Travel insurance protects you from unexpected out-of-pocket costs for eligible expenses when you are travelling outside of Canada – but you must pay attention to government travel advisories to be safe published by the Canadian Government. They provide information on current concerns and dangers in countries around the world.
Travel warnings can be a factor in your decision to travel, helping you eliminate countries with potential dangers. You can check travel warnings before booking your trip and even up to the day of departure. And travel insurance can offer added protection, providing 24/7 emergency assistance should you need it.
SBIS has detailed what a travel advisory is, where to find up-to-date advisories, and tips for safe travel here.
In countries where the government advises against non-essential travel, your travel insurance coverage may be affected.
It’s up to you to decide whether to travel to a country that has a travel advisory. It is also up to you to decide what constitutes “non-essential travel” based on family or business requirements, knowledge of a country or region, and other factors.
Likely, your concern is that cancelling your scheduled trip will cost you. Travel insurers consider the Canadian government’s travel advisories when determining whether your choice to cancel your trip will qualify for a refund. They have no legal or contractual obligation to make the refund based on a travel advisory, but sometimes they allow it if the warning was issued after you booked your trip.
What happens if an “avoid all travel” advisory is issued for my destination before I leave on my trip?
First, always make sure to buy your travel insurance early when booking a trip, because timing affects what will be covered. For example, coverage purchased on or after the day a weather advisory is issued, and a storm is named this will usually make any weather-related claims ineligible. And if severe weather or a natural disaster may be an insured risk, check the fine print of your agreement to see what natural disasters are covered under your policy.
If you’ve paid for your travel arrangements and insurance and an “avoid all travel” advisory is issued for your destination before you leave, you may be covered under your trip cancellation policy (which is different than your Emergency Travel Medical coverage). To learn more about Trip Cancellation and Interruption policies go here.
Your first step should be to contact your travel provider or tour operator, the rental car company, and the accommodation provider as soon as possible if your booked travel plans have been affected by an advisory. You can explain that you want to cancel (or at least postpone) your trip because of the travel advisory.
If they won’t allow you to cancel your arrangements, check with the credit card company you charged those prepaid expenses to. You may be able to have them dispute the charge or reimburse you for all or part of the expense. Any amount they reimburse will be based on the card’s limitations (for example, a maximum dollar amount, which your trip costs may exceed), or how long it was between when you charged the costs, when the advisory was issued, and when you make your request for reimbursement.
If you cannot get a refund or reschedule your trip, your trip interruption and cancellation insurance will be there to cover the cost of cancelling your trip.
What happens if an “avoid all travel” advisory is issued for my destination while I am there?
While you are at or enroute to a destination and there is an unusual weather forecast or pending civil unrest, make sure to check for travel advisory updates. Based on that information, you may want to head home. In this case, you may be able to claim a portion of the expenses for that trip. The cost of prepaid, unused trip arrangements and your travel home are usually covered.
Review your trip cancellation and interruption policy carefully after you purchase your coverage (before you leave on your trip) to understand what you may be entitled to. There may be limitations that require you to choose the most cost-effective way possible to return to your home province or departure point.
What happens if I travel to a destination with a travel advisory and get sick or injured?
If you decide to ignore warnings about the country you are travelling to, this could impact your medical travel coverage. Many insurance companies will not pay any benefits or accept any liability for claims made for emergency medical care expenses incurred in a country the government has issued an “avoid all travel” or “avoid all non-essential travel” advisory for.
Registration of Canadians Abroad is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency at your destination or a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest.
Its important to take the time to register whether you are planning a vacation or living outside Canada.
Travel safely – buy individual travel insurance
Both individual and credit-card-based travel policies offer some cancellation protection if Canada calls a Level 3 travel advisory on a destination. However, credit cards may limit your protection up to a specified amount, such as $5,000. By selecting individual travel insurance, you can fine-tune coverage to ensure your financial protection.
Your world-wide array of options for travel are amazing, so choosing a destination where you will be safe and secure should be a smart part of your travel plan. Another smart thing to do is ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place. SBIS can help you select travel medical insurance coverage that fits your plans and budget. Call us today for good advice or go online to discover the plan that is right for you.
