GeneralThe Medipac policy provides coverage for COVID-19 related illness that may occur while you are travelling. For even more coverage, we recommend you add MedipacMAX to your policy. Terms and Conditions Apply.
No, CSA membership is not required to purchase Medipac Travel Insurance. However the CSA, as an independent not-for-profit volunteer-based organization, has exclusively endorsed Medipac Travel Insurance for more than 25 years. Medipac is the Canadian Snowbird Association’s preferred choice for travel insurance. Visit www.snowbirds.org to learn more about the advocacy work of the CSA; it supports travelling Canadians and snowbirds alike. We encourage you to become a member and to support their efforts. Membership in the CSA also includes access to benefits designed for the unique snowbird and travelling Canadian lifestyles.
You can purchase your insurance online. The Medipac website has a complete copy of the policy for you to review prior to purchase, so there are no surprises. Purchasing online is the most efficient way to buy your insurance coverage. Once you have completed your application and paid your premium, your policy confirmation documents will be sent to your email immediately. It’s that simple! If for some reason you do not receive your confirmation immediately, try checking your junk (spam) folder instead of your inbox. If you still have not received it, call 1-800-633-4722 or 416-441-7070. Our representatives are here to help.
You can also purchase coverage by completing a hard copy application and mailing it to our office, along with your premium payment. Be sure to complete the application in full; should you miss completing a part of your application it will need to be returned to you for completion and resubmitted prior to issuing a policy, which may further delay processing. Once all is complete, payment is received, and your application is processed, your policy confirmation will be forwarded to you by mail.
Irrespective of your purchase method, we recommend that you buy your policy early to ensure that coverage is in place before you travel. Remember, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid policy prior to travelling.
An electronic signature has the same significance as a written signature. Being asked to complete an electronic signature means that each individual applicant is signing off that they have completed the application personally and that they declare that their answers are true and complete. The electronic signature is located at the end of the application process. Applicants 1 & 2 (if applicable) must type in their full name (first and last) and date of birth. The name and date of birth must correspond to the name and date of birth you placed under applicant 1 & 2 at the beginning of the application process. Applicant 1 cannot sign for applicant 2 and vice versa. Be sure to double check your spelling.
Having the following information ready for when you complete your application will make for an easier process:
Whether purchasing online or by mail, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the policy and application in advance. If you find yourself with questions regarding your health, you should review the question and how you should respond with your doctor to ensure accurate completion of the application; if you have questions, call 1-800-633-4722 or 416-441-7070. Our representatives are here to help.
There may be penalties, limitations in coverage and even the possibility that your policy will be NULL and VOID if your application for insurance is not accurately completed. For these reasons, we recommend that you complete your application yourself, as you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the answers to all medical questions on your application are true and complete. Where you are unsure of an answer to any of the medical questions on the application, we recommend that you review the question and the appropriateness of your response with your doctor. Further, as the application form becomes a part of the insurance contract, as the insured, you must sign your own application or risk voiding your policy. Persons appointed as your Power of Attorney (POA) may sign the application form; however, supporting documentation confirming their authority as POA is required. The POA should be familiar with your medical history and should review the policy prior to completing and signing the application, as the applicant and POA are interchangeable and responsible for completing the application correctly. Applications signed under a POA must be accompanied by a copy of the POA document, therefore all applications completed by a POA must be submitted by mail or email.
Existing clients can receive their discount by entering their discount authorization code during the application process. The code consists of one letter and 6 digits. Existing clients will have received their code either by mail and/or email. If you have misplaced your code, call 1-800-633-4722 or 416-441-7070. Our representatives are here to help.
Clients new to Medipac may be able to receive a discount if they have not been hospitalized and have not made a travel medical insurance claim for the past three to five consecutive years. The discount is based on the number of consecutive years you were not hospitalized and were claim free.
If you are eligible for the new client claim-free discount, you must complete an affidavit declaring your eligibility. Contact our office to get a copy of the affidavit. Once completed, the affidavit document can returned to our office; the savings cannot be received online during the application process, however once the affidavit document is received by our office you will be refunded the applicable amount of savings.
