9 questions customers have about travel insurance – and answers, too!

by Alan Spruin , Director, Business Development, Atlantic, Intact Insurance?

and Dawn Anderson , Director, Personal Lines, Atlantic, Intact Insurance?

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Travel insurance can be tricky for customers to navigate. Everyone’s selling it. Most people either automatically decline – or accept – the “protect your trip” endorsement when they book their vacations. Many people think they’re covered – by health care, employee benefits or because they paid with their credit card.?

Too often they’re not.?

At Intact, we want customers to be safe no matter where they travel and we’re pretty passionate about ensuring people understand their insurance options! We asked brokers and underwriters to tell us what questions customers raise most often about travel insurance.??

Here’s what they said.?

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Travel is already so expensive! Why spend extra money on travel insurance when the odds of something happening are low??

We hear you! Your daydreams about your perfect getaway do not include a broken leg, a virulent flu or a heart attack. But when a medical emergency hits when you’re out of the country, you could be on the hook for thousands and thousands of dollars.?

I have home insurance, car insurance, medical benefits from work. Also, I’m Canadian and I have health care! Why would I need travel insurance when I travel??

Your home and auto insurance do not have a travel component. Your employee benefits may have limited coverage—but do read the fine print. And as for government health care plans, they are full of exclusions and they do not cover prescription drugs, ambulances or transportation and accommodation expenses – even when you’re travelling between provinces.?

My credit card plan says it includes travel insurance. Doesn’t that include trip interruption insurance and medical care abroad??

It might – coverage, limitations and exclusions differ between cards and banks. Check in with your credit card provider, read the fine print and chat with your broker before assuming you’re covered. Most credit cards only offer accidental death and dismemberment coverage (ouch, we know) and do not cover ongoing emergency medical expenses.??

I’m travelling with my grandchildren. Are they covered??

They could be! For example, both of Intact’s TravelWell plans – the Emergency Travel Medical Plan and the All-Inclusive Plan -- include worldwide emergency medical coverage up to $5 million for you, your spouse, your children and grandchildren.?

So you’re asking me to read the fine print and question limits. How much coverage do I need??

A lot – especially if you’re travelling to the US. An average day in a US hospital costs US$2800 to US$4000! Every travel policy has a limit, and most have a lifetime limit. Look for products like TravelWell where the limit – $5M – is per person per policy term.??

Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions??

Great question! Again, read the fine print and discuss with your broker. Under TravelWell, pre-existing conditions are covered as long as they have been stable for the specific time period defined in the wording.?

Never hide a pre-existing medical condition! You want to make sure you’re protected, no matter where you go and what happens.?

Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation and interruption??

Policies vary so talk with your broker about options. The TravelWell Emergency Travel Medical Plan just offers medical coverage while the TravelWell All Inclusive Plan additionally covers trip cancellation, trip interruption and even baggage loss, damage and delay.??

If I have a baggage loss claim while I’m travelling, does that affect my home policy??

Again, it depends on the policy and the insurer. Claims on TravelWell don’t impact the claims record of the primary property policy.??

(Note to broker: TravelWell claims do not impact your loss ratio!)?

Do I need to buy travel insurance every single time I travel??

Maybe, but not with TravelWell, which covers all your trips of up to 30 days for a year-long period.?

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There you go! Did we answer your question? Did we miss anything? Please reach out to your Intact Insurance representative for mor information.?

Additional resources for customers?

Enjoy safer travels with TravelWell?

Exclusive for Intact brokers?

Sign up for the TravelWell course on the Intact Portal!??

This one-hour long, instructor-led course explains how TravelWell works with Intact’s home policies, and how it compares to other products on the market.?

Accredited in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.?