blue cross travel insurance canada

Canadians are optimistic about travel in 2024: Blue Cross Travel Study

• In Our Community
• Member Savings

Choosing the Right Travel Insurance for Your Trip

From our Partners at Ontario Blue Cross

With COVID still on everyone’s minds, it’s important to be prepared before you leave on your next trip.

Unfortunately, many Canadians, according to Ontario Blue Cross, can end up making mistakes when they select travel insurance.

Remember, travel insurance isn’t just for travelling internationally. Your provincial health insurance plan does not cover all emergency medical care costs when you are outside your province of residence, so it’s important to be covered when visiting another province.

Key Considerations When Choosing

• Choose the Right Coverage, not the Lowest Price It’s important to know what you’re buying and what you’re covered for. Review the reimbursement amounts or deductibles (the amount you must pay out of your own pocket in the event of a claim), and make sure you understand what is covered and what is not.
• Be Honest with Your Insurance Provider You’ve heard of pre-existing conditions (friendly reminder: an illness, an injury, or a medical condition that was present prior to your departure date). Answer all qualifying questions honestly to ensure you can avoid surprises if you need to make a claim.
• Purchase Insurance with the Right Timelines Buy before you leave your province to ensure your coverage is fully available for your trip. Plus, ensure you declare the entire trip, including the day you leave to the day of your return. If anything changes with your timeline, contact your insurer.
• Read Your Insurance Contract Before Traveling This sounds obvious but it’s an important step before you leave your province so you know what’s covered and if there are exclusions, such as rock climbing or parachuting. If you’ve got longer-term travel insurance, ensure it’s still accurate for your current health.
• Relying on Credit Card or Group Travel Insurance Many Canadians have insurance provided by credit cards or group plans so ensure you have the full coverage you will need. Often there are exclusions or restrictions that may not fit with your intended travel plans so consider topping up your coverage.

Learn more about how Blue Cross Travel Insurance can help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Share Post:

Keep reading.

February 20, 2024

Canadians are optimistic about travel in 2024.

February 15, 2023

Canadians are reducing travel stress in 2023.

November 10, 2021

Yearning for a safe way to travel again, newsletter heading.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet till, consectetur adipicing elit till.

Choose your region

• Travel Insurance
• Blue Cross Travel Insurance Review

The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.

First , we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.

Second , we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Blue Cross Travel Insurance Review 2024

Updated: Jan 8, 2024, 12:49pm

Blue Cross may be a household name when it comes to extended health insurance and group plans, but the company has been offering travel insurance for almost 50 years. A huge plus to a Blue Cross policy is the ability to pick and choose your coverage options to suit your travel needs and budget. There’s no mandatory medical questionnaire, and there’s included flight delay coverage for all plans. While some payout limits are lower than other plans, this is still solid coverage for a good price.

• Customizable coverage options
• Flight delay coverage for all plans
• No mandatory medical questionnaire
• Optional pandemic coverage
• No online quote available for ages 75 and over
• No cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage
• No coverage for higher-risk sports or adventure travel
• Some lower payouts than other plans

Table of Contents

About blue cross travel insurance, what travel insurance does blue cross offer, blue cross travel insurance plans, summary: plan comparison, blue cross travel insurance cost, comparing blue cross travel insurance with other insurers, optional add-ons for blue cross travel insurance, does blue cross travel insurance offer any discounts, does blue cross travel insurance offer annual multi-trip plans, blue cross travel insurance 24/7 travel assistance, does blue cross travel insurance have cancel for any reason (cfar), does blue cross travel insurance have interruption for any reason (ifar), blue cross travel insurance and pre-existing medical conditions, blue cross travel insurance exclusions, blue cross travel insurance eligibility, how to file a claim with blue cross travel insurance.

Blue Cross began in 1929 as a way to make healthcare more accessible for patients at Baylor University hospital in Texas. Subscribers paid $0.50 a month for up to 21 days of hospitalization per year. Buoyed by the company’s success in the U.S., Manitoba became the first province in Canada to establish a Blue Cross prepaid health care plan in 1938 in response to government funding shortfalls for hospitals after the Great Depression. Ontario followed suit in 1941.