Many Canadians were not able to travel for the past few seasons. In many cases for returning clients, Medipac has maintained your discounts.
Preferred Plus, Preferred and Standard are the terms used to identify the three different rate categories under the Medipac Travel Insurance Plan. The rate category you qualify for is determined by the answers you provide to the medical questions on the Medipac Travel Insurance Application and is used in the calculation of your premium. The coverage and benefits provided are the same for all rate categories.
Medipac has several options for clients who have other insurance coverage and are looking to increase their policy limit and/or lengthen their trip.
If you have an existing policy that provides for a limited number of travel days, you can have your Medipac policy begin on the day your other coverage expires. Simply select the Effective Date upon which you want your Medipac policy to begin and pay the premium for the extra number of days you need to complete your trip. This is called “topping up.”
Note: We recommend that you only top up a policy that has coverage of at least $1,000,000. An example of such existing coverage is the retired teachers plan of Ontario. For all top-up plans, the eligibility, rate category and pre-existing requirements apply prior to your Medipac Effective Date of Insurance. Therefore, if you have a change in health after your date of travel and prior to your Medipac policy coming into effect, your coverage will be limited and/or possibly VOID and you may not have continued coverage under your other insurance plan. For this reason, we recommend that you purchase insurance with Medipac for the entire duration of you trip.
If you have other insurance coverage with a limited lifetime maximum limit, you may choose to use a portion of your benefits under the plan to pay your Medipac deductible and, by choosing a $5,000 or $10,000 deductible, you can substantially reduce your premium. You will be required to pay your deductible to Medipac upfront at the time of a claim. Therefore, it is important for you to understand what your other insurance covers.
If you have existing insurance that provides coverage for your whole trip, but includes a co-insurance feature that requires you to pay a percentage of any bill (typically 20%) Medipac may be able to provide you with premium savings through our co-insurance program. Simply call and request a special Co-insurance Application Supplement.
Most retired federal civil servants, military personnel and retired RCMP officers participate in the Public Service Health Care Plan, which provides out-of-country insurance coverage with a policy maximum of up to $1,000,000 CAD for 40 days.
For those who are travelling for more than 40 days, Medipac offers a Federal Superannuate premium credit to Public Service Health Care Plan members (Federal Superannuates) who purchase coverage from Medipac for the entire duration of their trip. This purchase option will increase the Federal Superannuate coverage limit from $1,000,000 CAD to $2,000,000 USD for the first 40 days.
We are aware that some Federal Superannuates choose to buy Medipac as a top-up and have Medipac’s coverage start on the 41st day of their trip. Under these circumstances, normal top-up rules apply. Medipac cautions that the $1,000,000 CAD policy limit for the first 40 days may not be enough, and therefore may not provide the protection necessary in the event of a major accident or illness.
By purchasing Medipac for the entire duration of your trip and applying the Federal Superannuate premium credit, you are covered from your date of departure to your date of return with Medipac’s maximum policy benefit of $2,000,000 USD. In addition, you will receive a 40-day annual plan (which begins on your effective date of insurance) at no extra cost.
Extensions may be available for policies that are still in force, and have not yet expired.
To extend your policy, simply call our customer service centre at 1-800-633-4722 (or direct from outside the U.S. and Canada at (416) 441-7070) at least 5 days before your Medipac Travel Insurance Policy expires. All extensions must be applied for and, if approved, paid for by credit card in advance. No extensions will be granted if you had an event that resulted or may result in a claim under your Medipac Travel Insurance Policy. In addition, if you sought medical attention and you are not submitting a claim, your extension is not guaranteed. A declaration of good health must be made and a brief questionnaire answered before an extension can be issued, therefore extensions cannot be completed by email. Extensions are available in trip length units as published. A non-refundable $10 administration fee per person, per extension will apply.
