At BCAA, we want to help British Columbians stay safe at home and on the move. That includes adjustments to BCAA Travel Insurance and keeping you informed on COVID-19 and the implications for out-of-province travel. Please note the information on this page is subject to change and updates regularly.
BCAA Travel Insurance & COVID-19 Coverage
BCAA Travel Insurance offers both Travel Emergency Medical Insurance and non-medical Trip Protection Coverage (i.e. Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance, and more) and COVID-19 impacts each coverage differently.
BCAA Travel Emergency Medical Insurance: If you purchased your policy on August 13, 2021 or later, your policy includes up to $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 in coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses outside of Canada depending on your vaccine status and your eligibility*.Your coverage wording is available at bcaa.com/wordings.
BCAA Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Insurance. If you purchased your policy on August 13, 2021 or later, your policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses, up to the coverage limit you selected at the time of purchase**. Your coverage wording is available at bcaa.com/wordings.
BCAA Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption (Trip Protection Package/Non-medical Travel Package): As of March 5, 2020, COVID-19 is considered a known event worldwide, and no coverage is available for COVID-19.
More information is available in the below Frequently Asked Questions.
COVID-19 and Travelling
Before you go
Be sure to familiarize yourself with travel rules, restrictions and requirements for your departure from, and return to, Canada. Helpful checklists can be found at travel.gc.ca. It’s also a good idea to closely review your insurance coverage so you’re familiar with the terms and conditions before you leave.
While you’re away
If you get sick while you’re away, with BCAA Travel Insurance you have access to personalized care, with safe and convenient virtual and in-person visit options, as well as the flexibility to choose your medical provider and obtain treatment in any hospital anywhere in the world. If you are not familiar with the medical providers at your location, we can help you find appropriate medical attention.
When you return
Anyone travelling to Canada will need to follow testing and quarantine requirements. Visit the Canadian Government website, travel.gc.ca, for the latest detailed information, including helpful pretravel checklists. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 once you return home, call 8-1-1 for more information and advice.
Helpful resources
- Current Canadian travel advisories: Learn about current travel advisories from the Government of Canada at travel.gc.ca.
- Travel rules and requirements: Travel rules and requirements can change quickly and without notice, so we strongly advise that you check the Canadian government travel websitefor rules and requirements for leaving Canada, as well as for those of your destination.
- News on disease outbreaks and ways to protect yourself: The Public Health Agency of Canada and the BC Centre for Disease Control provide the latest news on disease outbreaks, including Coronavirus (COVID-19) and ways to protect yourself, while you’re home and away. You may also want to check the number of COVID-19 cases and vaccination levels for your destination through the World Health Organization.
FAQs
BCAA Travel Insurance Coverage
All Travel Emergency Medical Insurance policies for Canadian residents provide up to $10,000,000 or $1,000,000 in coverage for COVID-19-related emergency medical expenses depending on your vaccine status*. Coverage also applies when travel is within Canada. For details on Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Insurance COVID-19 medical coverage, see the BCAA Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Coverage FAQ section below.
If you purchased or renewed your Trip Protection Package on or after March 5, 2020 you will not have coverage for Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption for COVID-19, as it is considered a worldwide “known circ*mstance”. Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance policies are designed to cover unexpected issues. Because COVID-19 is so widely known, it’s no longer considered unexpected. You can learn more at bcaa.com/wordings.
If you develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 (or any illness) before your vacation, it would be wise to avoid travelling.
If you test positive for COVID-19 or show COVID-19 symptoms within the 14-days prior to your departure date, COVID-19 medical coverage will not be available to you.
If you experienced a COVID-19 infection more than 14-days before departure, it will be considered an unstable pre-existing condition if it does not meet the definition of minor ailment as outlined in the Definitions section of the policy wording available at bcaa.com/wordings. Optional unstable pre-existing condition coverage is available for additional premium and would provide coverage up to $300,000 for COVID-19 medical emergencies if you do not experience further symptoms or require further treatment within 7-days prior to departure.
If you had a COVID-19 diagnosis that occurred more than 14-days before departure that does meet the criteria for minor ailment, it would not be considered a pre-existing condition and you would be eligible for up to $10,000,000 or $1,000,000 in COVID-19 emergency medical coverage depending on your vaccine status*.
If you have purchased the Trip Protection Package and would like to cancel your trip due to illness, coverage may be available provided you purchased the insurance before contracting the illness and your physician advised you in writing against travelling. If your policy was purchased on or after March 5, 2020, you would not have coverage if you got sick with COVID-19.