Today, Blue Cross provides group health coverage, as well as travel and life insurance through seven regional not-for-profit service organizations. These member groups include: Alberta Blue Cross (serving Alberta and Northwest Territories), Manitoba Blue Cross (serving Manitoba and Nunavut), Medavie Blue Cross (serving New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and PEI), Ontario Blue Cross, Pacific Blue Cross (serving British Columbia and the Yukon), Quebec Blue Cross and Saskatchewan Blue Cross. Blue Cross is part of a larger global network, including the American Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Blue Cross launched its first travel insurance policy in Canada in 1977.

Blue Cross travel insurance is underwritten by Canassurance Hospital Service Association (CHSA) or Canassurance Insurance Company.

This review is based on plans from Ontario Blue Cross. If you live elsewhere in Canada, your plan offerings may differ.

Here are the key types of travel insurance coverage offered in Blue Cross travel insurance plans:

• Emergency medical insurance: If you get ill or are injured on your trip, travel medical insurance can pay for emergency medical expenses, up to the coverage limits in your plan. These expenses can include doctor and hospital bills, medication and lab work.
• Trip cancellation insurance: If you cancel a trip for a reason listed in your travel policy, such as you or your travelling companion becoming ill, weather conditions causing a massive delay or you end up losing your job, trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable costs.
• Travel interruption or delay insurance: Trip interruption insurance can pay for a last-minute flight home in an emergency and money that you lose if you have to return home earlier than expected, such as non-refundable activities and hotel stays. If your flight is delayed , your insurance can cover the cost of incidentals, such as meals or accommodations, after a specified period of time, usually six, 10 or 12 hours.
• Baggage insurance: Baggage travel insurance can compensate you up to your policy limits if your luggage is lost or stolen. It will reimburse the depreciated value of your suitcases and what you packed. If your checked bags are delayed, it can reimburse you for the cost of the necessities you’ll have to buy to tide you over.
• Travel accident insurance: This coverage offers compensation in the event of accidental death or catastrophic injury from an accident during your trip. Flight Accident Insurance covers injury while you’re on a commercial plane, during a connection or in an airport. Travel Accident Insurance covers death or dismemberment, including the loss of limbs or eyesight, while on your trip.

Blue Cross allows you to customize and combine the amount of coverage you need. You can either choose the all inclusive plan or pick individual coverage options à la carte. So, for example, you could choose emergency medical coverage and baggage coverage, or trip cancellation/interruption coverage and baggage coverage.

Package Plus: This option is a combination of the most popular coverage options and includes at least one of emergency medical care and/or trip cancellation or interruption, along with accidental death or dismemberment, and baggage coverage.

Coverage for emergency medical treatment includes:

• Hospital accommodation in a semi-private or private room
• Physician fees
• Private duty nursing
• Paramedical services, such as care from a physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath or podiatrist/chiropodist (combined), up to $400 per profession
• Urgent dermatological care, up to $400 per trip
• Tests and diagnostics
• Prescription medication as part of emergency treatment
• The cost of buying or renting crunches, canes or splints, the cost of renting a wheelchair, orthopaedic devices or other medical devices
• Incidental expenses when hospitalized, such as telephone, TV, parking, etc., up to $100 per day, maximum $500 per hospitalization
• Emergency dental due to a blow to the face, up to $2,000 per accident
• Emergency dental due to pain or disease, up to $500 per trip
• Ground or air ambulance transportation

Medical coverage also covers the cost to return home if medically necessary (and includes a travelling companion or family member), as well as baggage return and pet return. If your return home is delayed due to a medical emergency, this benefit covers meals and accommodations.

Emergency Medical: If you’re only worried about medical emergencies while travelling, this benefit offers all of the medical coverage listed above.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption: This coverage option reimburses you for insured travel expenses (such as hotels or prepaid excursions) if you have to cancel, interrupt, extend or modify your trip due to a covered reason. With this coverage, you can also choose not to insure your trip, but opt in for additional trip coverage. This includes transportation expenses if you have to interrupt, modify or extend your trip, as well as a subsistence allowance for hotels and meals if your return home is delayed.

Accidental Death or Dismemberment: This coverage option offers reimbursement in the event you die, or lose the use of one or more limbs during a travel accident. The amount paid out depends on your age and the severity of the accident.

