Overview
Important Information
Eligibility
Coverage
Lifetime Maximum
Benefits
Limitations
Exclusions
When a Medical Emergency Occurs
Benefit Termination
How To File A Claim
Questions About Your Travel Emergency Medical Benefits

Travel Emergency Medical

Overview - Travel Emergency Medical Benefit

If you have an accident or become ill outside of your province of residence, your provincial health care plan may not cover all your medical bills, even when travel is within Canada. The Travel Emergency Medical benefit has been designed to cover many of the types of expenses that can occur when a medical emergency occurs while away from home.

When a Travel Emergency Medical benefit is provided there are some provisions which are very important and which could jeopardize claim payment. Because of their importance some of these items are noted here. The Travel Emergency Medical benefit:

  • If your scheduled trip is more than the allotted number of days, this coverage is null and void for the ENTIRE trip
  • Excludes claims related to pregnancy or pregnancy complications which occur within eight weeks of the expected due date;
  • Excludes claims related to a medical condition for which you received medical treatment or required medication during the three months preceding the date you left home. This includes changes in medication, frequency and usage and/or dosage when maintenance medications have been prescribed for a controlled and medically-supervised condition;
  • Limitations to the maximum amount payable, as a result of a medical emergency, may occur if notification is not provided within 48 hours of confinement to hospital or emergency surgery.

Please refer to the Exclusions and Limitations sections below for complete details. These are also contained in the Travel Emergency Medical Coverage Summary issued by the provider, iA Financial Group, and which you are encouraged to read carefully before you travel and perhaps include with your passport and important papers while travelling.

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Important Information

  1. The following information outlines the benefits for which you may be eligible and does not create or confer any contractual or other rights. All rights with respect to benefits will be governed by the Master Group Policy issued by Industrial Alliance to AFBS. In the event of any variation between this description and the provisions of the Policy, the latter will prevail.
  2. Members who may be traveling outside their province of residence and who need to renew their coverage in order to ensure continuing access to the Travel Emergency Medical benefits are reminded that this coverage can only be put in place once any renewal request and premium payment has been received by AFBS.
  3. There are maximum amounts payable on many of the benefits outlined below. Prior to traveling it is important that you determine whether the coverage provided meets your needs. Further, this is an emergency medical benefit only. This benefit does not include trip cancellation, lost/delayed baggage or other additional protection. Some Members may wish to purchase these independently.
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ELIGIBILITY

If you are insured for benefits with the Arts & Entertainment Plan®, reside in Canada and will be under age 84 for the duration of your Benefit Year you are eligible to participate in the Travel Emergency Medical benefit. If you insure your dependant(s) they are also eligible to participate provided an insured spouse/partner is under age 84 for the duration of your Benefit Year.

Having a copy of the Travel Emergency Medical Coverage Summary does not guarantee that you or your family are insured for these benefits. Please refer to your Certificate of Insurance to verify eligibility for the current Benefit Year .

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COVERAGE

Coverage commences automatically upon leaving your province of residence for scheduled trips of 90 days or less in duration to the participant under age 80 and 30 days or less in duration to the participant age 80 but under age 84. There are no limits to the number of trips taken during the course of the year.

Please note that any person outside of the province of residence for a scheduled duration in excess of 90 days with respect to the participant under age 80, and 30 days with respect to the participant age 80 but under age 84; is not covered under this insurance.

You will need to purchase separate travel emergency medical coverage as a top-up or extension of this policy if your trip is in excess of the allotted days.

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Maximum Amount Available

There is a maximum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) payable for each insured person for emergency hospital and medical expenses in excess of the amounts paid by your provincial health plan or other insurance plans per injury or sickness while this policy remains in place.

