Questions and Answers about Coverage
Get helpful tips and review the basics of the travel insurance coverage offered by RBC Insurance:
Q. Doesn't my credit card cover me when I travel?
A. It might, and it might not. We recommend that you carefully review the travel insurance coverage that your credit card provides, as well as any conditions or stipulations. You may also wish to speak with your travel agent.
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Do you have an RBC Royal Bank® credit card?
To review the travel insurance coverage that comes with your card, visit: www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards/documentation/index.html.
From the Documentation Web page listed above, click the "Insurance Certificate" link for your card. Then, if applicable, from the right-hand Jump To menu, select the link for the insurance coverage you want to review.
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Q. Doesn't my government health plan cover me when I'm travelling in the U.S. or Canada?
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Actual Cases and Costs in the U.S. (in U.S. Dollars)2 |
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Motor Vehicle Accident (Multiple Trauma):
Pennsylvania
19-day admission
$451,380
Cardiac Catheterization & Bypass:
California
13-day admission
$384,274.92 (hospital costs)
$19,875 (air ambulance with full medical team)
Fractured Femur:
Florida
6-day admission
$58,825
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A. We recommend that you carefully review your government health plan coverage. Government plans may not cover all emergency medical expenses once you leave your home province/territory and typically cover only a limited portion once you leave the country. In fact, the Canadian Government (Consular Services, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada) urges all Canadians to purchase supplemental health insurance when leaving the country:
"Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country healthcare can be costly, and your health plan will cover only part of the bill at best."1
In addition, government plans don't guarantee coverage for special care (air ambulance or emergency dental services, for instance).
As shown in the chart above, medical treatment can be very expensive in the U.S. Purchase travel insurance for your next trip to the U.S. or another province/territory—it's a small expense for a tremendous amount of protection.
Q. Why do I need travel medical insurance when I travel abroad?
A. An accident, illness or emergency can happen anywhere. If you need medical care in another country, your government health plan may pay only a portion of the costs. Travel insurance starts where these plans leave off.
Plus, with our emergency medical coverage, you have access to the multilingual representatives of Assured Assistance Inc. (AAI), the RBC Insurance travel emergency assistance network.
Because our representatives are multilingual and have 24-hour access to real-time translation services, we can provide the help you need in your own language—and also have someone to communicate on your behalf with medical personnel who may speak a different language.
Here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, our representatives are experienced experts in coordinating emergency care for travellers in foreign lands, managing more than 400,000 calls per year.
Whenever possible, AAI will also request for the medical service provider within the network to bill the covered medical expenses directly to us instead of you—reducing stress and hassle.
Q. When should I purchase my travel insurance?
A. You must purchase coverage before departing on your trip. You may benefit from purchasing coverage when you make your initial trip deposit, especially if you are purchasing trip cancellation and interruption insurance—either as stand-alone coverage or as part of one of our travel insurance packages.
For example, consider the fact that more than half of Canadian travellers book their trips at least 6 months in advance.3 Then consider the unpredictable things that might happen in that time.
Q. Am I covered if I participate in any sports during my trip?
A. There are various sports that are not covered during your trip, all of which are described in more detail under the General Exclusions section of the Certificate of Insurance.
Q. Can I extend my emergency medical coverage if I extend my trip?
A. You may extend your coverage if you extend your trip, subject to certain conditions of your policy.
If you've purchased a single-trip plan, the following conditions apply:
- If you have not had a medical condition during your trip or while covered under your policy, you can request an extension by contacting your travel agent before the expiry date of your original policy.
- If you have had a medical condition during your trip and while covered under your policy, you must request the extension by contacting Assured Assistance Inc. (the RBC Insurance travel emergency assistance network) before the expiry date of your original policy. Your extension is subject to the approval of Assured Assistance Inc.
- You must pay the required additional premium before the expiry date of your original policy.
- If we cannot extend your particular policy's coverage due to the trip duration limits of your policy, you may be able to purchase a new policy from us.
If you've purchased a multi-trip annual plan, the following conditions apply:
You may purchase a top-up policy for the additional number of days beyond the duration covered by your multi-trip annual plan as follows:
- Before your effective date, you may contact your travel agent to purchase top-up coverage.
- After your effective date and if you have not had a medical condition during your trip, you must contact your travel agent before the expiry date of your original policy to purchase top-up coverage.
- After your effective date and if you have had a medical condition during your trip, you must contact Assured Assistance Inc. (the RBC Insurance travel emergency assistance network) before the expiry date of your original policy to request approval for and to purchase top-up coverage.