Baggage Coverage: This insures you if your baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours, or lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.

Flight Delay Service: This service is available at no extra cost to anyone with Blue Cross travel insurance, even if you don’t have trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage.

If your flight is delayed, you automatically receive the following benefits:

• Three hour or more delay: Access to an airport lounge. If a lounge is not available, you’ll receive $40 for each person named on the insurance contract.
• Six hour or more delay: One hotel room (per policy) plus $50 per person, up to a maximum of $200. If no hotel room is available, you’ll receive $250.

Once registered for the service, the Blue Cross system tracks your flight in real time. If it’s delayed, you’ll receive a text message or email telling you how to access your benefits. Your hotel room, if required, will be booked for you and there is no need to submit a claim later.

We’ve highlighted the key benefits for each coverage option available for the single trip plan when travelling outside of Canada to help you identify which is the best fit for you. One of medical or trip cancellation/interruption coverage is mandatory, but accidental death or dismemberment and baggage are optional.

The price of a Blue Cross travel insurance plan depends on factors such as the cost of your trip, your age and the amount of coverage you choose.

Here are some examples of the cost for Blue Cross single trip plans for healthy travellers based in Ontario. These quotes do not include the optional protection for pandemic related costs.

These quotes do not include baggage coverage, except for the all inclusive plan option.

Using the example of the Mexico trip, baggage can be added to the medical only plan for $19.96 (making the plan total $74.22) and to the Trip Cancellation and Interruption only plan for $19.96 (for a plan total of $142.12)

With your emergency medical coverage, you can also add an optional deductible, or the amount you will pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in, of $250, $500, $1,500, $2,500 or $5,000.

Emergency medical: $5 million Cancel For Any Reason: Yes, 50% to 75% Baggage insurance (maximum): $1,500

Related: CAA Travel Insurance Review

TD Insurance

Emergency medical: $5 million Cancel For Any Reason: No Baggage insurance (maximum): $1,000

Related: TD Insurance Travel Insurance Review

Johnson Medoc Travel Insurance

Emergency medical: $5 million Cancel For Any Reason: No Baggage insurance (maximum): $1,500

Related: Johnson Medoc Travel Insurance Review

Blue Cross offers an Optional Protection: Pandemic add-on that reimburses travel expenses normally excluded under the Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage. This add-on must be purchased with trip cancellation and interruption coverage and within five days of the first trip deposit or at least 45 days prior to the departure date.

The benefit is dependent on whether or not there is a Canadian government travel advisory in effect or not on the date the coverage takes effect.

If a travel advisory is in effect, then the pandemic is known and foreseeable, and reimbursement will only be paid due to a travel delay.

In general, when the return date must be delayed due to a diagnosis, positive screen test or contact tracing in relation to a pandemic, benefits include:

• A maximum of $250 per day per insured person, up to $2,500, for hotel and meals (trip maximum of $5,000)
• A maximum of of $500 per insured person for changing the date or replacing your ticket on your return flight (trip maximum $1,000)

If there is no travel advisory in effect, then the pandemic is unforeseeable, and the trip cancellation and coverage applies to the full extent, per the policy wording. In other words, in this case a pandemic is not considered a reason for exclusion.

Here’s how the costs compare for single trip insurance with and without the optional pandemic coverage

Blue Cross offers a preferred rates discount for snowbirds aged 55 and above travelling more than 32 days, as well as a $25 travelling companion discount and a $15 grandchildren discount.

Yes. You can buy multi-trip annual insurance if you travel more than once a year for multiple individual trips. Blue Cross offers medical only coverage, trip coverage and all inclusive coverage for four, eight, 17, 31, 60, 90, 150 or 180 days per trip.