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BENEFITS

Reimbursement Maximum/incident
Excess Hospital Benefit
Reasonable and necessary emergency hospital expenses incurred up to and including standard semi-private accommodation during confinement as an inpatient. When confinement exceeds the maximum trip duration, insurance will continue for a period of no more than 90 days from the date that the first insured expenses were incurred. In the event that discharge is on or after the maximum trip duration, coverage will be extended for 72 hours immediately following discharge.
Excess Medical Benefits
The reasonable and necessary expenses for the following treatment or services on an emergency basis for:
  1. Out-patient room charges;
  2. Treatment by a physician or surgeon;
  3. Services of a licensed anesthetist;
  4. Services of a licensed private duty nurse, up to a maximum of $15,000
  5. X-rays and laboratory examinations (when required for diagnostic purposes);
  6. Rental of crutches or appliances or the cost of splints, trusses or braces
  7. Treatment by a physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath, chiropodist, podiatrist, acupuncturist up to a maximum of $500 per practitioner, subject to a combined maximum of $2,000
Prescription Drug Reimbursement
Reimbursement of prescription drugs or medicines on an emergency basis as prescribed by the attending physician. (Oral contraceptives, patent medicines when a generic equivalent is available, vitamins, repeat prescriptions, maintenance and chronic care drugs are excluded.)
Accidental Dental Expense
If an injury is sustained to a whole or sound tooth (capped or crowned teeth will be considered whole and sound) due to a force or blow that is external to the mouth.
$3,000
Dental Treatment Benefit
If emergency treatment for pain relief is required, other than as a result of force or a blow to the mouth.
All treatment must be initiated within 48 hours from the time the emergency began and completed no later than 90 days after the treatment has begun.
$500
Evacuation
Transportation, medical services and supplies necessary for emergency evacuation. All arrangements must be recommended by the attending physician, certifying that the severity of the injury or sickness warrants the emergency evacuation.
Payment of one-way economy return airfare for dependant children who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and a one-way economy return airfare for such parent or guardian, to the province of residence will be paid in conjunction with the insured’s evacuation.
Pre-approval by iA is required prior to evacuation.
$200,000
$5,000
Special Transportation
Stretcher accommodation on a regularly scheduled airline in order to return to the province of residence during an emergency evacuation.
$7,500
Attendant Transportation
If recommended by the attending physician, or if required by the air carrier’s regulations, the presence of a medical attendant during the emergency evacuation will be reimbursed the reasonable and necessary expenses for round trip airfare plus one day accommodation and board.
$5,000
Ambulance Expense
Ground or air ambulance to the nearest medical facility qualified to provide the necessary emergency services
Ground - $500
Air - $5,000
Repatriation
When a covered medical emergency results in death, the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for the transportation of the body to the province of residence, including the preparation of the body for transportation
$10,000
Board, Lodging and Travel Expenses
When hospitalized for at least five consecutive days prevents the return to the province of residence, and the attendance of an immediate family member or companion is certified as medically necessary by the physician, reimbursement will be for round-trip economy airfare, meals and accommodation up to $150 per day.
If injury or sickness results in death, reimbursement will be made for a single round-trip airfare for an immediate family member or companion to identify the mortal remains, as well as meals and accommodation up to $150 per day for a maximum of five consecutive days.
$5,000
Trip Interruption
Reimbursement of non-refundable, pre-paid travel costs or the cost of travel to rejoin a tour or group when a trip is interrupted as a result of a medical emergency.
$1,000
Hotel Convalescence
If as a result of injury or sickness, the physician certifies that the insured, due to the medical condition, is prohibited from resuming any travel following discharge from hospital following at least a 7 day confinement, reimbursement will be made for board and accommodation (in the vicinity of the hospital).
$1,000
Meals and Accommodation
If an injury or sickness results in hospitalization as an inpatient, reimbursement will be made for additional reasonable living costs, child care costs for accompanying dependant children and essential calls and taxi fares incurred by the insured.
$3,000
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LIMITATIONS

In the case of confinement in a hospital or emergency surgery, iA must be notified no later than 48 hours from the date of hospitalization or emergency surgery. Failure to notify iA may limit coverage to a maximum of $10,000 for all expenses incurred .