Remember that the Annual Add-on is for trips of up to either 23 or 33 days only (depending on which option you chose). If you want to travel for longer than 23 or 33 days you must call in to purchase additional coverage.
The Annual Add-on provides coverage for multiple individual trips of up to either 23 or 33 days (depending on which option you chose). The coverage is available for one year from the date you chose your Annual Add-on to begin. For each trip under the Annual Add-on, you must return to Canada before the 23 or 33 days expire; this will restart the coverage and allow you to take another 23 or 33 day trip.
If any of the trips you are planning during your Annual Add-on coverage period will be longer than 23 or 33 days, simply call us to purchase additional days.
No, you are not required to notify Medipac before you depart on any trip under the Annual Add-on. You are, however, required to provide proof of your departure dates in the event of a claim.
If you plan to travel before the date on which you were originally scheduled to leave, you MUST call Medipac to change your departure and effective dates to ensure you have a valid policy.
If you leave later than scheduled, your original expiry date will remain the same. Your expiry date is not dependent on your departure date; meaning it will not automatically shift forward an equivalent number of days, should you depart later than expected. You MUST inform Medipac of all date changes.
With all Medipac policies, the first change to your Travel Insurance Policy is FREE; subsequent changes will incur a $20 non-refundable administration fee.
If you have to cancel your policy and request a refund, you may do so free of administration fees if your refund request is for medical reasons or a death in your immediate family. If you request a refund for any other reason, a $50 administration fee will apply. Your request for refund must be made prior to your effective date; otherwise only a partial refund will be issued. See “Refund Policy” on page 11 of the Medipac Travel Insurance Policy or page 37 of the Medipac Travel Insurance Guide. You may also cancel your policy within 10 days of purchase with a full premium refund provided you have not departed on your trip and there is no claim in progress.
To remain eligible for your Canadian provincial/territorial government health insurance, you cannot travel outside your province/territory of residence for a total of more than 7 months (212 days) within a year, or 6 months (183 days) if you live in Quebec, PEI or Nunavut. This includes travel within Canada. A year may be a calendar year or a 12-month period; check with your ministry of health for full details. Foreign countries have their own rules on how long they will permit a visitor to stay within their borders. In the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have complete authority to limit your stay, for any reason, to a duration less than the 6-month maximum; they can also deny your entry altogether. In addition, CBP officers may use a simplified method of calculating your maximum 6 month stay (6×30=180), which could result in your being admitted for less than 183 days.
For more information, join the Canadian Snowbird Association. Included in membership dues ($25 per year or $325 for a lifetime membership) is a Travel Information Guide that answers many of these and other important questions related to travelling Canadians’ lifestyles.
Medipac has developed Individual Underwritten Insurance for those who do not qualify for coverage or find themselves excluded from coverage due to recent changes in their health, changes in their medications or hospitalizations within the past year (those who have a pre-existing condition that limits travel medical insurance coverage). Completing a more detailed questionnaire enables our medical staff to thoroughly assess an individual’s health and determine if coverage can be offered, and if so, at what price.
Due to the more detailed nature of the application, and the need for each application to be reviewed by our medical underwriting team, we are unable to provide personalized quotations immediately over the phone. Underwritten applications can be requested via our Specialty Services Department at 1-877-888-5259 or 416-391-9016. Once your fully completed application is received by the Specialty Services Department, you will be notified of your offer of acceptance or decline within 7 to 10 business days. Offers of acceptance expire after 60 days, so if you are going to accept the offer you must confirm in writing within that time frame.
Medipac Travel Insurance rates do not vary based on your travel destination.
Canadian provincial/territorial government health insurance plans vary and are limited in terms of out-of-country coverage. Provinces can pay as little as $75.00 CAD a day, whereas the average daily cost for a hospital stay can be more than $10,000 USD. Provincial coverage is inadequate and you should not rely solely on your provincial health care plan to cover costs of sickness or injury while traveling outside your province/territory of residence.