Please see full terms and conditions at bcaa.com/wordings or contact us to discuss pre-existing conditions and their impact on available coverage.
If you get sick while you’re away, with BCAA Travel Insurance you have access to personalized care, with safe and convenient virtual and in-person visit options, as well as the flexibility to choose your medical provider and obtain treatment in any hospital anywhere in the world. If you are not familiar with the medical providers at your location, we can help you find appropriate medical attention. You can learn more and find contact information at bcaa.com/travelclaims.
COVID-19 Emergency Medical Coverage
COVID-19 emergency medical coverage is still available if a Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) advisory for COVID-19 is in place for your destination at the time of your departure. Please check the Government of Canada website for the latest travel advisories. Please also check all other FAQs and bcaa.com/wordings for all policy terms and eligibility criteria.
If a Level 4 Government of Canada travel advisory for COVID-19 is in place at the time of your departure, COVID-19 emergency medical coverage is not available.
If a Level 4 Government of Canada travel advisory for COVID-19 is issued after your departure, COVID-19 emergency medical coverage is available as long as prior to departure the travel advisory in place for your destination was lower than Level 3 (or there was no advisory in place).
Please note that some countries (even particular territories and jurisdictions within those countries) may have Level 4 advisories for COVID-19, so it is important to check the Government of Canada website for the latest travel advisories for your destination.
BCAA Travel Emergency Medical Insurance policies include up to $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 CAD in coverage for emergency medical travel expenses related to COVID-19 outside of Canada based on your vaccine status and eligibility. $10,000,000 limit applies if you have been fully vaccinated (administered with at least two doses of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine) and up to $1,000,000 CAD if you have been administered one dose. Dose(s) must be administered 14-days or more prior to departure. Children under the age of 18 are covered regardless of their vaccine status. Full eligibility criteria for COVID-19 coverage and all policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations can be found in the policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
For details on Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Insurance COVID-19 medical coverage, see the BCAA Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Coverage FAQ section below.
Proof that you’ve been vaccinated is not required at the time of purchase, however, in the unfortunate event of a COVID-19 emergency medical claim, you will need to provide evidence that you received a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to leaving on your trip. For coverage to apply, travelers also must have not had any COVID-19 symptoms and must not have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14-days prior of departure.
Your policy includes up to $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 CAD in coverage for emergency medical travel expenses related to COVID-19, depending on your vaccine status*, at no additional cost.
Now that the Canadian Government has lifted the Level 4 (Avoid All Travel) COVID-19 travel advisory for cruise travel, COVID-19 emergency medical coverage is available (depending on your vaccination status*), as long as your trip departed after the travel advisory was lifted on March 7, 2022.
If your trip departed before the travel advisory was lifted on March 7, 2022, there is no coverage for COVID-19 emergency medical expenses for the duration of your trip.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
No, you do not need to get a booster vaccine to have COVID-19 medical coverage.
BCAA Travel Emergency Medical Insurance policies include up to $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 CAD in coverage for emergency medical travel expenses related to COVID-19 outside of Canada based on your vaccine status and eligibility. $10,000,000 limit applies if you have been fully vaccinated (administered with at least two doses of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine) and up to $1,000,000 CAD if you have been administered one dose. Dose(s) must be administered 14-days or more prior to departure. Children under the age of 18 are covered regardless of their vaccine status. Full eligibility criteria for COVID-19 coverage and all policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations can be found in the policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
Full terms and conditions are available at bcaa.com/wordings.
Coverage for adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine is the same as coverage for adverse reactions to all other vaccines and depends on a few factors, including when symptoms started. You can learn more at bcaa.com/wordings.
Yes, coverage would be available as this would be considered an emergency.
Quarantine Coverage
If you are mandated to quarantine by the government or health authority at your destination due to testing positive for COVID-19, your BCAA travel insurance coverage may respond in the following way:
- Travel Emergency Medical Insurance: Your medical coverage, including coverage for COVID-19 related emergency medical expenses, may automatically extend for the duration of your government or health authority-mandated quarantine duration that lasts beyond your originally schedule return date, up to a maximum of 14-days. Visit bcaa.com/wordings to learn more.
