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Emergency Medical Top-Up Travel Insurance for Canadians

Top-Up Options

  • Top-Up coverage must be purchased prior to the expiry date of the Multi Trip coverage and is subject to an extra premium charge.
  • The Emergency Medical Top-Up option is used to top up a Scotia Multi Trip plan or plans of other insurers; provided that the entire trip outside of Canada, including the top-up period, is not longer than the duration allowed by the insured's government health insurance plan.
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm that top-up is permitted on the existing plan with no loss of coverage.
  • If the applicant is age 60 or older, the Medical Questionnaire must be completed.

To be eligible for insurance under this plan, an applicant must be a resident of Canada and covered under a government health insurance plan. Applicants age 60 or over need to complete the Medical Questionnaire to determine their eligibility and rate category

Application & Medical Questionnaire

  • Can be completed up to 180 days prior to the effective date.
  • Single Trip plans must be purchased for the entire duration of the trip.

Eligibility and Rate Category

At the time of application, if the applicant is:

Under Age 60:

if you’re age 59 or younger, you automatically qualify for Rate Category A. You must confirm your eligibility to purchase this plan and you do not need to complete any medical questions to determine your rate category.



Over Age 60:

you need to complete the medical questionnaire to determine your eligibility and rate category.



Individual Medical Underwriting Plan for any age,

if you would like your pre- existing medical conditions to be covered with no stability requirements, you can apply for emergency medical coverage under Scotia’s Individual Medical Underwriting Plan.

Simply call 1-877- 372-2992.



You will need to be able to answer questions related to your medical condition(s).

Your cost will vary according to your specific health needs and circumstances.

When you pay the quoted premium for the Individual Medical Underwriting Plan, your pre-existing medical conditions will be covered during your trip with no stability requirement.

TRAVEL TIP: Be sure to review all documents when you purchase the Scotia Individual Medical Underwriting Plan to ensure that all your medical conditions have been disclosed and that you have answered all questions truthfully and accurately. If you omit or inaccurately disclose any medical condition, you may not be covered for any condition in the event of a claim.

Rate category determines the period of stability required for coverage of any pre-existing medical condition.

RATE CATEGORY A B C
TIME PERIOD 3 months 6 months 6 months

Scotia Travel Insurance will not pay any expenses for Emergency Medical Insurance relating to a……

Pre-existing medical condition:

That was not stable in the time period before the effective date of your insurance.

Heart condition:

if, in the time period before the effective date of coverage, any heart condition has not been stable or required any form of nitroglycerine for the relief of angina pain.

Lung condition:

if, in the time period before the effective date of coverage, any lung condition has not been stable or has required treatment with oxygen or Prednisone for the lung condition.

Pre-Existing Medical Condition

"Pre-Existing medical condition" means any medical condition that existed before the effective date.

Medical Condition

"Medical condition" means any disease, sickness or injury (including symptoms of undiagnosed conditions).

Stable:

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

  1. there has not been any new treatment prescribed or recommended, or change(s) to existing treatment (including a stoppage in treatment), and
  2. there has not been any change in medication, or any recommendation or starting of a new prescription drug, and
  3. the medical condition has not become worse, and
  4. there has not been any new, more frequent or more severe symptoms, and
  5. there has been no hospitalization or referral to a specialist, and
  6. there have not been any tests, investigation or treatment recommended, but not yet complete, nor any outstanding test results, and
  7. there is no planned or pending treatment.

All of the above conditions must be met for a medical condition to be considered stable.

Effective Dates and Expiry Dates

Coverage starts:

  • On the effective date as shown on the confirmation.

Coverage ends on the earliest of the following:

  • the date the certificate holder returns home;
  • the expiry date shown on the confirmation.

A full refund must be requested before the effective date of coverage.

If you return home early, you can apply for a partial refund of premium (minimum $25.00) for the unused coverage providing there has been no claim submitted, and that no assistance service has been provided and that you have mailed a written refund request along with proof of the date you actually returned home. Proof of early return (for example, customs or immigration stamp, gas receipts) is required.

All travellers insured under the same certificate must return together to be eligible for a refund.

Extensions: If you are already on your trip and need to apply for an extension of your coverage, before the expiry date of your existing coverage, simply call Customer Service at 1-877-421-0157. You may be able to extend your coverage, as long as:

  • the total length of your trip outside of Canada, including the extension, does not exceed the maximum allowed by your government health insurance plan;
  • you pay the additional premium; and

there has been no event that has resulted or may result in a claim under the certificate and there has been no change in your health status.

    1. Premium rates are in $CDN per person.

    2. Rates are subject to change without notice.

    3. Premium due is based on:

a. The rate category; and

b. The age at the time of application.

    4. Number of coverage days for Single Trip Top Up plans must include:

 a. The date after the expiry of your Multi Trip plan;

 b. The date of return home; and

 c. The number of days in between.

Coverage will not take effect if the applicant's method of payment is not honoured when presented for payment.

You must call the Assistance Centre before obtaining emergency treatment, so that we may:

  • confirm coverage
  • provide pre-approval of treatment

If it is medically impossible for you to call prior to obtaining emergency treatment, we ask that someone call on your behalf. Otherwise, if you do not call the Assistance Centre before you obtain emergency treatment you will have to pay 20% of the eligible medical expenses we would normally pay under this insurance.

Read the certificate with particular attention to "pre-existing medical condition" and other exclusions that apply to the coverage.

The Scotia Travel Insurance certificate should be kept with you at all times when travelling. It includes telephone numbers in case of an emergency or if an extension is required.

Get a Quote View Certificate (PDF)