Did You Know?
This article was published before the transition to the new Plan Administrator, Canada Life. If you have any questions, contact the PSHCP Member Contact Centre at 1-855-415-4414 (toll-free anywhere in North America) or 1-431-489-4064 (call collect if you are outside North America).
As borders reopen, you may be starting to think about your next trip. Prior to leaving, you should familiarize yourself with the PSHCP Out-of-province coverage available to you. Listed below are some important factors to consider while planning your upcoming trip.
Travel advisories: You should check the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website before deciding to travel abroad. Due to COVID-19, certain borders are currently closed and some may close if the situation changes, making it difficult for travellers to exit the country they are visiting. As a PSHCP member, you will be covered for up to 40 days for emergency medical expenses, including those related to COVID-19. However, with situations changing quickly, you may have to remain abroad longer than you expected and pass the 40-day limit. In which case, your coverage will expire while you are still away. It is your responsibility to consider the trip duration limit as you are planning your travel.
Trip duration limit and coverage amount: As a PSHCP member with Supplementary Coverage, you and your eligible dependants are each covered by the Emergency Travel Benefit. This benefit provides reimbursement for up to $500,000 per trip (limited at 40 consecutive days) in eligible medical expenses incurred for emergency medical treatment while travelling. If a medical emergency occurs within the 40-day period, the benefit is extended until you or your eligible dependants are able to return home.
The PSHCP Benefit Card: Remember to bring your PSHCP benefit card, which indicates your PSHCP certificate number and the telephone numbers for Allianz Global Assistance (previously Mondial Assistance). Allianz provides Plan members with a 24-hour help line for medical, legal, or other travel-related emergency assistance.
Eligible expenses: Eligible expenses mean the reasonable and customary charges in excess of the amount payable by a provincial/territorial health insurance plan, if they are required for emergency treatment of an injury or disease that occurs within 40 days of the date of departure from your province/territory of residence. The list of eligible expenses is available here.
Should a medical emergency occur outside your home province/territory, you or someone on your behalf must contact Allianz as soon as possible. Whenever possible, Allianz will also arrange for direct payments on your behalf to hospitals and emergency health care providers. If you or your covered dependants incur medical expenses and do not contact Allianz Global Assistance to open your file before or soon after your treatment begins, you will be required to pay for the expenses up-front and submit the expenses to your provincial/territorial health insurance plan. Any remaining amount can then be submitted to the PSHCP.
If you have questions regarding the PSHCP Out-of-Province Benefit, please contact the PSHCP Call Centre at 1-888-757-7427 (toll-free) or 613-247-5100 (in the National Capital Region).