Here’s how the prices between single trip and multi-trip insurance compare for the all inclusive and medical only plans:

Blue Cross Travel Assistance is included with all travel insurance products and is available 24/7, 365 days of the year either before or during your trip. Depending on the coverage provided by your insurance policy, emergency support includes:

• Referral to an appropriate medical facility
• Confirming medical insurance coverage to facilitate your care at the clinic or hospital
• Communicating with the physician treating you
• Coordinating repatriation when medically necessary
• Coordinating the safe return home of your dependent children if you are hospitalized
• Coordinating travel for a bedside family member if you are hospitalized for at least three days
• Coordinating the return of your vehicle if you can not due to an accident or illness
• Interpreter services for emergency calls
• Coordinating claims and payment to hospital/clinic, if applicable
• Assistance in the event of loss or theft of identification documents
• Providing information on embassies and consulates
• Referral to a lawyer in the event of a serious accident
• Settling of formalities in the event of death and repatriation of remains

When calling Blue Cross Travel Assistance, you’ll need your insurance contract number and your provincial health insurance number.

If you (or someone calling on your behalf) do not contact Blue Cross Travel Assistance before receiving medical treatment, your claim may be denied. A relative or medical staff member must contact Travel Assistance within 24 hours of starting medical treatment. It’s important to remember that certain services, such as paramedical treatment, must be approved in advance. If you need to cancel or modify your trip and you have trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you must notify Blue Cross within 48 hours of becoming aware of an event that triggers a change.

Blue Cross will not pay any medical expenses related to any medical condition that is not stable for a set period of time, either three or six months (depending on your age), before your coverage takes effect.

A medical condition is considered stable when all of the following are true:

• No new medical diagnosis has been made
• No new symptoms appears and there was no worsening or increase in the frequency of existing symptoms
• No hospitalization has taken place
• No new medication was prescribed or recommended
• No change of dosage was made to a medication already prescribed or recommended (with some exceptions)
• No new treatment or medical test is pending or has been prescribed, ongoing or recommended
• No ongoing treatment has been changed or discontinued
• No prescribed or recommended treatment, no medical advice has been ignored

In addition, Blue Cross has a number of age- and condition-specific exclusions, including:

For policyholders aged 54 and under during the three months preceding the effective date of coverage or for policyholders aged 55 to 75 travelling less than 32 days during the six months preceding the effective date of coverage:

• Any heart condition for while you have used nitroglycerine more than once in a seven-day period for the relief of chest pain
• Any pulmonary condition for which you have been treated with home oxygen or have required corticosteroid therapy

For policyholders aged 55 to 75 who are travelling 32 days or more and for people aged 76 or over, the following medical conditions are excluded unless the insurance certificate stipulates otherwise:

• During your lifetime, any illness which relates to a cardiovascular condition, kidney failure or a major organ transplant, including bone marrow, liver, lung, heart and pancreas
• During the 24 months before the effective date of coverage, any chronic pulmonary condition for which you have been hospitalized or have used cortisone tablets
• During the 12 months preceding the effective date of coverage, any illness which relates to the following conditions for which you have been diagnosed or treated: Cancer and gastrointestinal conditions, such as hepatitis C or Crohn’s disease

Travellers over age 54 who are travelling for longer than 31 days and travellers aged 76 and older can have their physician complete an optional medical questionnaire that is then submitted to Blue Cross for evaluation. The Blue Cross medical team can then decide if your pre-existing or chronic condition is approved for coverage or not.

There are a number of scenarios not covered by travel insurance and it’s critical to know what not to do before you make a claim. The following are some of the most common situations not covered by travel insurance:

• Treatment received without approval from Blue Cross Travel Assistance if the medical need was not urgent or if sufficient attempts were not made to receive prior approval
• Foreseeable treatment for a known medical condition
• Failure to comply with a prescribed treatment
• Non-urgent, experimental or optional treatment, such as routine checkups, aesthetic care, rehabilitation, convalescent care, clinical research or experimental drugs
• Continued treatment once the medical emergency is over
• Continued treatment if you refuse repatriation
• Unreasonable billing, namely any invoiced amount not considered a “customary and reasonable expense”
• A child born during the trip
• Mental health disorders
• Suicide and intentional injury
• Use of alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants
• Any illegal or criminal act
• Acts of war and civil unrest
• High-risk sports or activities, including extreme sports, motor sports, sports practiced as a paid professional, high-level sports competitions, aerial sports, combat sports, sports authorizing tackling or body checking, high-risk water sports and high-risk mountain or climbing sports
• Loss or damage of certain items such as a vehicle, personal items such as prosthetics or glasses, cash, tickets or documents, antiques or collectibles, food or animals or breakage of fragile items

