Frequently asked questions

For medical emergencies

You will be covered for emergency medical expenses if you have not had any symptoms or a diagnosis in the 90 days before your departure date. If you test positive during your trip, you will be covered for the cost of taking a COVID-19 test when prescribed by a physician following a medical emergency or sudden illness.

For when you or travel partner test positive for COVID-19 and need to stay at your destination

Some costs related to COVID-19 may be covered. If you purchased Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage before November 1, 2022 or Optional Protection: Pandemic coverage, your insurance contract will be extended free of charge for:

• the period you are unable to board, and
• the following 24-hour period when your return home is postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test or contact tracing

If you are sick or injured due to COVID-19 while travelling within Canada, most costs will be coordinated through your provincial health plan, but not all. For example, if you are hospitalized within Canada:

• hospital and physician expenses are covered by provincial health plans
• air ambulance expenses are not covered by provincial health plans
• transfer to another hospital to your home province to the nearest facility may be considered when medically necessary

You could be subject to another provincial government restriction. For example:

• you may be refused entry
• you may need to self-isolate as you enter the province and when you return to your home province

Emergency travel benefits do not cover quarantine expenses. We encourage you to check the government recommendations and restrictions for the province you are travelling to closer to your travel date.

If you or your travel partner test positive for COVID-19 during your trip and you need to stay at your destination, your insurance contract will be extended free of charge for:

• the period you are unable to board, and
• the following 24-hour period when your return home is postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test or contact tracing.

The cost of taking a COVID-19 test while travelling is covered when prescribed by a physician following a medical emergency or sudden illness.

No, you will not be able to submit a claim for this amount if your service provider (travel agency or airline) offers a travel credit.

You are eligible to purchase travel coverage if you haven’t been diagnosed with COVID-19 and you aren’t showing symptoms of COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to your departure date.

COVID-19 vaccinations can be claimed under your Health Spending Account as long as they are submitted with all the required information, such as the pharmacy receipt, Drug Identification Number (DIN), patient’s name and any other relevant information.

Yes, the Government of Canada lifted its notice advising Canadians to avoid all cruise travel. Emergency medical coverage will cover you if you get sick or injured due to COVID-19.

There are some limitations to your coverage in the event of war. Please give our travel specialists a call at 1-800-394-1965.

Yes we do! We have single-trip emergency medical plans, Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage, Baggage loss coverage, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment for seniors. Whether escaping the snow to go to Arizona or adventure-seeking in Europe, seniors can get coverage with Alberta Blue Cross^®.

We recommend purchasing travel insurance when travelling within Canada. Medically necessary health care services—hospital care and physician services—are typically covered in other provinces, but additional services like ambulance, hospital transfers, air ambulance and repatriation to your province are not covered. The additional coverage provided by our medical travel insurance goes beyond what is covered by the provincial government and helps keep medical costs in check.

No, your vaccination status does not affect whether you are eligible for insurance or your premium costs.

If you purchased travel insurance through a broker or travel agency, it's best to call them to confirm. If you purchased a plan directly from us, give our travel specialist a call at 1-800-394-1965.

Our single-trip and multi-trip annual plans can be extended. For a single-trip, you’ll need to call us before the return date of your original travel agreement. For multi-trip annual plans, you need to call us before the trip exceeds the maximum stay of your annual plan.

Of course you can! We will also give you a discount for this extension—just for being a valued Alberta Blue Cross^® member. Unfortunately, you can’t purchase your additional days of travel online, but please give us a call at 1-800-394-1965 and we can set you up. Make sure you call prior to the end of the existing trip limit on your employer or personal health plan.

It covers medical or related expenses caused by an accident or emergency when you’re outside of Alberta. Our emergency medical travel insurance covers medical costs up to $5 million with optional deductibles to reduce premiums. Covered costs can include:

• hospital services
• health care professional expenses
• prescriptions and diagnostic services
• medical appliances
• emergency dental services
• meals and accommodations
• return flights because of medical delays
• return of dependents, pets, personal items and vehicles

Emergency medical insurance will cover the cost of taking a COVID-19 test when prescribed by a physician following a medical emergency or sudden illness.

If you or your travel partner test positive for COVID-19 during your trip and you need to stay at your destination, your insurance contract will be extended free of charge for:

• the period you are unable to board, and
• the following 24-hour period when your return home is postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test or contact tracing

You can add it to our Emergency Medical Care plan. If you have existing coverage through your employer, you can still add Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage to further protect your trip.

We provide quality medical coverage for seniors. Review our coverage options or give us a call to learn more.

Our travel plans are designed for Albertans looking to enjoy a relaxed vacation, so depending on the kinds of activities you want to do, there is a limit on what Alberta Blue Cross^® will cover. Activities that we consider to be extreme sports will not be eligible for coverage should you get hurt. In other words, if it’s not considered a traditional sport, or it’s made extreme and dangerous by modifying the equipment or locale, the claim isn’t likely to be covered. Here are some examples of extreme sports:

• ballooning or parachuting
• bungee jumping
• climbing or mountaineering, rock climbing
• hang gliding, gliding
• heli-skiing
• rodeo activity
• sky diving
• white water rafting
• ziplining
• para-gliding
• para-sailing
• amateur scuba diving, unless you hold at least a basic scuba diving license from a certified school
• downhill skiing or snowboarding outside marked trails

Be sure to read the exclusions, limitations and definition section of your contract for more details.

Some costs related to COVID-19 may be covered. If you purchased Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage before November 1, 2022 or Optional Protection: Pandemic coverage, you could be covered when:

• you test positive for COVID-19 before you leave and need to postpone your trip
• you test positive for COVID-19 during your trip and need to extend your stay

See your travel insurance policy for more information.

If you wish to cancel or postpone your trip due to COVID-19, first contact your service provider (e.g., travel agency or air carrier) that sold your trip to request a refund or postponement. Then, please contact our customer service agents to explain your situation.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage purchased after November 1, 2022 without Optional Protection: Pandemic coverage will not cover costs due to COVID-19 or any other pandemic.

Bad, unpredictable weather is the cause of many flight delays or cancellations. If you purchased a travel insurance plan from us, it includes Flight Delay Service. This service offers access to an airport lounge, hotel room or per person allowance, depending on how long the delay is.

It’s best to buy as soon as you book your trip. Cancellation insurance protects you from unexpected circumstances that arise before you leave.

You can add Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage to your existing medical travel insurance plan, whether it’s through your employer or a personal plan.