Pacific Blue Cross Travel Insurance review

Plans Pacific Blue Cross offers

Pacific Blue Cross lists single-trip medical, multi-trip annual, trip cancellation and interruption, a package, Canada-only travel, top-up coverage and a visitors to Canada plan. Its Trip Protection covers cancellation, interruption and lost, stolen, damaged or delayed baggage, though no dollar limits were stated on the pages we read.

Plans are sold through Pacific Blue Cross Agency. The disclosure page names Pacific Blue Cross as underwriter of individual travel medical plans and Canassurance for Trip Protection, while product page footers say only that insurance is underwritten by various underwriters. Your policy document will name the insurer.

Emergency medical and trip length

Pacific Blue Cross lists emergency medical care to a maximum of 10 million dollars and says its $10M plans cover claims from the first dollar, so no deductible options are listed. Dependent children 21 or younger added to a parent’s policy get free emergency medical coverage up to $10,000,000, according to the insurer.

On trip length, an Advice Centre article says individual travel plans can cover you for up to one year with MSP approval. For the annual plan, Pacific Blue Cross tells you to choose a plan that covers your longest trip outside BC or Canada, but the per-trip day options weren’t stated. Annual plans can have extra days added or be topped up for longer trips.

Pre-existing conditions and stability periods

The main pages say pre-existing conditions are evaluated on your health in the previous 3 months if you’re 60 or younger, and in the 6 months prior if you’re 61 or over. A separate Benefit Definitions page uses different bands (under 61, 61 to 75, and 76 or over) and applies a 3-month lookback to some travellers aged 61 to 75.

An optional benefit covers eligible expenses as long as symptoms don’t worsen or change in the 7 days before the trip. The pages call it both an Optional Pre-Existing Condition Benefit and a rider, so confirm its name, eligibility and limits in the policy wording.

Age limits and health declarations

Pacific Blue Cross says it provides travel coverage to people of any age, but persons 61 and older may be required to complete a Health Declaration form. Answer every question accurately and check it before you submit, since an incorrect answer can put a claim at risk.

Buying, COVID-19 and claims notes

You can buy online. The Medi-Assist emergency line offers 24/7 access to a team of professionals, so keep the number with you when you travel.

COVID-19 wording is mixed. The main page says claims for COVID-19 are covered if you’re fully vaccinated, including $10M in COVID-19 coverage no matter the travel advisory. The FAQ says COVID-19 is treated similarly to other common medical conditions. The vaccination wording may be outdated, so ask Pacific Blue Cross and check the policy before you rely on either statement.