Through the cooperation of UBC Emeritus College and Johnson, Inc. there are two choices for travel medical insurance.
1. Emeriti can enrol in a plan that combines extended health care insurance and travel medical insurance. General information concerning extended health insurance may be obtained by clicking on the link. The more detailed report "Choosing Extended Health and Travel Insurance to meet your specific needs", may be accessed by clicking here.
2. Separate, stand-alone travel medical insurance is also available. An annual policy covers an unlimited number of trips and includes trip cancelation and trip interruption insurance.
MEDOC Information
Members of the UBC Emeritus College (and non-members who are UBC emeriti) are eligible to purchase the MEDOC® Travel Insurance Plan arranged by the College through Johnson Inc. This annual plan provides protection for an unlimited number of trips (up to a specified maximum number of days per trip).
The short summary below of the MEDOC® Plan may be helpful. As always, the College advises members to consider carefully the coverage and conditions of any plan, since individual needs vary. It is also prudent to review all policy documentation when purchasing any insurance product. In view of the importance of having appropriate insurance, we strongly recommend that you consult our extensive report, “Choosing Extended Health and Travel Insurance to Meet Your Specific Needs”.
Among the merits of the MEDOC® Plan is the fact that all our members (and by decision of the Council, all those designated Emeriti by the Senate of UBC) are eligible for coverage, and no individual is excluded. (Indicate on your application that you are eligible for the BC Universities Retirees’ Plan; you do not need a membership number.)
Coverage for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption of $8,000 per person per trip is automatically provided. This represents a very significant benefit for most travelers. MEDOC® is administered as a group product which translates into lower premiums.
Since pre-existing medical conditions are covered provided that they’re stable, it is essential to understand that you must meet the 90-day stability requirements before you depart on any trip outside of British Columbia for this pre-existing condition to be covered. With this stability clause in place, MEDOC® rates continue to remain competitive and Johnson Inc. is able to keep the Health Option Questionnaire as simple, straightforward, and uncomplicated as possible.
In comparing MEDOC® to other plans in the marketplace, you should note that Johnson Inc.’s stability clause is one of the least restrictive – other plans require stability for 180 days or longer. It is crucial that you fully understand how this stability clause will affect your coverage. You will need to ensure that any medical condition(s) you have are stable prior to your departure and/or your day of booking, otherwise your coverage may be limited - regardless of your rate level. We encourage you to read your policy carefully and to contact Johnson Inc. with any questions.
There are three levels of rates offered through the MEDOC® Travel Insurance Plan: Standard, Preferred, and Optimum. Your level is determined by answering just a few short questions on a health questionnaire. Each level provides the same degree of comprehensive coverage, but those members who are eligible benefit from the lower rates available in the Optimum and Preferred categories. All members are eligible for coverage regardless of age or health.
A major advantage of the MEDOC® compared to other plans is that claims against MEDOC® do not involve any charge against the lifetime maximums of the Extended Health Benefit packages arranged by UBC (depending upon the UBC plan, these are $15,000, $50,000, or $200,000). Note: 75% of MEDOC® premiums may be claimed as a medical expense for income tax purposes.
Johnson, Inc., which provides the MEDOC® Travel Insurance Plan, also supplies home insurance. Your Council has agreed to allow Johnson to inform our members about their home insurance plan. (Members with MEDOC® insurance receive an additional 5% discount on home insurance.)
The MEDOC® desk of Johnson, Inc., Langley, BC, may be reached directly by phoning 1-866-799-0000. The Johnson Members’ Only web site can be found at http://www.johnson.ca/urbc. The site contains links for both Home & MEDOC® Travel insurance. To enter the MEDOC® portion of this site, members will be prompted to provide a group name which is currently set as ‘"University Retirees of British Columbia". Members can view, update, and request changes to their coverage through this web site. First-time members may need to request a user name and password before accessing their coverage details.