Travel

If you have Trip Cancellation coverage, your coverage ends when you turn down the return flight offered by your provider. Since you're not taking the replacement flight for the trip that you insured, the cancellation coverage for this trip ends.

If you want to continue your trip, you can only extend the following coverages, provided you have them: Emergency Health Care, Baggage and Accident.

If you have Trip Cancellation insurance, and you need to return to Canada sooner or later than expected due to one of the recognized causes, you'll be reimbursed:

• $200 per day, per insured person, for your additional living expenses (accommodation, meals, transportation, etc.) up to a maximum of $2,000 per insured person.
• The cost of changing the date and/or time of a ticket you purchased from a scheduled carrier (plane, boat, train, bus). The new ticket must be a one-way economy class ticket that takes the most direct route to get you to your starting destination.
• The unused and non-refundable portion of payments you made in advance to a travel services provider for land arrangements.

If you have Emergency Health Care insurance and your return home is delayed because you are ill, you'll be reimbursed:

• $200 per day, per insured person, for your additional living expenses (accommodation, meals, transportation), up to a maximum of $2,000 per insured person.

Important: To be eligible for the travel insurance period extension, you need to have purchased your insurance before your departure and for the full scheduled duration of your trip.

You're covered for emergency healthcare (including care related to COVID-19), even if you visit a destination for which the Government of Canada issued a Level 3 – Avoid non-essential travel advisory. To qualify for reimbursement, you must meet all other conditions for insurability (for example, your medical condition must be stable before you leave). If you took out accident insurance or baggage loss or theft insurance, you are also covered.

Important: You aren't covered if your destination or type of trip (for example, a cruise) is subject to a Level 4 – Avoid all travel Canadian government travel advisory issued before your departure.

If this advisory is issued after you left on your trip, you aren't covered if you didn't return to your home province or territory within 14 days of when the advisory was issued. If you can't leave the country or region for which the government issued the warning within 14 days, contact our assistance services.

If you need to receive emergency healthcare abroad, our assistance services will do everything it can to direct you toward available resources.

Remember that if you are travelling during a pandemic, access to healthcare may be limited. You may also have difficulty returning to Canada if airlines decide to suspend their services.

If you have group insurance with Desjardins, please refer to the group insurance FAQ #.

Emergency Health Care coverage

If the travel advisory level was 1, 2 or 3 when you left, you’ll be covered until the return date on your insurance contract. However, if the travel advisory level is upgraded to 4 during your trip, you aren't covered if you didn't return to your home province or territory within 14 days of the advisory upgrade. If you can't leave the country or region for which the government issued the warning within 14 days, contact our assistance services.

Trip Cancellation or Modification coverage

If the advisory level is upgraded to 3 during your trip, you'll be covered for the costs of changing your trip. However, if the travel advisory level is upgraded to 4 during your trip, you're not covered if you didn't return to your home province or territory within 14 days of the advisory upgrade. If you can't leave the country or region for which the government issued the warning within 14 days, contact our assistance services.

If you have Baggage coverage, you're covered for luggage and personal effects that have been damaged or lost by the airline, up to your insurance amount.

If your baggage is more than 6 hours^[ 1 ] note late to your destination, you can receive up to $500^[ 1 ] note to buy toiletries and essential clothing. Unfortunately, you're not covered within your province of residence.

You can also consult the Air Passenger Protection Regulations - External link. This link opens in a new window. to learn more about your airline's responsibilities.

Yes. As of October 1, 2020, if the Canadian government has issued a level 1, 2 or 3 travel advisory for your destination, you’ll be covered for emergency healthcare, even if you get sick with COVID-19. To be entitled to a refund, you need to meet the other conditions of your insurance (for example, your health must be stable before your departure).

You aren't covered if your destination or type of trip (for example, a cruise) is subject to a Level 4 – Avoid all travel Canadian government travel advisory issued before your departure.

If this advisory is issued after you left on your trip, you aren't covered if you didn't return to your home province or territory within 14 days of when the advisory was issued. If you can't leave the country or region for which the government issued the warning within 14 days, contact our assistance services.

Government of Canada risk levels and advisories

If you need emergency healthcare while on your trip, our Assistance Service will do everything it can to direct you to the available resources.

Remember that if you’re travelling during a pandemic, access to healthcare may be limited. You may also have trouble getting back to Canada if airlines decide to suspend their services.

