before your departure date and if you meet the stability requirements of your plan.

Refunds

No. This plan is non-refundable.

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. 

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.