- The terms, conditions and exclusions of the new top-up policy apply to you.
- You must pay the required top-up premium on or before the effective date of the top-up period.
If you do NOT top up your coverage for a trip, you will not be covered for any claims you make outside the period of insurance for that trip. If the top-up policy you are purchasing requires you to complete health questions, you must complete the health questions.
Please see the policy documents for complete coverage details regarding trip extensions. View current policy documents.
Q. I bought a multi-trip annual plan, but one trip I'm planning will extend past the ending date of my coverage. How can I ensure I'm covered for the added days I'm travelling?
A. You may purchase a top-up policy for the additional number of days beyond the duration covered by your multi-trip annual plan. Here are the conditions:
- Before your effective date, you may contact your travel agent to purchase top-up coverage.
- After your effective date and if you have not had a medical condition during your trip, you must contact your travel agent before the expiry date of your original policy to purchase top-up coverage.
- After your effective date and if you have had a medical condition during your trip, you must contact Assured Assistance Inc. (the RBC Insurance travel emergency assistance network) before the expiry date of your original policy to request approval for and to purchase top-up coverage.
- The terms, conditions and exclusions of the new top-up policy apply to you.
- You must pay the required top-up premium on or before the effective date of the top-up period.
If you do NOT top up your coverage for a trip, you will not be covered for any claims you make outside the period of insurance for that trip. If the top-up policy you are purchasing requires you to complete health questions, you must complete the health questions.
Please see the policy documents for complete coverage details regarding top-up coverage. View current policy documents.
Q. Can I purchase emergency medical coverage for a single trip that is longer than 183 days?
A. If you purchase one of our travel medical insurance plans—either Classic Medical or TravelCare® Medical—you can, subject to certain conditions.
- If you are under 40 years of age and travelling for more than 183 days and to a maximum of 365 days, you may purchase the single-trip coverage, or "top up" (extend) your multi-trip annual medical coverage, provided that you are covered under your government health plan for the full duration of your trip.
- If you are 40 years of age or older and under 75 years of age, you must also answer a few health questions, which will determine whether you are eligible to purchase coverage for trips beyond 183 days.
Q. Does RBC Insurance offer family prices?
A. Yes, emergency medical coverage for family members under 60 years of age is available with our Classic Medical Plans (single-trip or multi-trip annual). This coverage insures you and your partner/spouse and/or children when they travel with you or join you during your trip. You may insure your natural and adopted children and stepchildren under this plan if they meet one of the following criteria:
- They are unmarried and under the age of 21
- They are unmarried, over 20 years old and have a mental or physical handicap
- They are unmarried, under 26 years old and are full-time students
Family pricing is also available under Deluxe Package Single Trip, Non-Medical Package and our Travel Within Canada Package.
Children 0 – 17 years of age travelling with at least 1 insured parent(s) or grandparent(s) are eligible for a flat rate.
Q. Why should I buy trip cancellation and interruption insurance?
A. Your trip probably represents a significant investment. Plus, you may be among the 51% of Canadian travellers who book their trips at least 6 months prior to departing.3 A lot can happen in that time—if a medical emergency or other unfortunate event prevents you from going on your trip, you may lose some (or possibly all) of the money you paid.
With trip cancellation and interruption insurance, you're protected when a specified situation prevents you from travelling as planned. Examples include:
- You can't travel due to an illness, job loss or immediate family member's medical emergency
- You need to return home earlier than scheduled because of a family emergency or medical condition
- And more—our travel insurance packages provide trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage for over 40 specified situations
We also offer stand-alone trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Note: We strongly recommend that you purchase this insurance at the time you pay your initial travel deposit. Please see the policy document for complete coverage details, including terms and conditions.
Q. I have friends or family visiting Canada. Is coverage available for them?
A. Yes! Tell them about our Visitors to Canada Plans. These plans offer affordable emergency medical protection to visitors, immigrants, foreign students and Canadians without government health plan coverage.
Q. Do I really need to read my travel insurance policy?
A. We strongly recommend that you do. Your insurance policy is a valuable source of information and contains provisions that may limit or exclude coverage. Please read it before you go, keep it in a safe place and carry it with you when you travel.
Not sure what's best for your needs?
To better understand your choices and select the travel insurance that's right for you:
1 www.voyage.gc.ca. 2008. Consular Services, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. June 11, 2008. www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/bon_voyage_but-en.asp
2 RBC Insurance, 2008.
3 Roy, Camille. "Travelweek 2007 Ultimate Travel Survey." 2007. Travelweek. Concepts Travel Media Ltd.
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