Pacific Blue Cross has been providing several travel insurance benefits to British Columbians, along with health, life, dental and disability coverage. It was formed in 1997 by merging two companies, MSA and CU&C, which operated for over 85 years. Pacific Blue Cross is licensed by the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.
Advantages
- Pacific Blue Cross travel insurance policies don’t have an age limit.
- Returning Canadians awaiting eligibility for a government health insurance plan can be covered on the Visitor’s to Canada plan.
- High emergency medical coverage limit.
- Pacific Blue Cross offers direct pay – they will pay medical providers directly if they participate in their Insta-claim Program.
- An extremely flexible online quote system that lets you easily modify coverage details.
- Travelling dependents under the age of 21 are covered for free.
Disadvantages
- Plans can only be purchased before the trip departure date.
- Travel plans are only offered for residents of British Columbia or the Yukon with a government medical health plan.
- If you’re 61 or over, you’ll need to complete a health declaration.
Pacific Blue Cross Travel Insurance Plans
Pacific Blue Cross offers these types of plans for Canadians:
- Emergency Medical Plan (Single-Trip)
- Emergency Medical Plan (Multi-Trip)
- Trip Protection Plan
- Canada Domestic Travel Plan
They also offer a Visitors to Canada Plan for people visiting Canada.
Pacific Blue Cross Single-Trip Emergency Medical Plan
This plan includes $10 million in emergency medical coverage while travelling outside British Columbia. It is available for residents of the Yukon or BC who have a Medical Service Plan. You can purchase either a single-trip policy or a multi-trip annual policy, which covers multiple trips outside BC within a year.
The policy includes coverage for emergency medical expenses, repatriation costs, return of vehicle, return of pet, follow-up visits, ambulance coverage, a friend’s or family round-trip visit if the traveller is hospitalized and coverage for pre-existing conditions that meet the stability period requirement. Depending on the plan purchased and the age of the traveller, the stability period requirement is either 3 or 6 months.
It does not include trip cancellation and interruption, baggage, or trip protection unless you add it to your emergency medical plan or purchase it separately.
Pacific Blue Cross Annual Multi-trip Emergency Medical Care Plan
This plan includes up to $10 million emergency medical coverage. It provides the same benefits as the single-trip emergency medical plan, but gives you coverage for multiple trips within 365 days.
You can choose from a maximum trip duration of 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 or 180 days.
Pacific Blue Cross Trip Protection Plan
The Trip Protection Plan, formerly known as the trip cancellation and interruption plan, helps recover prepaid expenses in the event of a cancelled, delayed, or interrupted trip.
This plan provides coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, air flight accidents, accidental death and dismemberment, and baggage. You can add the individual benefits to another Pacific Blue Cross plan, buy them separately or choose a package.
Baggage coverage is up to $1500, up to the covered amount for trip cancellation, unlimited trip interruption, up to $300,000 for air flight accident, and $100,000 for accidental death and dismemberment.
Pacific Blue Cross Canada Domestic Travel Plan
This plan is solely for BC and Yukon residents travelling to other provinces or territories within Canada. Like the emergency medical plan, it provides up to $10 million in coverage. It can be purchased as a single-trip or multi-trip annual plan.
This plan provides coverage for emergency medical expenses, repatriation costs, medical follow-ups in BC, ambulance fees, and more. Like the emergency medical plan, the pre-existing condition stability period requirement is between 3 to 6 months, depending on multiple factors.
Comparison Chart for Pacific Blue Cross
| Plan | Medical Insurance Coverage | Deductible | Trip Cancellation and Interruption | Baggage | Maximum Age and Maximum Length of Coverage |
| Single-Trip Emergency Medical Plan | $10 million | No deductible | ❌ | ❌ | No age limit. Max 365-day limit. |
| Annual Multi-Trip Emergency Medical Plan | $10 million | No deductible | ❌ | ❌ | No age limit. Maximum duration per trip of 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 or 180 days. |
| Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan | ❌ | No deductible | Trip cancellation up to coverage amount. Unlimited trip interruption. | Up to $1,500 | No age limit. Max 365-day limit. |
| Canada Domestic Travel Plan | $10 million | No deductible | ❌ | ❌ | No age limit. Max 365-day limit. |
Tips for Saving with Pacific Blue Cross Travel Insurance
- If you travel more than once a year, you can save by getting an annual (multi-trip) plan, instead of separate single-trip plans.
- Kids of all families are covered for free when you buy emergency medical travel insurance, even with only one parent covered.
Refunds
For a refund, you need to contact the agent you purchased insurance from. A full refund will only be granted if the request is received before the effective date of the contract or within 10 days of the contract, as long as no claim has been made, the contract is more than 10 days or the contract was purchased within 11 days before the trip.
Premiums can be partially refunded if you return early before the expiry date of coverage, and no claim has been submitted. An administration fee of $25 will apply to any refund.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan and Annual Multi-Trip Plan refunds are not available.
You Need to Know
- Pacific Blue Cross travel products are underwritten by three different underwriters: Pacific Blue Cross, Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada, and the Canassurance Insurance Company Inc.
- Apart from the Visitors to Canada Plan, you need to be a resident of British Columbia or the Yukon and have a Canadian government health insurance plan.
- You can get an extension on your policy, but you must get the extension before your policy expires.
- Policies and coverage can change at any time, without warning. This article is only intended as general advice. Please check your own policy carefully and visit Pacific Blue Cross for up-to-date information.
How to Learn More
You can learn more about the Pacific Blue Cross travel plans online or by calling this toll-free number (877) 722-2583.
Want to Compare Pacific Blue Cross Plans with Other Travel Insurance Policies?
The easiest way to compare Canadian travel insurance rates is to use a comparison website.
Comparison websites, like BestQuote Travel Insurance, let you compare quotes for travel insurance from several different companies at once. Type in a few details about your trip, and compare policy coverage and prices to help narrow down your choice.