Emergency Medical Plan for Visitors to Canada

The following persons may apply for this insurance:

• Visitors to Canada;
• Canadians who are not eligible for benefits under a government health insurance plan issued by a Canadian province or territory;
• Persons who are in Canada on a work visa or Parent and Grandparent Super Visa; or
• New immigrants who are awaiting coverage by government health insurance from a Canadian province or territory.

Applicants aged 85 or younger can choose coverage levels of: $15,000, $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000

Applicants aged 69 or younger can choose $150,000 coverage.

The applicant is not eligible for coverage for any plan if the applicant:

• is travelling against the advice of a physician;
• has been diagnosed with a terminal illness with less than 2 years to live;
• has a kidney condition requiring dialysis;
• has used home oxygen during the 12 months prior to the date of application;
• has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or any other form of dementia;
• on the effective date of coverage, is under 30 days or over 85 years of age (over 69 years of age for $150,000);
• resides in a nursing home, home for the aged, other long term care facility or rehabilitation centre; and/or
• requires assistance with eating, bathing, using the toilet, changing positions (including getting in and out of a bed or chair) and dressing.

Plan B

To be eligible for Plan B, in addition to meeting the above eligibility requirements, applicants must truthfully answer ‘No’ to all questions on the Medical Questionnaire if 40 years of age or older.

Coverage for side trips

This insurance provides coverage while travelling outside Canada (excluding country of origin) as long as the side trip originates or terminates in Canada and does not exceed the lesser of 30 days per policy or 49% of the total number of coverage days.

Trip Break

This insurance allows the policyholder to return home without terminating their coverage, if the policyholder has requested and received prior approval from the Assistance Centre. Coverage will be suspended but will not be terminated while the policyholder is at home. The suspension of coverage will end and coverage will be reinstated when the policyholder arrives back in Canada. There will be no refund of premium for any of the days during any return home.

To apply for coverage, the application for insurance should be completed no earlier than 365 days* prior to the effective date of insurance.

• The policy may only be issued in Canada and coverage must not exceed 365 days.
• Application for insurance may be made before or after arrival in Canada. The applicant will be subject to a waiting period if insurance is purchased after arrival in Canada.
• All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements. Plan B applicants who are 40 years of age or older must complete the Medical Questionnaire to determine eligibility for Plan B.
• A waiting period will apply, except in the case of injury, if insurance is purchased after arrival in Canada or after the expiry date of an existing Visitors to Canada policy issued by us.
• On the effective date of insurance, the applicant must be in Canada and meet the eligibility requirements.
• The applicant may not be covered under more than one plan during a trip.
• A $75 (CDN) deductible will apply to each emergency medical claim made under this policy, unless the applicant chose no deductible, $500 deductible or $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 deductible option per claim and paid the applicable premium.

*Exception: Unless the applicant is applying for a visa and requires proof of insurance more than 365 days prior to the effective date of insurance.

The Pre-existing Condition Exclusion that applies depends on the plan purchased.

Plan A - we will not pay any expenses relating to:

• any medical condition, diagnosed or undiagnosed, which existed or for which you sought or received medical advice, consultation, investigation, or for which treatment was required or recommended by a physician, within 180 days before the effective date of insurance;
• any heart condition if, in the 180 days before the effective date, the applicant required any form of nitroglycerine for the relief of angina pain; and/or
• any lung condition if, in the 180 days before the effective date, the applicant required treatment with oxygen or prednisone for a lung condition.

Plan B – we will not pay any expenses relating to:

• a pre-existing condition that is not stable in the 180 days before the effective date of insurance;
• any heart condition if, in the 180 days before the effective date, the applicant required any form of nitroglycerine for the relief of angina pain; and/or
• any lung condition if, in the 180 days before the effective date, the applicant required treatment with oxygen or prednisone for a lung condition.

"Pre-existing condition" is a medical condition that existed before the effective date of insurance.

Stable medical condition means that all of the following apply:

• there have not been any new symptom(s); and
• existing symptom(s) have not become more frequent or severe; and
• a physician has not found that the medical condition has become worse; and
• no test findings have shown that the medical condition may be getting worse; and
• a physician has not provided, prescribed, or recommended any new medication, or any change in medication*; and
• a physician has not provided, prescribed or recommended any investigative testing, new treatment or any change in treatment; and
• there has been no hospitalization or referral to a specialty clinic or specialist; and
• a physician has not advised referral to a specialty clinic or a specialist for further testing, and there has been no testing for which the results have not yet been received.

