Eligibility – Destination Travel Insurance

To be eligible for coverage with Destination Travel Insurance, the applicant must meet the following criteria as of the effective date:
  • a) Be at least 15 days old.
  • b) Not be travelling against the advice of a physician.
  • c) Not have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
  • d) Not have been diagnosed with or received treatment for:
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Any type of cancer that has metastasized (spread to other organs)
    e) Not have been prescribed or used home oxygen within the last 12 months.
    f) Not have been diagnosed with or treated for heart failure.
    g) Not have had any of the following transplants:
  • Major organ (heart, kidney, liver, lung)
  • Bone marrow or stem cell transplant
  • h) Not have received kidney dialysis within the last 12 months.
  • i) Not have an unrepaired aneurysm measuring 4 cm or more in length or diameter.
These conditions must be met to be eligible for any coverage under the plan. Meeting these medical and stability requirements ensures that the insurance is intended for unexpected emergencies only, not for known or ongoing conditions.

Eligibility

As of the effective date, you are eligible for coverage if you:
  • a) are at least 15 days old; and
  • b) are not travelling against the advice of a physician; or
  • c) have not been diagnosed with a terminal illness; or
  • d) have not been diagnosed with or received treatment for pancreatic cancer, liver cancer or any type of cancer that has metastasized (migrated to another organ from its original site); or
  • e) have not been prescribed or used home oxygen in the last 12 months; or
  • f) have not been diagnosed with or received treatment for heart failure; or g) have not had a major organ transplant (heart, kidney, liver, lung), bone marrow or stem cell transplant; or
  • h) have not received kidney dialysis treatment in the last 12 months; or
  • i) have not been diagnosed aneurysm of 4 centimeters or more in either length or diameter, that has not been surgically repaired.

Exclusions – What is Not Covered

This policy will not provide coverage or pay claims for any loss, expense, or injury incurred as a result of the following:
1. Pre-existing Medical Conditions
  • If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it will not be covered unless it has been stable within a specified time frame before the effective date of your policy:
  • For those under 59 years of age: Must be stable for 90 days before the effective date.
  • For those ages 60–69: Must be stable for 120 days before the effective date
  • For those ages 70–79: Must be stable for 180 days before the effective date
  • Option 2: If you have any pre-existing conditions, there will be no coverage unless stable, as per the conditions outlined above.
2. Sickness or Symptoms Occurring Before or During the Waiting Period
  • 48 hours after the effective date if purchased within 30 days of departure.
  • 7 days after the effective date if purchased 30 or more days after departure.
  • Waived if the insurance was purchased before departure or if there is no lapse in prior coverage.
3. Mental or Emotional Disorders
  • Costs incurred due to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or any minor emotional or mental disorders will not be covered
  • Self-inflicted injuries unless medically proven to be related to a mental health condition.
4. Acts of War or Terrorism
  • Costs incurred due to war, terrorism, kidnapping, riots, or civil commotion will not be covered.
5. Seeking Treatment or Surgery Abroad
  • Any trip intended to obtain advice, diagnosis, surgery, or treatment, including complications directly or indirectly related to such activities, is excluded.
6. Substance Abuse
  • Costs related to any abuse of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants—either prior to or during coverage—will not be covered.
  • Non-compliance with prescribed medical treatment also leads to exclusion of coverage.
7. Non-Emergency Treatments
  • Any non-emergency, elective, or experimental treatments, including cosmetic surgery, will not be covered.
8. Ongoing Treatment After Emergency
  • Treatment or hospitalization following emergency care, unless pre-approved by Zurich Travel Assist, will not be covered.
9. Treatments that Can Be Delayed
  • Medical treatments that can reasonably be delayed until your return to your country of origin, unless pre-approved by Zurich Travel Assist, are excluded.
10. Routine Health Examinations
  • Costs for general health check-ups, chronic conditions, home care, or rehabilitation are excluded.
11. Participation in Hazardous Activities
  • Coverage does not extend to injuries resulting from extreme sports, such as:
  • Speed contests, skydiving, scuba diving, helicopter skiing, motor racing, mountaineering, etc.
12. Pregnancy-Related Losses
  • Losses related to pregnancy, childbirth, or complications thereof, including losses incurred by a child born during the trip.
13. Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Costs related to motor vehicle accidents are excluded if you are entitled to benefits from your motor vehicle insurance.
14. Illegal Acts or Breach of Laws
  • Any injury or loss resulting from committing or attempting to commit a criminal act or from violating statutory laws is not covered.
15. Air Travel Exclusions
  • Losses incurred while you are not a passenger on a licensed commercial aircraft, or while engaged in activities like boarding or disembarking from aircraft, are excluded.
16. Terrorism and Travel Advisories
  • If a travel advisory for the destination is issued before departure stating “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential travel”, coverage will not apply for losses related to these risks.
17. Losses Outside of Canada
  • Any loss incurred outside of Canada will not be covered unless the majority of the coverage period is spent in Canada.
18. Sickness or Injury During Temporary Returns
  • Any sickness or injury occurring during a temporary return to your country of origin will not be covered.
This summary of exclusions provides a clear outline of situations where coverage is not provided, ensuring that clients fully understand the limitations of their policy before purchasing.

Exclusions - Details of what you are not covered for

This summary of exclusions provides a clear outline of situations where coverage is not provided, ensuring that clients fully understand the limitations of their policy before purchasing.

1. Pre-existing medical conditions

Option 1: Coverage for stable pre-existing medical conditions.