You'll be covered if you meet the following conditions:

• In the 30 days before your departure, you had no symptoms AND received no positive test results
or
• On your departure date, you no longer have symptoms and you have a negative test result

You must also meet all the other conditions outlined in your insurance policy. For example, your health must be stable before your departure. If you have COVID-19, you must not have seen a doctor or been hospitalized for this illness during the required stability period (3 months or 6 months / 90 days or 182 days) set out in your policy.

Learn more about the types of accepted tests

You may be required to provide proof when you submit a claim.

Unfortunately, no. Though we're aware of the difficulties caused by current wait times at Service Canada, an expired or delayed passport is not an accepted reason for trip cancellation. It's your responsibility to have the required valid travel documents.

If you have Emergency Health Care coverage, your living expenses will be covered.

If you have Trip Cancellation coverage, you’ll be covered for things like the additional cost to change the date and time of your flight.

If you must stay in your destination country longer than expected, make sure to contact us to extend your coverage.

Learn more about the types of accepted tests

If you have to cancel your trip or if you're prevented from boarding because you didn't meet a requirement (test, vaccine, etc.), you won't be covered by your travel insurance.

You're covered if you want to cancel your trip due to a level 3 or 4 travel advisory that wasn't in effect when you bought your ticket. Note that some policies require that the travel advisory still be in effect 14 days before your departure. Verify the causes for cancellation in your insurance policy to see if this requirement applies to you.

You're also covered if you get sick with COVID-19 before leaving on your trip or if you're prevented from boarding due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Learn more about the types of accepted tests

PCR and rapid antigen tests are both accepted, but the test must have been administered by a healthcare professional who is authorized to do so (screening centre, private lab, pharmacy, etc.). For example, a rapid antigen test performed by a pharmacist in a pharmacy is acceptable, provided that the results are certified by the pharmacist. Self-tests (rapid tests) performed at home are not accepted, except if they are done under the supervision of a virtual medicine health professional.

In all cases, you must obtain a personalized proof of your test result and your result must be certified by the healthcare professional.

Unfortunately, you can't get reimbursed if your airline cancels your flight.

The pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty. Given the circumstances, new requirements can be introduced at any time to stop the virus from spreading. Expenses for cancelled flights are not covered under your travel insurance.

We urge you to contact your travel service provider to find out what refund options are available (many providers have posted their refund terms and conditions on their websites).

However, you may be covered if your trip was cancelled due to a Level 3 or 4 travel advisory if the travel advisory had not been issued when you purchased your trip and your insurance, and if the advisory is still in effect 14 days before your planned departure date.

We understand that you may have not been able to use your travel credits due to the pandemic.

• You had trip cancellation coverage when you purchased your trip.
• You purchased your trip before March 13, 2020, or between October 22, 2021, and December 15, 2021.
• Your trip was cancelled after the Canadian government recommended avoiding all non-essential travel or cruises outside the country.
• Your travel service provider offered you a travel credit as reimbursement for cancelling the trip.
• Your travel credit is now expired, and the travel provider's policy states the expiry date can't be extended. You have no other option for compensation.
• The Canadian government's recommendation to avoid non-essential travel was still in effect on the travel credit expiry date, or your travel credit expired before December 31, 2022.

Your living expenses and the additional cost to change the date and time of your ticket are covered by Trip Cancellation insurance.

• If you test negative for COVID-19 or don't get tested, you're covered if the quarantine is a new measure that wasn't in place when your trip started.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, you're covered. Your living expenses can also be covered if you have Emergency Health Care insurance.

Quarantining must be required by the health authorities of your destination country. Make sure to contact us to extend your coverage if you have to stay there longer than expected.

Learn more about the types of accepted tests

We know that some of you would rather get reimbursed through your Trip Cancellation coverage than get a travel credit.

However, a travel credit is considered the same as a refund, whether you accept it or not. If your travel provider offers you a refund—even travel credit—for a cancelled trip, you can’t claim this amount under your Trip Cancellation coverage.

To find out if your travel credits can be refunded, please contact your travel service supplier. They'll let you know if you're eligible for a refund.

No. It's your responsibility to check travel and entry requirements and make sure you meet them. Requirements can vary by country and travel service supplier, so it’s important to do your research.

Yes. Travellers who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 are still covered by their Emergency Health Care coverage. It’s the same as when travellers choose not to get vaccinated against yellow fever or other vaccine-preventable diseases.

We're aware that certain countries, such as Cuba, require proof of health insurance to enter the country. However, your travel insurance policy or credit card travel insurance policy, your "Your insurance choices" document or your health insurance card (RAMQ card in Quebec and OHIP card in Ontario) are all forms of proof accepted by immigration authorities in other countries. As a result, we no longer provide insurance confirmation statements.