Before you leave on your next vacation, remember to review your travel insurance coverage. Making sure you have adequate coverage will help you avoid unexpected and costly medical bills.

Meet Jeff* - a 35-year-old Fraser Valley resident. Every year, Jeff joins a group of friends on a motorcycle trip to California. Although he has made these trips many times, Jeff has never had an accident and never required medical treatment while outside of British Columbia.

Last year was a different story. While cruising along in the northern part of the state with his buddies, Jeff hit a small piece of debris on the road and was thrown off his motorcycle. Two of the vertebrae in his lower spine were shattered, and the road trip cut short.

Jeff’s friends immediately called for an ambulance and he was rushed to hospital where he underwent a number of tests and two surgeries - including the insertion of a steel rod to support his spine. Jeff was later transported to Vancouver where he underwent physiotherapy, and continued his recovery.

Costs Add Up...
When travelling outside of Canada, the cost of necessary medical treatment can quickly add up and may exceed the coverage available to you through the provincial government and any supplementary health insurance plans.

Each province in Canada provides a limited amount of coverage for out-of-province and out-of-country medical costs for its residents. If you are a resident of British Columbia, you are eligible for up to $75 Cdn. per day for in-patient hospital care. When you consider that a day’s admission to a US hospital typically exceeds $2,500 Cdn. and a day in intensive care averages $10,000, you can appreciate that this coverage is inadequate.

Jeff was fortunate: after hearing of a neighbour’s experience following a car accident, he had the foresight to purchase appropriate travel insurance. His claim of $1,040,700 was fully covered.

...Within Canada Too
Emergencies that happen within Canada have the potential to be costly as well. Reciprocal agreements between provinces provide a certain degree of protection when travelling within Canada but there are many things that your provincial health coverage will not cover when travelling outside your home province.

Meet Margaret*, a funloving and adventurous 71- year-old resident of Prince George. Two years ago, Margaret flew to Halifax, Nova Scotia to visit friends. While hiking, she slipped on wet rocks and - despite her excellent health - broke her hip.

After 30 days in hospital, Margaret was able to return home - with the assistance of a medical escort. Without emergency excess hospital/medical insurance, Margaret would have paid a total of $2,945.95 to cover the multiple ambulance costs; select prescriptions and medical supplies; her return airfare to British Columbia, and her escort's hotel and airfare expenses.

Out-of-Pocket Medical Costs
While each province covers hospital and medical expenses for treatment provided in Canada, coverage for these varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In British Columbia, you can visit the province's website to determine what is excluded from the Medical Services Plan at:

http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/benefits.html# notcovered

Here are some examples of medical expenses that you may find yourself responsible for paying:

• Pharmaceuticals or medical supplies.
• Ambulance and emergency transportation.
• Return of vehicle expenses (may involve air flight back to retrieve vehicle)
• Hotel accommodation for spouse so he/she may stay with you during an emergency.
• Bills from medical practitioners other than a physician (chiropractic services, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy).

Travel insurance plans such as emergency excess hospital/medical insurance protect you from having to pay for medical and related expenses not covered by the British Columbia Medical Services Plan or your employer group plan.

Do Your Homework
When you are planning your trip, be sure to look at the type of travel coverage you might already have to identify what might be lacking in that coverage. Many credit cards that award travel points provide coverage that is limited and not enough to cover the extensive costs associated with an illness or accident while you are away. Your supplementary health insurance plan should also be reviewed closely to determine the extent and nature of the coverage provided.

If you would like an assessment of your existing coverage, and whether it is adequate for your needs, you may wish to speak with a London Drugs insurance agent. (Call 1- 800-681-6677 or click on the LD Insurance link on the website for a list of stores that provide insurance services.)

* names have been changed to protect privacy

Back to Top