- Travel Delay, Travel Delay & COVID-19 Quarantine or Trip Protection Package optional coverages: For departure dates on Feb 18, 2022 and later: Any policies that have the Travel Delay, Travel Delay & COVID-19 Quarantine, or Trip Protection Package optional coverages added to a BCAA Travel Emergency Medical policy, up to $300 per person per day (up to $3,000 maximum) and $500 per family per day (up to $5,000 maximum) in quarantine expense coverage is available for unplanned accommodation and living expenses. Coverage applies if you are mandated to quarantine due to testing positive for COVID-19 and are unable to return on your originally-scheduled return date.
Coverage for all other COVID-19 related claims is not available, as COVID-19 is considered a global “known circ*mstance”.
Please review your applicable wordings available at bcaa.com/wordings and bcaa.com/COVID-19 to learn more.
Purchasing, Renewing, Extending or Cancelling Your Policy
No, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BCAA is not currently able to provide coverage for travelers who have already left the country.
Yes, you can renew your policy mid-trip.
Yes, you can extend your policy. Depending on when you departed and purchased your policy, there may be certain limitations on how long you can extend your policy for, so please give us a call to discuss your circ*mstances.
Your eligibility for a refund depends on the type of policy you purchased, how long it’s been in effect and whether you’ve travelled on the policy. Please refer to the following table for more information. Refund rules are also available in your policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
| Policy Type | Policy hasn’t taken effect yet | Policy has been in effect for less than 90 days | Policy has been in effect for 90 days or more |
| Single Trip Policy | Eligible for a full refund. | Eligible for a partial refund, even if you’ve travelled on the policy. | Eligible for a partial refund, even if you’ve travelled on the policy. |
| Annual Policy | Eligible for a partial refund, as long as you haven’t travelled on the policy. | Not eligible for a refund. |
With the global travel restrictions in place, we know that your travels may be taking you within Canada instead. Your BCAA Annual Multi-trip policy provides tremendous value for travel within Canada. For example, your maximum trip length limitation does not apply to travel within Canada, so if you selected a maximum trip duration of 8 days, you can exceed that and travel longer within Canada. Also, your policy covers COVID-19 related emergency medical expenses within Canada up to $10,000,000.
Your eligibility for a refund depends on the type of policy you purchased. Please refer to the following table for more information. Refund rules are also available in your policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
| Policy Type | Policy hasn’t taken effect yet | Policy has been in effect for less than 90 days | Policy has been in effect for 90 days or more |
| Single Trip Policy | Eligible for a refund (less a cancellation fee) if: •you cancel your trip and no cancellation penalties are applied. | ||
| Annual Policy | Eligible for full refund as long as you haven’t travelled on the policy and no cancellation penalties are applied. | Eligible for a partial refund, as long as you haven’t travelled on the policy and no cancellation penalties are applied. | Not eligible for a refund. |
Refunds are not available if you intend on making a claim on your Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance Coverage.
BCAA Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Coverage
BCAA Visitors to Canada Travel Emergency Medical Insurance policies include coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses, up to the coverage limit you selected at the time of purchase.
For coverage to apply, all vaccine dose(s) must have been administered at least 14 days prior to the effective date, arrival date or COVID-19 diagnosis date, whichever occurs later. Children under the age of 18 are covered regardless of their vaccine status. Vaccines approved by the health authority in your home country will be accepted, even if they are not approved by Health Canada for use within Canada. Coverage also does not apply if you have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test within 14-days of arrival date or, effective date or, the date of the COVID-19 diagnosis, whichever occurs earlier. Coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses does not apply if you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Full eligibility criteria for COVID-19 coverage and all policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations can be found in the policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
*$10,000,000 CAD COVID-19 medical coverage limit applies if you have been fully vaccinated (administered with at least two doses of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine) and up to $1,000,000 CAD if you have been administered one dose. Dose(s) must be administered 14-days or more prior to departure. Coverage provided at no additional cost with the purchase of a BCAA Travel Emergency Medical Insurance policy. Children under the age of 18 are covered regardless of their vaccine status. Full eligibility criteria for COVID-19 coverage and all policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations can be found in the policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
**Coverage limit for COVID-19 related emergency medical expenses applies and is based on the coverage amount selected at time of purchase. You must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and vaccine dose(s) must have been administered at least two weeks prior to the effective date, arrival date or COVID-19 diagnosis date, whichever occurs later. Children under the age of 18 are covered regardless of their vaccine status. Full eligibility criteria for COVID-19 coverage and all policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations can be found in the policy wording at bcaa.com/wordings.
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