Yes! Out-of- Country Travel – Covers much more than just reimbursement of emergency medical expenses.

A HUGE benefit you enjoy on your Extended Medical plan through your employer is emergency out-of- country medical expense coverage should you be hospitalized or have other unforeseen medical expenses while travelling.

Often overlooked, however, are the other benefits you need to know about should you or an insured dependent become inconvenienced or incapacitated by a medical emergency.

Now for the really important part! In a medical emergency it is crucial to phone the toll-free (or collect) phone number on your Travel Assistance Wallet Card as soon as possible. Make the call within 24 hours of the emergency. Here is where the Concierge service can step in….. The Call Centre can offer immediate assistance, such as finding you a doctor which can speak your language, or get in touch with relatives at home and provide a message service.

How do you access these services? Make sure you and your travelling companions carry your personalized Travel Assistance Wallet Card which your carrier will have supplied. Can’t find it? No problem! Most Insurers offer them online – just print one before you leave home from your Plan Member web page. Or download it onto your mobile device – or even take a picture of it on your mobile!

If you do NOT contact the Assistance Provider in a timely manner, you will not only lose these valuable services, but your claim will take much longer to be processed, and you may be substantially (and unnecessarily) out-of- pocket.

A few, though not all, of the non-medical services you may need, and which are available, are:

• verifying your coverage so that a facility is comfortable to direct-bill your insurer
• medical evacuation if necessary
• arrange for your flight home if you have missed your scheduled flight due to the medical emergency
• return your minor children home if left unaccompanied because of your hospitalization or death
• arrange for return of your rental car to the nearest rental agency if you are incapacitated

Is there anything my Group insurance will not cover?

Yes - with most Insurers you still need to purchase your own Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance. These protect you for items not included in your Group coverage. For instance:

• before you leave on your trip, a close family member becomes ill or dies – and you must “cancel” your trip
• after you leave, a close family member at home becomes ill or dies – requiring that you “interrupt” your trip
• Protection for lost, damaged, or stolen luggage

For these items, you should assess your potential financial loss should you need to cancel your trip or change your plans after you have left home. The cost of the insurance usually depends on how long you will be gone, and the overall cost of the trip which is deemed “non-refundable”.

The Bottom Line: read your booklet and assess any deficiencies. Some Group plans may have a low limit, such as $100,000 for out-of- country travel. At least $3 million is recommended, so check your limit and top up with an individual policy if you feel it is necessary. Don’t hesitate to call your Customer Service department and ask some questions. Get familiar with your coverage and know the number to call in an emergency. Make sure your travelling companions have your coverage details in their wallets – and you should carry your travelling companion’s toll-free number and policy details in yours!

Safe journey! Enjoy your travels this season, wherever they take you.

This articles are not intended to dispense legal advice and should not be taken as such. You are advised to obtain legal counsel if required to address areas of concern this article may have raised. The goal of this articles has been to draw your attention to an aspect of your business which may currently be neglected.