Under Trip Interruption Insurance, we will not cover expenses resulting directly or indirectly from: A medical condition related to a covered event, if the medical condition was not stable in the three (3) months before the effective date of insurance.

*Exceptions:

• a change from a brand name drug to an equivalent generic drug of the same dosage;
• a routine adjustment in the dosage of the applicant's medication, as a result of blood levels only, if taking Coumadin (warfarin) or insulin and are required to have blood levels tested on a regular basis, and the medical condition remains unchanged. 

Coverage starts on the later of:

• the effective date of insurance as shown on the confirmation; or
• the time and date the applicant arrives in Canada from home.

Coverage ends on the earliest of the following:

• each time the applicant leaves Canada to return home;
• when the policy expires, as shown on the confirmation;
• when the applicant becomes a resident of a nursing home, home for the aged or other long term care facility during their trip;
• no more than 365 days after the effective date of insurance; or
• the first day the applicant becomes insured under a government health insurance plan.

Waiting period:

A waiting period of 48 hours applies if this insurance is purchased after arrival in Canada or after the expiry date of an existing Manulife Visitors to Canada policy, as long as there is no increase in the coverage amount or change in the plan selected.  A claim related to an illness arising during or before a waiting period is not covered.

The waiting period follows and includes the effective date of insurance.

Refunds:

Applicants may request a refund of premium (minimum $25.00)

for the unused days

1. If the applicant cancels the policy at any time before the effective date of insurance; or
2. If the applicant obtains government health insurance plan coverage from a Canadian province or territory, or returns home before the scheduled date of return (as per the confirmation) and there has been no claim reported or initiated or assistance services have not been provided;
3. If you hold a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa (PG-1 VISA) and are leaving Canada permanently, you may request a partial refund if you provide proof of your departure from Canada and have not reported or initiated a claim or been provided with any assistance service.

All travellers insured under the same policy must return together or be covered under a government health insurance plan from a Canadian province or territory for a refund to be possible.

No refunds are available for Trip Interruption Insurance after the effective date, side trips or Trip Breaks.

Extensions:

Automatic extension of coverage

is provided beyond the date the applicant was scheduled to return home as per the confirmation if:

1. the common carrier is delayed. In this case, we will extend the coverage for up to 72 hours;
2. the policyholder or their travel companion is hospitalized on their expiry date. In this case, we will extend the coverage during the hospitalization up to a maximum of 365 days or until, in our opinion, they are stable for discharge from the hospital or for evacuation home, whichever is earlier, and for up to 5 days after discharge from the hospital;
3. the policyholder or their travel companion has a medical condition that does not require hospitalization but prevents travel. In this case, we will extend the coverage for up to 5 days.

To extend the coverage

, the policyholder must call Customer Service to make the request before the expiry date or the scheduled date of return (as per the confirmation). If the policyholder has not had a change in their health status and has not had any health-related event since the effective date of insurance that has resulted or may result in a claim, the extension may be issued upon request. Otherwise, the extension is subject to the approval.

1. Premium rates are in $CDN per person.
2. Emergency Medical (including Travel Accident) Family Coverage* rates are 2x the premium rate of the oldest traveller under age 60.
3. Trip Interruption Family coverage rates are 3x the premium rate of the oldest traveller under age 60.
4. Rates are subject to change without notice
5. Premium due is based on:
   1. The plan purchased;
   2. The age at the effective date of insurance, and
   3. The trip length.
6. Number of coverage days must include each day of your trip including:
   1. The date of departure; and
   2. The date of return.
7. Coverage will not take effect if the applicant's cheque or credit card payment is not honoured when presented for payment.

* Family Coverage includes the applicant, spouse, and children travelling together and named on the confirmation.

• Contact the Assistance Centre before receiving treatment while on a trip. Scotia Travel Insurance has a 20% coinsurance provision that may limit the benefits if a call is not received. In addition, specific covered eligible benefits may be limited or not covered if the Assistance Centre has not been contacted.
• Read the policy with particular attention to "pre-existing condition" and other exclusions that apply to the coverage.
• The Scotia Travel Insurance policy should be kept with you at all times when travelling. The policy includes telephone numbers in case of an emergency or if an extension is required.