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EXCLUSIONS

Travel Emergency Medical benefits will not be paid for loss, fatal or not fatal, caused by or resulting from any of the following:

  • (a) Pregnancy or complications thereof occurring within 8 weeks of the expected termination date or pregnancy, or at any time during the pregnancy if the insured’s medical history indicates a higher than normal risk of early delivery or complications;
  • (b) Declared or undeclared war or any act thereof;
  • (c) Any loss as the sole result of the utilization of Nuclear, Chemical or Biological weapons of mass destruction howsoever these may be distributed or combined.
  • (d) Active full-time service in the armed forces of any country;
  • (e) Suicide or attempted suicide or intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane;
  • (f) The commission or the attempt to commit a criminal act;
  • (g) Alcohol related illness or disease, or the abuse of medication, drugs, alcohol or other toxic substances, non-compliance with prescribed medical therapy or treatment. Alcohol abuse is defined as having a blood alcohol level in excess of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood;
  • (h) Mental or emotional disorders, unless hospitalized;
  • (i) Participation in a sport for remuneration or to a sporting event where monetary prizes are awarded to the winners, any kind of motor vehicle competition or any kind of speeding event, including training activities, to a dangerous or violent sport, such as but not limited to: off track snow sports, show jumping obstacles, rock climbing or mountain climbing (grade 4 or 5 routes according to the scale of the Yosemite Decimal System – YDS), parachuting, gliding or hang-gliding, skydiving, bungee jumping, canyoning, spelunking, rodeo, paragliding, kite surfing, scuba diving (unless holding a basic SCUBA designation from an internationally recognized and accepted plan) and any sport or activity with a high level of stress and risk involved or activities that require signing a waiver for participation, except while the Member is performing the occupation;
  • (j) Any loss incurred in a city, region or country when, prior to the effective date or departure date to that destination, (i) the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Canadian Government issued a written warning to avoid travel to that city, region or country; (ii) the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Canadian Government issued a written warning to avoid non-essential travel to that city, region or country, and such loss (including sickness and injury) is related or due to the reason for that warning. This exclusion shall not apply to COVID-19. If the insured is already at that destination on the date the warning was issued, coverage will be provided for five days to allow leaving the country for a safe location.
  • (k) Any ailment or condition for which the trip was taken for the purpose of securing or with the intent of receiving medical attention, prescription drugs or medicine or hospital services;
  • (l) Any continued treatment, recurrence or complications of a medical condition or related condition, after the initial emergency medical situation during the insured’s trip has ended. This is subject to the insured being cleared by the physician and continuing the trip.
  • (m) A pre-existing or related condition whereby the insured received medical treatment or required the use of medication during the three months preceding the date the insured left his/her province of residence. Before departure from the province of residence, the insured must be stable during the three months leading up to departure. Stable means the insured has not:
    • Been treated, tested or consulted for any new symptoms or conditions
    • Had an increase or worsening of any existing symptoms
    • Changed treatments
    • Changed medications (other than normal adjustments for ongoing care)
    • Been admitted to the hospital for the treatment of the condition
    • Been advised of future treatments or tests planned for any existing symptoms or conditions.

    This exclusion does not apply if treatment was deemed, by the treating physician or health care provider, as a routine follow-up examination, nor does it apply when the use of medication is for a controlled and medically stabilized condition, which is not medically compromised and where there was no change in either medication, or in frequency and usage or in dosage within the three months prior to departure;
  • (n) Any elective (non-emergency) treatment or surgery, (i) not required for the immediate relief of acute pain and suffering; (ii) which medically could be delayed until the insured returns to their province of residence; (iii) which the insured elects to have rendered or performed outside their province of residence following emergency treatment for, or diagnosis of, a medical condition on which the medical evidence would not prevent the insured from returning to his/her province of residence prior to receiving such treatment or surgery;
  • (o) Repatriation is mandatory when it is determined by iA that the insured is medically fit to travel, and appropriate arrangements have been made to admit him/her into the provincial health care system. Benefits will not be paid for any expenses if the insured refuses to travel to his/her province of residence. iA, in consultation with the insured’s treating physician, reserves the right to transfer the insured to an appropriate medical facility or to their province or territory of residence for future treatment. Failure to comply with a transfer request will absolve iA of any liability to provide benefits for expenses incurred after the date of the scheduled transfer date.
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BENEFIT TERMINATION