To be eligible for insurance with Blue Cross, the following must apply:

• You are a resident of Canada and are covered under a government health insurance plan
• You are over 30-days old on the departure date of your trip

In addition, for travellers aged 55 and over, you must not:

• Have received medical advice not to travel
• Suffer from a medical condition in a terminal stage
• Suffer from kidney failure treated with dialysis
• Have been diagnosed with or treated for metastatic cancer in the last five years
• Have been prescribed or treated with home oxygen in the past 12 months

You can file a claim online 24/7 by visiting the Blue Cross secure electronic document filing website where you can start a new claim, submit your required documentation and follow the progress of your claim. The website currently notes that processing your claim could take up to 30 days.

In addition to your claim form you may be asked to provide:

• A medical certificate issued by the physician who treated you that confirms you received treatment and/or a medical emergency occurred either during or before your trip
• Receipts and proof of payment for the medical care and services provided or related travel expenses
• Itemized billing for the care and services provided
• Proof of your travel dates
• A supporting document, such as a police report or letter from the airline, confirming that a serious, unforeseen and non-excluded event is the cause of your claim
• Unused transportation tickets, official receipts from new return transportation or proof of reimbursement or credit.

You must submit the completed claim form within 90 days of the event, including all supporting documentation and itemized receipts.

Blue Cross Travel Insurance FAQs

Does blue cross pay for medical costs upfront.

According to the company, Blue Cross Travel Assistance is part of a worldwide assistance network that includes hospitals, clinics, medical escorts, and air and land carriers and “when the situation allows, we pay the medical costs directly to the provider so you don’t have to pay anything upfront or out of your pocket.”

Does Blue Cross cover COVID-19?

Emergency medical care for COVID-19 is covered as long as you have not contracted or experienced symptoms prior to the effective date of your contract. This does not cover the cost of COVID-19 tests while travelling, unless one is prescribed by a physician due to a medical emergency or sudden illness.

Does Blue Cross offer coverage extensions?

Yes. Your coverage is automatically extended for 24 hours starting on the final day of your trip due to a transportation delay. If you or your travelling companion are hospitalized, your coverage is extended for the period of hospitalization and the 24-hour period after discharge. If your return home is delayed due to a medical emergency that started within 24 hours before your scheduled return date and required emergency treatment, your coverage is automatically extended for up to 72 hours.

You can also request an extension if you want to stay longer on your trip, provided you apply before the expiry date of your policy, you are still eligible for insurance and your health has not changed since your departure. Your request may be denied if you have a claim in progress or the Canadian government has a new travel advisory in effect or recommends travellers return home.

Does Blue Cross require a medical questionnaire?

No. Unlike other insurance providers, a medical questionnaire is not mandatory, but is offered to travellers over age 54 who are travelling for longer than 31 days and travellers aged 76 and older. All travellers answer a basic health declaration to confirm eligibility that asks questions such as, has your doctor advised you not to travel, do you suffer from a terminal illness and do you suffer from kidney failure treated through dialysis. A medical questionnaire, which is completed by your physician, is optional but is recommended if you have pre-existing conditions. Your answers to these questions will be assessed by the Blue Cross medical directors and if you have pre-existing conditions that do “not present an increased risk, it will be covered.”

Does Blue Cross have any age restrictions?

Yes. Travellers must be at least 30 days old. If you are 85 years or under, the maximum number of days you can purchase until the annual multi-trip plan is 120 days. If you are 80 years old or under, you can purchase multi-trip insurance for maximum days of 150 or 180 days. Travellers age 76 and above can not get a quote online and must call the Customer Relations Centre for assistance.

When does my coverage with Blue Cross begin?

In general, if you purchase cancellation coverage, it begins the day you buy your policy and ends the day when you make a claim or leave on your trip. Your interruption coverage, if purchased, begins when you leave home. Your delay coverage begins once an insured risk prevents you from returning home as scheduled.

Can I get a refund with Blue Cross?

You can request a cancellation and full refund of your contract before the effective date of the contract (or the date the coverage begins) or during the 10 days following the date of purchase, with some exceptions.

Does Blue Cross offer a free look period?

