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. The insurance policies stipulate that 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 4 travel health notices for travel destinations as follows:

• Level 1 - Practise usual precautions
• Level 2 - Practise special precautions
• Level 3 - Avoid all non-essential travel
• Level 4 - Avoid all travel

You are not covered for emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19 (travel assistance), incurred during a cruise. This applies to all cruises for as long as the Government of Canada maintains its Level 4 travel health notice to avoid all travel aboard cruise ships.

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 - Practise usual precautions
• Level 2 - Practise special precautions
• 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.

You already submitted a claim to the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents (CFCTA) (Quebec only)?

If your cancellation is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, you must exceptionally re-submit your claim to your travel insurance assistance service.

• For those covered by CanAssistance, fill out the form on their website.
• For those covered by AXA Assistance, contact AXA.

Please note that claims may take up to 3 months to process.

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.

• Completed and signed claim form
• Proof of the trip’s cancellation from the service provider
• Copy of all credits and reimbursements already obtained
• Detailed receipts from your service provider, including their cancellation policy
• Proof of payment for the trip (credit card or bank account statement)
• Plane tickets (if applicable)
• Completed and signed direct deposit reimbursement form (if applicable)

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.

Yes, if your insurance includes trip cancellation coverage.

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.

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.

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

The extra cost to purchase a one-way ticket (economy class) may be eligible for reimbursement. This applies if, because of the Canadian government’s mandatory quarantine, you find yourself in a province other than the one originally on your itinerary and, as a result, your return date is delayed. To be eligible for this coverage, your trip must have been purchased before January 29, 2021.

*Certain conditions may apply.

Expenses incurred for a mandatory quarantine required by your destination country are not covered by your travel insurance. 

It is the insured’s responsibility to inquire about the quarantine rules of the country they are travelling to.

If the foreign country's quarantine is imposed after you purchase your trip:

Any additional fees required by your airline to change your return date are eligible for refund, if the quarantine delays your return date.

If the foreign country's quarantine is imposed before you purchase your trip:

Any additional costs required by your airline to change your return date will not be eligible for refund.

*Certain conditions may apply.