If you have a change in health after you purchase your insurance and prior to your effective date of insurance, your coverage will be limited and may be void. As such it is important that you contact Medipac at 1-800-633-4722 to understand how your policy is affected, which will include a reassessment of your eligibility and rate category.
A change could be (but is not limited to) a diagnosis, symptom, or something more subtle that you might think could be postponed until you return from your trip, such as a recommended physician referral to a specialist, a test, and recommended investigations or evaluations.
Regardless of the change in your medical status it is important that you notify Medipac to understand how your policy is affected.
Insurance, by its very nature, has benefits, exclusions and limitations. Travel insurance is not different. You are encouraged to fully read your policy; in particular, the Pre-existing Conditions, General Exclusions and General Limitations sections.
The Medipac Policy is for emergency medical treatment only. It is not a Trip Cancellation/Interruption policy. Should your means of transportation to return to Canada be delayed, expenses related to your extended stay will not be a benefit of your policy.
If you are required to have a COVID-19 test for non-medical reasons, the test will not be covered by your Medipac policy. When a test is required as part of the treatment for a medical emergency, the cost of your test would be deemed a policy benefit.
Medipac Assist will help you to navigate the claims process from start to finish. Failure to contact Medipac Assist prior to seeking medical treatment will limit all eligible covered expenses under your policy (75% to a maximum of $50,000 USD). You will be responsible for any remaining charges. When you call Medipac Assist they will direct you to the appropriate medical facility and will work with the treating facility to ensure that only medically necessary procedures are performed, ensuring that you do not have to pay for expenses that have not been approved in advance and are not a policy benefit. Medipac Assist will also let you know if there are any limits or restrictions in your policy, helping you to make an informed decision about your treatment.
Where possible, Medipac Assist will arrange for direct billing with the facility; there will be times when you may be required to pay a facility directly and be reimbursed (subject to policy terms and conditions).
Irrespective of the severity of your medical condition, whether you are planning to make a claim or not, you are required to contact Medipac Assist prior to seeking medical treatment.
Obtaining care while having a life-threatening condition such as a severe accident, heart attack or stroke must be your priority. If your medical condition prevents you from calling before seeking treatment, you must call as soon as medically and reasonably possible. You can also have someone else call on your behalf (a friend, hospital staff or family member). It is important that you carry your insurance information with you at all times and arrange to have someone who understands what is required from your policy in the event of a medical emergency. If you have instructed the hospital staff to call, you or someone you know should confirm that your insurer was indeed informed.
Irrespective of the severity of your medical condition, whether you are planning to make a claim or not, you are required to contact Medipac Assist prior to seeking medical treatment.
Medipac Assist will send a verification of benefits letter to the provider letting them know you have an insurance policy that provides coverage for emergency medical treatment subject to the policy terms and conditions. You may be required to sign a Medical Release Form by the treating facility; this provides authorization for the insurer to obtain medical notes from the treating facility. Receiving the release forms and medical notes early in the claims process may help to speed up bill processing times.
If it is determined that you should return to your province or territory of residence to continue treatment, Medipac Assist will arrange for your transportation and continued care. It is important that you have your passport documents in an easily accessible location and that you have arranged for someone to assist with this step should you be unable to do so. In some situations it may be some time before you can return to your out-of-country destination, so thought should be given as to where you will stay upon your return to Canada, and who could help you pack any belongings and close up your out-of-country place of residence, if required.
If you have a medical claim while travelling which has been deemed eligible under the terms and conditions of your policy, you will have coverage for that claim. Medipac also covers you for a recurrence of the same condition unless Medipac Assist has offered to return you to Canada.
You may be required to return to your province or territory of residence for medical reasons before the completion of your trip. If this is the situation and you choose not to return to your province or territory of residence, you will not have further coverage for anything directly or indirectly related to that condition. Your policy may even be void as of the date and time you refuse the request to return.
If you are not required to return, your policy remains in effect for the remainder of your trip.
