Banks, credit card companies, and other institutions also provide emergency medical travel insurance. In addition to price, you should carefully consider the specifics of each policy. Here are five key questions to ask yourself when considering travel insurance:
1. Who is the “first payer”?
This is a crucial consideration: If you have a major claim and are enrolled in a group insurance plan such as the UBC/Sun Life plan, you need to know whether or not the claim is applied to your UBC/Sun Life extended health insurance before the additional emergency medical travel insurance you have purchased pays out any money. The travel insurance offered by BCAA, as well as most banks and credit card companies, requires that your claims must first be submitted for payment to your UBC/Sun Life plan. The travel insurance offered by BCAA, and most banks and credit card companies, only covers eligible expenses not paid by your UBC/Sun Life insurance. This means that your UBC/Sun Life extended health maximum is not protected, and you are likely to receive limited benefit from BCAA travel insurance and plans like it.
2. Is trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage included in the insurance?
3. Does the insurance cover just a single trip or is it a multi-trip, annual policy?
4. For what period of time (e.g., 90 days, 180 days) must pre-existing medical conditions be stable for there to be coverage under the insurance?
5. Do you want to purchase emergency medical travel insurance only, or do you also want additional in-province extended health insurance to supplement the coverage provided by the UBC/Sun Life insurance?
Please click on the link to go to the next section "Comparing Insurance Plans".