Updated: February 17, 2021

The Government of Canada announced new travel restrictions on January 29, 2021.

We continue to treat COVID-19 medical emergencies the same as any others that happen outside Canada. However, the new measures could cause delays and extra costs that travel coverage doesn’t cover.

• Incoming international flights now go to only four airports:
  • Vancouver International Airport
  • Calgary International Airport
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport
  • Montréal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
     

• Passengers must quarantine on arrival: Travellers arriving on international flights now have to:
  • quarantine at an appointed local hotel for three nights and
  • take a COVID-19 test.
     

• Travel insurance does not cover the new measures: The traveller must pay any of the related costs. This is because the new measures are not a travel emergency.
  
  Sun Life will not pay a claim under travel insurance policies for:
  • the costs of the hotel or COVID-19 test or
  • any extra costs resulting from the new measures, such as cancelled trips or flight costs.
     

• Trip time limit still applies: We won't extend your trip time limit, even if the new measures create delays when travelling home.
   

• Travellers should check the Canadian government’s travel advisories regularly.

Please share this updated plan member communication with your employees. It outlines what they need to know if they plan to travel abroad during this pandemic.

Updated: July 23, 2020

Plan members may have a dependent who is, or will be, studying abroad. Based on travel advisories from the Government of Canada, here’s how we’re handling medical emergency coverage for students.

• Students with an approved extension. If we’ve approved a request for an extension of medical emergency coverage, we’ll continue to honour their extension. We outlined the coverage period in their approval letter from us. 

• Students without an approved extension. These students have coverage for the trip duration limit outlined in the contract. For now, we’re not extending coverage beyond the trip duration limit. This is due to various travel advisories from the Government of Canada.

When the Government lifts the travel advisories, you can submit an extension request using our Continuation of coverage smart form. You can find the latest version of the smart form:

• on our Plan Sponsor Site, or
• by sending an email to your Group Benefits Representative

For all students, coverage ends on the date they reach the dependent student age limit. Your contract outlines this age limit.

It’s essential plan members know their coverage details before their dependent studies abroad. This plan member communication, How we’re handling medical emergency coverage for students, outlines important information about leaving Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, we’ll continue to treat a COVID-19 medical emergency the same way as any other medical emergency outside of Canada. We encourage you to share this communication with plan members.