Since October 1, 2020, emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19, are covered for travel destinations for which the Government of Canada has issued a Level 1, 2, or 3* travel health notice. In accordance with your insurance policies, you must be in good and stable health before you leave on your trip.

Emergency medical expenses are not covered for travel destinations for which the Government of Canada has issued a Level 4* travel health notice.

* The Government of Canada issues four levels of travel health notices for travel destinations:

• Level 1 – Exercise normal security precautions
• Level 2 – Exercise a high degree of caution
• Level 3 – Avoid all non-essential travel
• Level 4 – Avoid all travel

The following expenses are covered according to the maximum amount under your contract:

• Medical expenses
• Additional expenses incurred to purchase a return ticket, or the cost of modifying your existing ticket, based on the following:
  • One-way ticket, in economy class
  • Flight aboard a commercial airline, on a fixed schedule
  • The most direct route to the point of departure

Accommodation and living expenses are not covered unless stipulated otherwise under your contract.

Expenses incurred because of the Canadian government’s mandatory quarantine are not covered under your travel insurance.

No, the expenses for mandatory COVID-19 screening tests to return to Canada are not covered under travel insurance.

Expenses related to mandatory stopovers in a third country are not covered by your travel insurance plan. This includes costs incurred related to living expenses, accommodation fees, and itinerary change fees.

Yes. Your travel insurance coverage will be maintained until your return to Canada.

Expenses related to emergency medical care, including those related to COVID-19 are covered. All other expenses including accommodation and living expense are not covered under your insurance contract.

Call your travel insurance assistance service. You will be referred to a healthcare professional.

This information is provided on your SSQ Insurance card and in your Customer Centre.

For those covered by CanAssistance, contact CanAssistance.

For those covered by AXA Assistance, contact AXA.

During a level 4 warning
You are not covered for emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19. This is valid for all cruises, as long as the Canadian government maintains a level 4 warning, a warning to avoid all travel on a cruise ship.

During a level 3 warning or below
You are covered for emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19. This is valid for all cruises, as long as the Canadian government maintains a level 3 warning and below.

If you want to cancel your cruise, the following conditions must be met:

• You must have trip cancellation insurance.
• You must have booked your cruise before March 10, 2020, when the Government of Canada issued a travel notice to avoid all travel aboard cruise ships.
• Your cruise must take place during the time that the government’s notice to avoid all travel aboard cruise ships is in effect.

Since October 1, 2020, the following situations apply BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE if your insurance includes trip cancellation coverage:

If the Government of Canada’s travel health notice for your travel destination changes from Level 1 or 2 at the time of purchase to Level 3* before your departure, then it is possible to cancel your trip. If you decide to travel, you will still be covered for travel assistance (emergency medical expenses including COVID-19) for as long as the Government of Canada’s travel health notice level does not change to Level 4*.

If the Government of Canada’s travel health notice for your travel destination changes from Level 1, 2 or 3 at the time of purchase to Level 4* before your departure, then it is possible and recommended that you cancel your trip. If you do not, you will not be covered for travel assistance.

*The Government of Canada issues 4 travel health notices for travel destinations as follows:

• Level 1 - Exercise normal security precautions
• Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution
• Level 3 - Avoid all non-essential travel
• Level 4 - Avoid all travel

For any trip cancellation prior to departure due to a Government of Canada travel health notice, you must contact SSQ’s travel assistance service for instructions 72 hours before the scheduled departure date.

In addition, if you have purchased your trip through a travel agent and you have to cancel it because of a travel health notice issued by the Government of Canada, you must contact SSQ’s travel assistance service for instructions 72 hours before your deposit becomes payable to your travel agent.

Contact information for your travel insurance assistance service is provided on your SSQ Insurance card and in your Customer Centre.

For those covered by CanAssistance, contact CanAssistance.

For those covered by AXA Assistance, contact AXA.

Yes, you are covered for emergency medical expenses, whether you are ill as a result of COVID-19, or due to other causes or an accident. Refer to your policy as some exceptions may apply.

For SSQ Insurance, a travel credit is equivalent to a reimbursement. Therefore, whether you accept the travel credit or not, we will deduct this amount from the reimbursement.

If the travel credit is equal to the total amount, you will not receive any reimbursement from SSQ Insurance.

If you do not obtain a full reimbursement or credit for the cancellation of your trip, SSQ Insurance will reimburse you for the eligible expenses under your contract.

No, it isn’t currently possible to cancel your travel to other provinces due to COVID-19 and obtain a reimbursement because there are currently no travel health notices issued by the Government of Canada to avoid travel to Canadian provinces other than one’s province of residence.

However, if you have COVID-19, it may be the reason for cancelling your trip under your contract.

Additional expenses incurred while awaiting COVID-19 screening test results are not covered (for example, the cost for new plane tickets or changing the return date on the existing ticket, accommodation and living expenses, etc.)

Yes, you are covered if the following two conditions are met:

• You have a group insurance policy that includes short-term disability coverage.
• You are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which prevents you from doing your job, even via telework.

Yes, you can cancel or extend your trip if you are placed under quarantine as long as the quarantine ends 7 days or less before your scheduled departure date or occurs during your trip.

Before incurring any expenses, you must contact your travel insurance assistance service. The contact information is indicated on your SSQ Insurance card and in your Customer Centre.

For those covered by CanAssistance, contact CanAssistance.

For those covered by AXA Assistance, contact AXA.