Travel Emergency Medical Coverage

Traveling outside Ontario? Ensure you understand your CUPE EWBT out-of-province/country medical coverage to stay protected.

Out-of-Province Emergency Medical and Travel Assistance Coverage

Your CUPE EWBT plan includes essential emergency medical coverage and travel assistance services, to care for you and your covered dependents in unforeseen medical situations while travelling outside your province of residence.

To qualify, you and your eligible dependents must be covered by the provincial health plan.

Contact Information

For emergencies while travelling, contact Canada Life’s travel assistance provider:

  • Canada or U.S.: 1-855-222-4051 (toll-free)
  • Other countries: 1-204-946-2577 (call collect, or submit long-distance charges with your claim)

Important Notes

Contact Canada Life’s travel assistance provider as soon as possible in the event of a medical emergency (or have someone call on your behalf), for assistance and coordination of medical care.

Waiting until you return home to contact the travel provider or Canada Life, could mean unexpected out-of-pocket costs for you, or delays in your reimbursement.

The CUPE EWBT benefits plan doesn’t cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, or lost or damaged baggage. Consider whether you need to purchase additional travel insurance before leaving home.

Out-of-Country Emergency Medical Coverage

Your CUPE EWBT benefits plan includes coverage for medical expenses incurred as a result of a medical emergency while traveling and medically unable to return to Canada. 

Emergency medical coverage for you (and your covered dependents) while travelling outside your province of residence includes:

  • Ambulance transportation
  • Hospital accommodation
  • Physician services
  • Emergency diagnosis and treatment of the medical condition

Canada Life defines a medical emergency as:

  • a sudden and unexpected injury, or
  • a sudden, unexpected illness (not previously known or identified before leaving home), or
  • an acute episode of a disease that couldn’t have been reasonably expected based on the person’s medical condition before leaving home.

Coverage Overview

  • Duration: Up to 60 days per trip
  • Maximum Coverage: Up to $1 million per trip

Coverage Limitations

  • Non-emergency, elective, or routine care are not covered.
  • If you have a pre-existing condition, contact Canada Life before travelling to understand your coverage and limitations.
  • If you or your dependent is pregnant, check with Canada Life before travelling to understand any coverage limitations.
  • Incidental expenses like hotel stays, meals, and missed flights are not covered.
  • Emergency support availability may vary based on destination and travel advisories. Contact Canada Life for details before your trip.
  • Benefits paid are subject to Canada Life’s Reasonable & Customary limits.

Travel Assistance

This benefit is also called “Global Medical Assistance” or “Travel Assist”. In the event that you or a covered dependent has a medical emergency while traveling more than 500 km from home, Travel Assistance provides multilingual services such as:

  • Locating hospitals, clinics, physicians, legal support, or translators
  • Medical evacuation (including passport replacement)
  • Coordinating the return of your vehicle or minor children
  • Repatriation of remains

Have Questions About Your Coverage?

For more details, refer to the emergency medical travel brochure linked below, or contact Canada Life.

Travel Medical Guide