Yes. Blue Cross gives you 10 days after purchase to review and cancel your contract if you’re not satisfied with it, unless you have made or intend to make a claim related to the contract, the contract is for a period of 10 days or less or if the contract was purchased within 11 days before the trip and includes the trip cancellation or interruption coverage.

Fiona Campbell is a Staff Writer for Forbes Advisor Canada. She started her career on Bay Street, but followed her love for research, writing and a good story into journalism. She is the former editor of Bankrate Canada, and has over 20 years of experience writing for various publications, including the Globe and Mail, Financial Post Business, Advisor’s Edge, Mydoh.ca and more.

• Goose Travel Insurance Review
• CAA Travel Insurance Review 2023
• TuGo Travel Insurance Review
• Manulife Financial CoverMe Travel Insurance
• World Nomads Travel Insurance Review
• Medipac Travel Insurance Review
• RBC Insurance Travel Insurance
• TD Insurance Travel Insurance Review
• Johnson MEDOC Travel Insurance
• Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance
• TD Bank Travel Insurance
• CUMIS Travel Insurance Review
• AMA Travel Insurance
• GMS Travel Insurance Review
• CIBC Travel Insurance Review
• BMO Travel Insurance Review
• Desjardins Travel Insurance Review
• Travelance Travel Insurance
• Scotia Travel Insurance Review
• How To Get Pre-Existing Conditions Covered By Travel Insurance
• Should You Buy Travel Insurance And Is It Worth It?
• Why Travel Medical Insurance Is Essential

Do I Need Travel Insurance When Travelling Within Canada?

• Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance
• How To Get Reimbursement For A Travel Insurance Claim
• Do Canadian Travellers Need Schengen Visa Insurance?
• How Travel Insurance Works For Baggage
• How To Travel To The U.S. From Canada
• Do You Need Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance?
• Travel Insurance For Trips To Europe
• What Travel Insurance Does Not Cover
• Top 10 Travel Insurance Tips For 2023
• Travel Insurance For A Mexico Vacation
• How To Read The Fine Print Of Your Travel Insurance Policy
• 5 Top Tips For Handling Flight Cancellations Like A Pro
• What Does Travel Delay Insurance Cover?
• Advantages Of Buying Travel Insurance Early
• Travel Insurance For U.K. Trips
• Travel Insurance For Trips To Italy

More from  

$10 etias travel pass for europe visits pushed to 2025, what’s the purpose of an etias travel authorization, bcaa travel insurance review 2024, pacific blue cross travel insurance review 2024, cumis travel insurance review 2024.

Residents of BC and the Yukon

Single trip travel insurance.

• Medical and Hospital
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption
• Accidental Death
• Air Flight Accidents
• Emergency Return
• Baggage Loss, Delay or Damage
• Learn more about these benefits
• Do you already have PBC coverage?

Multiple Trip Travel Insurance

Buy one policy for the whole year and save!

Includes all benefits of the Single Trip plans, plus:

• Save time buying one plan for all trips in one year.
• Save money if you take two or more trips a year. Learn more...

Visitors to Canada

Visitors to canada travel insurance.

Emergency health coverage for tourists, workers, new immigrants and students. It includes:

• Hospital stays
• Doctors Bills and Prescription Drugs
• Ambulance Service
• Accidental Dental Care
• 24 Hour medical assistance hotline

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I pay by cheque?
• How do I make a claim?
• Who should I contact in an emergency?
• More FAQ's...

Information Centre

• Glossary of terms

Useful Links

• Consular Affairs Bureau
• Travel Advisory website
• Registration for Canadians abroad

Travel Insurance

Planning a trip.

Check out our travel plans before you go.

Save time and buy online. It's easy and secure.

PBC group plan members may be eligible to receive a discount off of the Travel Plan premium.

If you would like to talk with one of our representatives, please call:

Within Metro Vancouver

Toll-free within British Columbia

Secured and verified by VeriSign

• Privacy Statement

Please Upgrade Your Browser

This site's design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards , but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

For Members

Find a plan, advice center, common questions, travel medical insurance.

Emergency Medical coverage for British Columbians travelling outside BC.