Member

Your access to the Travel Emergency Medical Benefit will cease:

  • Immediately when you move from Canada;
  • When your provincial health care benefits are no longer in place;
  • At the end of the Benefit Year prior to your 85th birthday (benefits are not available at any time during the Benefit Year in which you turn 85).

Dependants

Coverage for your insured dependant(s) will terminate on the earliest of:

  • The date on which your coverage as a Member terminates;
  • The date on which (s)he/they is no longer considered an eligible dependant;
  • The end of the Benefit Year prior to their 85th birthday.
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WHEN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OCCURS

The information in this section applies only when a medical emergency occurs.

The numbers below cannot be used to obtain additional information about the Travel Emergency Medical Benefit.

If possible, before obtaining any medical service or advice, or within 48 hours thereafter, contact:

iA’s Emergency Assistance Line
(open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
1.800.255.2008
or Outside North America * dial 0, wait for the operator, and ask to call collect (305) 865.8895

At the time of the call, you will need the following information:

Insurance Company:Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. (iA)

Policyholder: Actra Fraternal Benefit Society

Policy Number: 100009655

The information above is included on the Travel Emergency Medical Coverage Summary
issued by iA and is shown on the Certificate of Insurance wallet card of eligible Members. Be sure to check your Certificate of Insurance to determine if you have Travel Emergency Medical Benefits for the current Benefit Year.

The operator will also want to know:

  • The name of the person calling, their telephone number and, if the call is not being placed by the injured or ill insured person, their relationship to the insured;
  • The full name** and birthday of the injured or ill insured person and their location;
  • The name, location and telephone number of the hospital or treating physician;
  • The nature of the illness, injury or medical problem and to the extent possible the type of help needed.

*Depending on where you are travelling, collect calls may not be possible from cell phones; access to international operators may be limited; and there may be complications dealing with long distance and country codes. It can be stressful when an emergency occurs, so ensuring you know how overseas calls can be made from your destination ahead of time is helpful.

**Please be aware that if you use a stage name, this information must be provided.

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HOW TO FILE A CLAIM WHEN YOU PAY FOR THE EXPENSES YOURSELF

It is also important that you advise iA in writing of any claim within 30 days of the occurrence of the emergency. When you return to your province of residence, you will be required to submit a claim directly to iA. Claim forms may be obtained online at www.ia.ca/specialmarkets-forms www.ia.ca/specialmarkets-forms or by contacting:

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Claims Department
400 - 988 West Broadway, PO Box 5900, Vancouver BC V6B 5H6
Phone: 1.800.266.5667 or outside North America collect to 1.604.737.3802 Email: SpecialMarkets-claims@ia.ca

Please make sure that, when you pay any expenses yourself, you obtain original receipts. Submit all expenses first to the provincial health care plan of your province of residence. Then send a copy of the statement you receive from your provincial health care plan, together with the original receipts of any bills not paid by them, and the completed claim form to iA.

Documentary evidence of the duration of your scheduled trip, such as a transportation ticket or an official stamp at a customs office will be required.

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QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL EMERGENCY MEDICAL BENEFITS

If, after reviewing the Travel Emergency Medical Coverage Summary, you have questions about how your circumstances might be impacted by a specific aspect contact

iA Special Markets
Phone: 1.800.266.5667 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm ET)
Email: SpecialMarkets-claims@ia.ca

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