Your Premium News - August 2021

With restrictions reduced and more and more Canadians getting vaccinated, there is optimism travel outside Canada will be a possibility in the not-too-distant future.

To prioritize our Members’ safety, CAA supports the Government of Canada’s recommendation to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. However, if you must travel now or are starting to plan for future travel, here are five key considerations to help you make an informed decision before leaving Canada:

1. What happens if I contract COVID-19 while away?

Despite increased vaccinations, the potential of contracting COVID-19 while travelling is a possibility. But this is not the only concern:

• There may not be space or care available within local hospitals/clinics at your destination due to high caseloads and overburdened facilities and staff.
• There is an increased challenge repatriating travellers back to a Canadian hospital – particularly if ICU facilities at home are increasingly strained.
• You may not be able to recover or quarantine in the accommodations at your destination. Some hotels or facilities may have restrictions or simply do not have availability, leaving you scrambling.

2. If I need medical care for something non-COVID-19 related while away, will the hospital or emergency clinic at my destination be able to support me?

It may be difficult for Canadians to secure access to any necessary medical care outside of Canada. If a destination experiences a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, local governments can prioritize citizens over tourists. This could leave ill Canadian travellers without necessary support regardless of one’s insurance coverage.

3. What if I decide to return home early if I feel unsafe at my destination?

Due to the pandemic, many Canadian consular services are limited globally. As a result, Canadians’ ability to reach embassy staff could be limited should an issue arise.

Many countries currently have travel or border restrictions. Airlines may cancel flights or impose new restrictions with little warning.

As a travel advisory is in place for COVID-19, it is considered a known issue. If you decide to return home early, you will have to pay the associated costs, as it will not be covered under travel insurance.

Currently all air passengers over the age of five, including those who are fully vaccinated are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result. The test must be taken within 72 hours prior to boarding a plane to Canada. This means you will have to wait at your destination until your test results come in and turnaround times may vary by location. You will also need to be mindful of connecting flights and ensuring that your test is still valid when catching a connecting flight to Canada. If you are travelling from a country where a COVID-19 test is not available, you will be required to report to a designated federal quarantine facility maintained by the Public Health Agency of Canada and may have to quarantine in the facility or a designated hotel for up to 14 days.

On your return to Canada, you will need to be mindful of any entry requirements such as self-isolation and having a quarantine plan. Learn more about the Government of Canada’s entry requirements.

4. What should I consider if I want to book a trip?

If you are looking to book a future trip, consider the following:

• Am I able to get a refund should I need to cancel the booking in the future? Are there fees or penalties associated with making changes to my booking?
• Am I willing to accept a future travel credit instead of a refund based on what suppliers are currently offering?
• Is free cancellation being offered by the travel supplier?
• Am I willing to accept an alternate date to travel if my supplier decides not to operate at the planned time of departure?
• Do I understand the impacts of my travel insurance coverage if there is still a travel advisory in place when the payment is due?

Our expert CAA Travel Consultants can answer all your questions and help you navigate your options as you start future trip planning.

5. Can I still purchase travel medical insurance and/or trip cancellation and interruption coverage for future planned trips?

We recognize that some travel is essential while others may be looking to take advantage of the many incentives available for future trips, hoping the advisories will lift before their departure date. COVID-19 itself (or any pandemic) is not an exclusion in any CAA Travel Insurance¹ policy; however, there are exclusions related to Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) and Level 4 (avoid all travel) travel advisories.

• CAA Travel Insurance does cover COVID-19 related illnesses when Canadian travel advisories are active at Level 1 (‘Exercise normal security precautions’) or Level 2 (‘Exercise a high degree of caution’), on the date of departure.
• *New* CAA Travel Insurance Emergency Medical plans now include up to $2.5 million CAD in coverage if partially vaccinated, and up to $5 million CAD in coverage if fully vaccinated for COVID-19 related illnesses that may occur when travelling at a time when the Canadian government has issued a related Level 3 travel advisory (i.e. “Avoid non-essential travel”). There are certain vaccination requirements that must be met before departure to be eligible for this coverage². Read more about the COVID Coverage Endorsement.
• When travel advisories are active at Level 3 or Level 4 at time of purchase, cancellation claims related to the COVID-19 travel advisories would not be eligible.
• When travel advisories are set at Levels 3 or Level 4 on the date of departure, interruption claims related to the COVID-19 travel advisories would not be eligible.

This is an evolving situation and your safety continues to be of utmost importance to us. For more travel information related to COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 information page or contact us.

Note: This information was accurate at the time of writing this article, and is subject to change.

The world has gone virtual, and so has healthcare. Many of us have attended a virtual meeting over the course of the pandemic and that may have included a visit to the doctor.

There are plenty of great benefits to virtual healthcare. Our partners at Manulife have helped to define exactly what virtual healthcare is and some of the great benefits.