Buy Now Find a Plan Make a Claim

The Government of Canada has issued an official global advisory to avoid non-essential travel (Level 3) outside of the country to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a result, coverage related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be affected:

Travel Medical Insurance For trips that depart on or after March 13, 2020, Coronavirus (COVID-19) related illness will not be covered unless you are fully vaccinated. You can learn more about how Government travel advisories impact coverage in our Travel Insurance FAQs .

Trip Protection Insurance (Cancellations/Interruptions) Effective March 12, 2020, we are considering Coronavirus (COVID-19) to be a known event for individually purchased Trip Protection. Travel insurance is intended to cover losses arising from sudden and unforeseeable circumstances. Any claims resulting from events known to a policyholder at time purchasing the trip are not covered.

These conditions will remain in effect until the advisory is lifted or otherwise stated by Pacific Blue Cross.

We want you to enjoy your trip...

You're going to relax, have a good time, unwind… but before you leave do the one thing that could save you thousands or millions of dollars. Buy travel insurance.

It would be nice if you could guarantee good health and a safe trip, but in our world today, we know life, and certainly travel, are not predictable. When we travel in an unknown environment, we face risk from all angles. Don't stop exploring; just protect yourself from the unexpected — our travel plans can help you do that.

Who do we cover?

You're eligible for travel coverage if:

• You are a resident of Canada
• You have coverage with the government health plan of your province or territory
• You are applying for coverage prior to departing

We provide travel coverage to people of any age. However, persons 61 and older may be required to complete a Health Declaration form as part of their application.

If you're a visitor to Canada and want to apply for health coverage while in BC, you may be eligible for our Visitors to Canada plan.

Pacific Blue Cross travel plans are known everywhere you want to go. Whether you're looking for $10 million travel health coverage or a comprehensive package that includes baggage and trip cancellation, single or multiple trips– we have a solution for you!

What coverage is available?

Our basic travel plan covers costs related to emergency medical care resulting from an accident or sudden illness. Additional coverage is also available for trip cancellation or interruption, air flight accident, emergency return, as well as baggage loss, delay or damage.

All of our plans include:

• 24/7 access   to a team of professionals to connect you with local resources.
• Direct Pay—We will pay any providers directly.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions—As long as your pre-existing condition meets a minimum stability period you can receive full protection.

Plan Highlights:

Basic plan coverage.

Our base plan covers the following costs for emergency medical care to a maximum of 10 million dollars:

• Emergency medical expenses:   This includes any hospital fees (for a private or semi-private room), nursing fees, drug costs, incidental hospital expenses (television, parking etc), the cost of medical appliances (crutches, canes, wheelchairs), physician and professional fees, diagnostic services (lab tests, xrays), and emergency dental care. F r ee fo r Kids! Only Pacific Blue Cross covers kids of all families for free when you buy travel medical insurance – whether its for one parent or two.
• Repatriation costs:   In addition to paying for you to return to your province or residence to receive immediate medical attention*, we will arrange to have your vehicle returned, your pet returned and your baggage returned. Should an insured person pass away, we cover the cost of repatriating the deceased.
• Medical Follow-up in Canada:   We cover select treatment costs following repatriation.
• Ambulance and taxi fees:   We will pay for the cost to transport a sick or injured person to the nearest Hospital or accredited medical facility.
• Transportation to visit the covered person:   We will cover the cost of round trip, economy class transportation for a family member or friend to visit a sick or injured person in hospital. We also cover the expenses of this visitor while he/she is staying close by up to $300 per day to a maximum of $1,200.
• Subsistence allowance:   We will reimburse you up to $300/day to a maximum of $3000 for accommodation, meals, essential phone calls and transportation by taxi if your return is delayed due to illness or injury.

*Requires the authorization of the attending physician and CanAssistance.

Additional Coverage Options

You can add the following individual benefits to your plan or choose a package and save:

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption:   We will reimburse your travel costs if your trip is cancelled before the planned departure or interrupted after your trip has begun.
• Air Flight Accident:   We insure you if you lose your life or the use of a limb in an air flight accident.
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment:   We insure you if you lose your life or the use of a limb in a non-air flight-related accident.
• Emergency Return:   We will cover transportation expenses for you to return home and possibly back to the holiday destination in the event of an emergency.
• Baggage loss, delay or damage:   We provide payment to cover the cost of lost baggage or the cost to purchase items while baggage is delayed.