    • a) If at the time of application, you are 59 years of age or under: Any pre-existing medical condition unless it was stable in the 90 days immediately before the effective date.
    • b) If at the time of application,you are between 60 and 69 years of age: Any pre-existing medical condition unless it was stable in the 120 days immediately before the effective date.
    • c) If at the time of application, you are between 70 and 79 years of age: Any pre-existing medical condition unless it was stable in the 180 days immediately before the effective date.

 

Option 2: Any pre-existing medical conditions.

2. Any sickness for which signs or symptoms occurred before or during the
following waiting period:

  • 48 hours after the effective date if you purchased within 30 days of your date of departure from your country of origin; or
  • 7 days after the effective date if you purchased 30 days or more after your date of departure from your country of origin.

The above waiting period will be waived when this insurance is purchased:

  • a) before the date of departure from your country of origin; or
  • b) before the date your existing Destination: Canada Visitors Plan policy expires and there is no lapse in coverage; or
  • c) before the date any other existing coverage expires and there is no lapse in coverage.

You must provide satisfactory proof of your previous insurance coverage.

3. Costs incurred due to:

  • a) Alzheimer’s disease or dementia; and/or
  • b) any loss resulting from your minor mental or emotional disorder, and/or
  • c) your self-inflicted injuries, unless medical evidence establishes that the
    injuries are related to a mental health illness.
  •  

4. Costs incurred due to:

  • a) act(s) of war or act(s) of terrorism,
  • b) kidnapping,
  • c) riot, strike or civil commotion,
  • d) unlawful visit in any country,
  • e) participation in protests,
  • f) participation in armed forces activities,
  • g) participation in a commercial sexual transaction,
  • h) the commission or attempted commission of any criminal offence or illegal act,
  • i) contravention of any statutory law or regulation in the area where the loss occurred.

5. Any sickness or injury when a trip is made for the purpose of obtaining

advice, a diagnosis, treatment, surgery, investigation, palliative care, or any alternative therapy, as well as any directly or indirectly related complication.

6. Any loss, death, or injury, if evidence supports that you were affected by, or

the medical condition was in any way contributed to by, arising from, or in
any way related to:

  • a) the abuse or chronic use of alcohol either before or during the period of coverage; or
  • b) the use of prohibited drugs,or any other intoxicant either before or during the period of coverage; or
  • c) the non-compliance with prescribed treatment or medical therapy either before or during the period of coverage; or
  • d) the misuse of medication either before or during the period of coverage.

7. Any medical consultation or any treatment that is non-emergency, experimental, or elective such as cosmetic surgery, including any expenses for directly or indirectly related complications.

8. Any treatment, investigation or hospitalization which is a continuation of, or subsequent to, emergency treatment of a medical condition, unless approved in advance by Zurich Travel Assist.

9. Any treatment that can be reasonably delayed until you return to your country of origin (whether or not you intend to return) by the next available means of transportation, unless approved in advance by Zurich Travel Assist.

10. Hospitalization or services rendered in connection with general health examinations for “check-up” purposes, treatment of an ongoing condition, regular care of a chronic condition, home health care, investigative testing, rehabilitation or ongoing care or treatment in connection with drugs, alcohol, or any other substance abuse.

11. Any rehabilitation or convalescent care.

12. Injury resulting from training for or participating in:

  • a) speed contests usually and customarily in excess of 60 kilometers per hour;
  • b) motorsport contests;
  • c) stunt activities, exhibitions, or demonstrations of any kind;
  • d) sport activities, if you are considered professional by the governing body of that sport and you are paid for your participation;
  • e) heliskiing, ski jumping;
  • f) skydiving, sky-surfing;
  • g) scuba diving if diving depth does not exceed 30 meters (except if certified by internationally recognized and accepted program such as NAUI or PADI);
  • h) white water rafting (except grades 1 to 4);
  • i) street luge, skeleton activity;
  • j) mountaineering; or
  • k) participation in any rodeo activity.

 

13. Any loss incurred as a result of pregnancy, delivery, abortion, miscarriage, or complications thereof.

14. Any loss incurred as a result of your child born during a trip.

15. Any sickness or injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident where you are entitled to receive benefits pursuant to any policy or legislative plan of motor vehicle insurance.

16. Treatment or services that contravene or are prohibited by legislation under a provincial or territorial hospital/medical plan.

17. Naturopathic, holistic or acupuncture treatment.

18. Costs that exceed the reasonable and customary rate for the area where the treatment or services are being performed.

19. Any act of terrorism or medical condition you suffer or contract when an official travel advisory was issued by the Canadian government stating “Avoid all non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” regarding the country, region, or city of your destination,

  • a) before your policy effective date; and/or
  • b) for your side-trip outside of Canada if the official travel advisory was in place on or before the date you leave for your side-trip.

To read the travel advisories, visit the Government of Canada Official Global Travel Advisory site. This exclusion does not apply to claims for an emergency or a medical condition unrelated to the travel advisory.

20. Any loss incurred outside of Canada when you have not spent the majority of the period of coverage in Canada.

21. Any loss incurred inside your country of origin.

22. Any sickness, symptom, or injury that presented, recurred, or for which treatment was received during any temporary return to your country of origin during the period of coverage.

23. Air travel other than as a passenger in a commercial aircraft licensed to carry passengers for hire, except while being transported under the terms of the Emergency Transportation or Emergency Return Home benefits.

24. Any loss resulting when you are a driver, the operator, a co-driver, a crew member, or any other passenger on a commercial vehicle used for the purpose of delivering goods or carrying a load. This exclusion is not applicable when the commercial vehicle is used during your trip solely for pleasure purposes and not used for delivering goods or carrying a load.

25. Applicable to Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits only: Being an occupant of an aircraft, either as a passenger, or crew or while boarding or disembarking from an aircraft.