We will pay your eligible medical bills directly to the medical provider or hospital for you whenever possible. However, in some cases you may be required to pay up-front for medical treatment, then seek reimbursement for those expenses. Always make sure you get itemized receipts for any medical treatment and/or medication, along with detailed medical records outlining your diagnosis, treatment, tests and results.
Nobody expects to experience a medical emergency while traveling; having travel insurance can help with any unexpected surprises. Here are a few things you may want to plan for in the event that you have a medical emergency.
It is important to establish who will make your decisions when you are unable or require assistance to do so. Even though you may not be incapacitated, it is difficult to make decisions and plans from within a hospital setting. Your decision maker should have access to funds to provide payment of any expenses that may not be a policy benefit (i.e. inpatient rehab), as well as your deductible (if applicable). Your decision maker should also be able to receive and convey information to other members of your support system. If you are incapacitated, it is important that your Power of Attorney (POA) has easy access to your POA document.
Create a plan that outlines what will happen to your pet(s) if you are hospitalized while travelling. Give consideration as to how your pet(s) will return to Canada in the event you are unable to return home by the same way you travelled to your destination
Access to your medical records is not only necessary to complete the claim process, it is often required for medical management should you have a claim while traveling. Speak with your doctor before traveling to let them know that they may need to discuss your medical history with your insurer, should you have a medical emergency. Plan ahead. If your doctor has retired, request that a copy of your records be transferred to your new doctor or, if you don’t yet have a new doctor, ensure you have a copy of your own medical records.
Many individuals have their winter residence outside Canada. It is important to plan where you and/or your loved one will stay if you need to return to Canada for continued treatment in case of a medical emergency.
When you call Medipac Assist prior to seeking medical attention, part of their role is to facilitate the claims process. Medipac Assist can mail you a Claim Kit or you can download the forms that you need. Either way you will be provided with everything necessary to submit your claim. All documentation should be returned to our office as soon as possible to ensure prompt processing of your claim.
Before a claim can be settled, certain requirements need to be fulfilled. This includes, but is not limited to, the receipt of your fully completed, signed and witnessed claim form and any provincial forms; payment of your deductible (if applicable); and proof of departure if claiming under the Annual Add-on. In addition, Medipac Assist will need to obtain medical records and official billing from medical and other providers. Upon receipt of all required documentation, we will begin processing your claim.
A witness can be anyone who sees you sign the claim form; this can include a family member, friend or neighbour.
To make a claim on behalf of a deceased insured, you must complete Claim Form B (for incapable or deceased insureds) and provide a notarized copy of their Last Will and Testament along with a notarized copy of the death certificate. In the absence of a Will, provide a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee. All other steps to submitting a claim are the same; any correspondence (including payments) will be sent directly to the estate.
The deductible is in USD no matter where you travel. The deductible applies only once during a single trip policy term. If you have purchased an Annual Add-on, the deductible applies per trip.
Payment of the policy deductible is required at the time of claim. Therefore, if you selected a deductible when you purchased coverage, you must be prepared to pay your deductible to Medipac at the time you incur a claim.
If you have made payments directly to one or more healthcare providers, Medipac may be able to apply any amounts paid toward your deductible. Be sure to review the back of your insurance card and ask your health care providers for the specific types of invoices that Medipac requires for reimbursement. If the right invoice is not submitted, the invoice cannot be applied to your deductible and you will need to make an additional payment.
Bills must meet certain criteria in order to prevent fraud and for submission to Government Health Insurance Plans. Most provinces and territories will only accept an original invoice in order to provide reimbursement. Usually this means an invoice that includes procedure codes, diagnostic codes, the tax ID of the medical provider, etc.
If payment has not yet been made, Medipac will attempt to obtain an original invoice directly from the service provider. If we are not able to obtain the information, the invoice will not be processed.
If you have paid the service provider directly, you will be required to obtain the proper invoice. If you submit a non-original invoice, you will be notified and no reimbursement will be made. If you receive a proper invoice within one year from the date of service, submit the invoice to Medipac Assist for processing.