This is not a policy. Actual terms and conditions are detailed in the policy issued by Pacific Blue Cross upon approval of application. Our policy will detail plan limitations and exclusions.

Call us if an emergency strikes

Medi-Assist is our 24/7 medical travel assistance line that will help you locate medical care, provide advisory services, refer you to interpreters, assist with transportation, contact relatives and more. It means you can focus on getting healthy and leave it to us to manage your care while in an unfamiliar environment.

If you do experience an unexpected emergency while travelling, we are here to help.

During your trip, you can call our   Medi-Assist   service to determine your level of coverage and receive help:

• In Canada or the U.S., call toll-free:   1-888-699-9333
• Outside of Canada or the U.S. or where toll-free is unavailable, please call collect to   1-604-419-4487   and we will pay for the call.

Claims Process

Out-of-Province Emergency Medical Claims  — Four simple steps

Trip Cancellation / Baggage Claim Form   — Form for claiming Trip Cancellations or Lost Baggage [pdf]

Visitors to Canada Travel Plan Claim Form   — Form for claiming against a Visitors to Canada Travel Plan contract [pdf]

Choose one of our Travel Insurance plans below to get started

Travel Medical

Emergency medical coverage for British Columbians while travelling outside of BC.

Visitors to Canada

Emergency health coverage for tourists, workers, new immigrants and students visiting BC.

Trip Protection

Peace of mind coverage for travel costs related to unexpected cancellations, interruptions and delays.

Our homepage has a new look! Share your thoughts about it in a short survey

Alberta Blue Cross ® will be closed Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, April 2. Our member site and app are available 24/7.

It’s tax season—access a claims total report of your medical expenses and tax receipt for premiums paid. Learn how to access these important tax documents.

Looking for a COVID-19 immunization or an influenza vaccine? Find a participating pharmacy near you.

Give us your feedback

Pharmacy asymptomatic testing program.

Albertans are encouraged reach out to a participating pharmacy for more information about how to arrange a test. A list of participating pharmacies is available here .

This is banner news

Random info about things and stuff

Travel insurance packages

Travel coverage

Have questions about travel?

Contents: Travel insurance

• Emergency Medical Care
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage
• Visitors to Canada
• Top-Up insurance
• Cancellations and refunds
• Compare travel coverages
• Flight Delay Service
• Baggage loss coverage
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Optional Protection: Pandemic
• Travel advisories
• Travel insurance eligibility
• How to choose travel coverage
• Frequently asked questions
• Pre-travel checklist
• Comprehensive
• Travelling in Canada
• Study abroad
• Family vacations
• Weekend getaways
• Backpacking
• Winter escapes
• Romantic retreats
• Travel policy

Flexible travel insurance packages designed for you

Travel insurance is an integral part of any trip. But choosing the right plan and add-ons to create coverage that’s perfectly designed for you is easier said than done.

Travel insurance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We provide recommendations to help you make decisions you can feel good about. Ready to start? Let’s get you covered.

Travel packages

Choose a travel package to see what’s included. You can customize any package until it’s right for you.

Comprehensive package

Everything you need in a package. This is ideal if you want full protection for travel outside of Canada.

Travelling in Canada package

A combination of our most popular coverages designed for trips within Canada.

Study abroad package

Travel options that protect Canadian students studying in another country.

Snowbird package

Medical coverage and more for extended stays outside of Canada.

Family vacation package

Protection and peace of mind you can count on for trips with the whole family.

Weekend getaway package

Designed for travellers taking a short trip within Canada or across the border.

Backpacking package

Great for adventure-seekers on a journey with multiple destinations.

Winter escapes package

A package that prepares you for any emergency while travelling during the winter months.

Romantic retreats package

For couples seeking protection from common trip disruptions and delays.

Get a quote

Finding the right coverage you need for your trip starts with a quote. Get started online or give our travel team a call. We are here to help you.

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

You rated Travel plans | Travel insurance packages as not helpful.

You rated Travel plans | Travel insurance packages as neutral.

You rated Travel plans | Travel insurance packages as helpful.

× Close

Your feedback will help improve ab.bluecross.ca .