Medavie Blue Cross is a not-for-profit company that has provided health insurance to residents of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island for over 75 years. Medavie Blue Cross is a member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross.
Advantages
- Offers insurance for Canadian citizens, Canadian residents with access to a Canadian government health insurance plan, and visitors to Canada.
- A transparent overview of eligibility and pre-existing condition stability periods
Disadvantages
- If you are aged 76 or older, you’ll have to fill out a lengthy medical questionnaire, including height and weight.
- It can be confusing to choose the right plan, given that there are so many plan options
- You need to call to purchase if you meet any of these conditions:
- More than six people are travelling,
- Any dependent children are over the age of 25,
- The main insured and their partner are under age 16,
- The insured is older than 76 years old.
Overview
Medavie Blue Cross provides many travel insurance products to its clients, including:
- Emergency Medical Care Plan
- 3-in-1 Package Plan
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan
- Trip Interruption Only Plan
- Accidental Death or Dismemberment Plan
- Baggage Plan
- Multi-Trip Annual Plan
You can choose to add one plan from the list or a selection of multiple plans together to suit the coverage you require.
Medavie Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care Plan
This plan includes up to $5 million in emergency medical insurance for a single trip. The plan provides coverage for Canadians travelling within Canada and outside Canada.
This policy is strictly for emergency medical purposes and does not include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage, or accidental death and dismemberment. A health declaration is required past the age of 55 in order to purchase the policy, including answers about height and weight.
The stability period requirement is 6 months, but travellers between 60 and 84 and travellers aged 55 and 59 who are travelling for more than 18 days can add an optional reduced stability period option, which lowers the stability period to 3 months.
Medavie Blue Cross 3-in-1 Package Plan
The Medavie Blue Cross 3-in-1 Package Plan combines emergency medical, accidental death and dismemberment and baggage coverage in one policy.
The policy is only available online and provides up to $5M in emergency medical care, up to $300,000 for accidental death and dismemberment and up to $1,000 for baggage coverage. There is also a Flight Delay Service included in the plan.
Trip cancellation and interruption coverage is not included but can be added to the 3-in-1 Package Plan.
Medavie Blue Cross Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan
The Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan provides coverage in the event you need to cancel, modify, interrupt or extend your trip. You can opt to have trip cancellation and interruption coverage or Trip Interruption Only coverage.
You also have the option to add the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on with the cancellation and interruption coverage, which allows you to cancel your trip for reasons beyond the covered risks. The CFAR add-on provides up to $4,500 reimbursement per person.
Medavie Blue Cross Accidental Death or Dismemberment Plan
The Medavie Blue Cross Accidental Death or Dismemberment Plan provides coverage if the policyholder loses one or more limbs or dies due to an accident during their trip. The policy also provides coverage for vision loss in one or both eyes.
The maximum benefit is $300,000 and is dependent on age and circumstances.
Medavie Blue Cross Baggage Plan
The Baggage Plan provides coverage in three situations: if the policyholder’s baggage is lost, stolen or damaged, if checked baggage is delayed, and if official documents are lost or stolen and need replacing.
The maximum benefit amount for all three benefits is $1,500 per trip per policyholder. Delay benefits are up to $500, and official document replacement is up to $250.
Medavie Blue Cross Multi-Trip Annual Plan
The Multi-Trip Annual Plan is an emergency medical plan providing coverage if you plan to take several trips in a year. It has a maximum coverage of $5M per year.
You can select multiple duration options from 4 days to 180 days per trip. If a future trip exceeds the maximum trip duration, you can purchase an extension for the additional days.
Comparison Chart for Medavie Blue Cross Travel Insurance Plans
Plan | Medical Insurance Coverage | Deductible | Trip Cancellation and Interruption | Baggage | Maximum Age and Maximum Length of Coverage |
Emergency Medical Care Plan | $5M | Up to $5,000 | ❌ | ❌ | No age limit. For trips of over 32 days, the age limit is 55 years old. |
3-in-1 Package Plan | $5M | ❌ | ❌ | Up to $1,000 | Up to age 55. |
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan | ❌ | ❌ | Trip cancellation up to the amount paid for your trip. Trip interruption up to maximum coverage per covered event. | ❌ | No age limit. |
Trip Interruption Only Plan | ❌ | ❌ | Trip interruption up to maximum coverage per covered event. | ❌ | No age limit. |
Accidental Death or Dismemberment | $300,000 for loss of life or limbs. | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | No age limit. |
Baggage Plan | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Up to $1,500 | No age limit. |
Multi-Trip Annual Plan | $5M | Up to $5,000 | ❌ | ❌ | Up to age 85 when you purchase less than 120 days per trip. Up to age 80 for 150 or 180-day multi-trip policies. |
Tips for Saving with Medavie Blue Cross Travel Insurance
- If you have another policy with Medavie Blue Cross, you may qualify for discounts on your travel insurance.
- If you travel often, purchase an annual plan to cover you for multiple trips in a year. It may end up better value than multiple single-trip plans.
Refunds
- You need to submit your refund request to the agent you purchased your policy from.
- You can get a full refund if:
- You submit the refund request before the contract starts, or
- You submit the request up to 10 days after you purchase, but only if:
- You have not submitted, nor intend to submit, a claim,
- Your contract is more than 10 days long.
- You may get a pro-rated refund for an unused part of your policy if you haven’t made a claim. All refunds are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
- If you have Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage or hold a Multi-Trip Annual contract, you cannot request a refund.
You Need to Know
- Most of Medavie Blue Cross’ travel insurance products are underwritten by Medavie Inc. The Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage is underwritten by Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada.
- You need a valid Canadian Government Health Insurance Plan (except for visitors to Canada plans).
- You need to depart from and return to your province of residence at the end of the trip.
- You must apply for coverage before leaving on your trip.
- 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 Medavie Blue Cross for up-to-date information.
- If you meet any of the following criteria, you need to call 1-866-492-2583 to purchase insurance:
- More than six people are travelling,
- The main insured and their partner are under age 16,
- Dependent children are over age 25,
- The insured is 76 or older.
How to Learn More
You can learn more about Medavie Blue Cross travel plans online or by calling 1-866-495-2583.
Want to Compare Medavie Blue Cross’ Travel Insurance Rates?
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 companies at once. Type in a few details about your trip, and compare policy coverage and prices to help narrow down your choice.