If you have other insurance with out-of-country benefits (in addition to your Medipac plan), you must complete the Other Insurance Information section of the claim form. Where two or more insurance plans exist, each plan will contribute to the claim subject to their overall limits and based on their terms and conditions.
An exception to this rule applies to group retiree plans. Where there is a group retiree health plan with a lifetime maximum limit of $100,000 or less, there will be no coordination of benefits. However, where your limit exceeds $100,000, coordination of benefits will take place in excess of the $100,000 lifetime limit. If you do not want to coordinate your lifetime benefits, Medipac may be able to help. Call Specialty Services at 1-877-888-5259 for more information. Be sure you know your retiree plan limits and how your insurance provider coordinates coverage.
Although the majority of our travel insurance claims are paid, in the event that your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision.
To avoid having your claim denied, review your policy thoroughly, in particular the pre-existing condition clauses, general exclusions and limitations sections of the policy. In addition, if you are unsure of how to answer any medical question on the application, review the question and your medical conditions with your doctor.
It is important to remember that any change to your health, including any recommended tests, follow-ups or referrals, can affect your coverage. Therefore, should you have a change in health between your date of purchase and your effective date of insurance, you should call Medipac for an understanding of how your policy is affected, including having a reassessment of your eligibility and rate category.
MedipacMAX Health care costs in the United States and elsewhere continue to increase. With the emergence of COVID-19, medical expenses have become a concern of insureds and insurance companies, alike. MedipacMAX is a must-have endorsement that provides maximum coverage available under the Medipac policy – $5,000,000 USD – which includes coverage for COVID-19. MedipacMAX costs only $147 and includes 8 additional and important benefits which are not available in the standalone policy. We recommend that you add MedipacMAX to your policy.
If you have one (1) payable medical claim which exceeds your deductible, MedipacMAX protects your ‘Claim Free’ status and applicable discount for the following year’s purchase of Medipac Travel Insurance. Should you have a second payable claim on the same policy which exceeds your deductible, then you would not be entitled to a Claim-Free Discount for purchases made the following year. You will, however, retain your Loyalty Credit.
The Return to Canada benefit is applicable when a member of your immediate family dies while you are on your trip and you wish to return to Canada. This benefit will not apply for any trip you make to visit a family member who is not yet deceased. In addition, the Return to Canada benefit applies in the event that your primary residence in Canada becomes uninhabitable due to a natural disaster while you are on your trip. Refer to the endorsement you received with your Medipac Travel Insurance policy or to the Medipac Travel Insurance Guide for further details.
The following documentation must be provided to Medipac:
If you have a deductible on your policy, it does not apply to this benefit.
This information is outlined in the endorsement you received with your Medipac Travel Insurance policy, as well as in the Medipac Travel Insurance Guide. To clarify, immediate family is defined as spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, granddaughter or grandson. Siblings are not included.
Medipac strives to provide customer experience that is both easy and professional. Our call center lines are staffed with dedicated customer service representatives who can help you better understand the Medipac Plan, help you to enrol in the plan and or make changes to your existing policy.
Remember: if you have a change in health prior to your Effective Date of Insurance – CALL US.
Monday to Friday : 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday : 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday : 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday : 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
| Toll Free : | 1-800-633-4722 |
| Local Number : | 416-633-4722 |
| Fax : | 416-441-7030 |
| Email : | admin@medipac.com |
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Address and Medipac Walk-In Centre : |
Medipac Travel Insurance 180 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 |
For Emergency Medical Assistance Only - Available 24 hours:
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Toll Free from the U.S.A. and Canada : |
1-800-813-9374 |
| Local : | 416-441-6337 |
| Fax : | 416-441-7059 |
| E-mail : | assist@medipac.com |
| Toll Free : | 1-888-311-4761 |
| Local Number : | 416-441-7073 |
| Fax : | 416-441-7059 |
| E-mail : | claims@medipac.com |
| Address : |
Medipac Claims Department 180 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 |
*Please note that changes and extensions to existing policies cannot be accepted via e-mail.