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Q: Am I covered for medical expenses while I am travelling outside of BC?
A: If you are enrolled in the UBC extended health plan, you are also covered for medical expenses while travelling outside of BC; however there are limitation and exclusions that you should be familiar with. Your family members are also covered if they meet the definition of dependent and you have enrolled them under your plan. Please review the Sun Life Extended health booklet for your employment group in advance of travelling.
Q: What is my coverage while travelling outside of BC?
A: Coverage for medical expenses outside of BC depends on the expense and whether you are facing a medical emergency or not.
Medically necessary expenses that are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP), such as services and supplies while in hospital, semi-private hospital room and out-patient and physician’s services are covered in the event of an emergency only, if incurred outside of BC or Canada. These services are not covered in non-emergency situations.
Emergency expenses typically covered by MSP are covered at 100% less the deductible, up to your overall extended health lifetime maximum. Your overall extended health lifetime maximum at any point in time is $1,000,000 less any amount Sun Life has reimbursed since you were enrolled in the plan.To determine the extended health plan balance for you and/or each of your covered dependants, contact Sun Life at 1-800-361-6212 or 1-800-661-7334
Emergency Travel Assistance services (also called Medi-Passport services) are provided through Europ Assistance, Sun Life’s travel benefit provider, in the event of a medical emergency. Such services may include referring you to a medical facility, physician or pharmacist; facilitating payments to a hospital or medical provider, whenever possible; return of remains to BC, in the event of death. Coverage is subject to maximums stated under the plan.
Expenses incurred outside BC or Canada that are typically covered by UBC’s extended health plan with Sun Life (e.g., prescription drug medical equipment and supplies (out-patient), paramedical services, and vision care benefits) are also covered in the event of a medical emergency and non-emergency, subject to the conditions outlined in your plan. . Payment for these expenses will be limited to the reasonable & customary charge within BC, and in Canadian funds.
You are covered for a period of 365 days of absence per trip. If you are hospitalized during this period as a result of a medical emergency, in-patient services are covered for up to 90 days.
Please review the Sun Life Extended health booklet for your employment group in advance of travelling.
A: In the event of a medical emergency while you are outside BC, you and your dependents are also covered for emergency travel assistance services called Medi-Passport, through Sun Life’s travel benefit provider, Europ Assistance.
Some examples of Medi-Passport services include: hotel accommodation and meals, if your return trip is delayed by a medical emergency involving you or another person travelling with you who is also covered under your plan; replacement of transportation tickets, if you lose the use of your return ticket due to a medical emergency; return of remains to BC, in the event of death. Maximums apply; for full information on Medi-Passport services, please refer to the Sun Life extended health booklet based on your employment group.
Q: Where can I obtain a card or brochure with my plan information?
A: You may download your personalized coverage card by logging onto the Sun Life plan member site and clicking on “my coverage” and printing your coverage card under “Resources”. Your personalized coverage card has the Europ Assistance phone numbers including your group and certificate number/member ID that you will have to provide Europ Assistance. While downloading your personalized coverage card, take some time to read the information on “what to do in event of a medical emergency and what is covered.”
You may also download the Travel Benefit and Medi-Assist brochure at the UBC website. The brochure has the information on what to do in the event of a medical emergency, what is covered, and includes a cut-out travel card. Your group number is 25205 and your certificate / member id is your seven-digit UBC employee number.
Q: Should I purchase additional medical insurance?
A: UBC is able to provide information about your coverage through the UBC group plans while travelling outside of BC, however the decision to purchase additional medical or other insurance is yours to make. Should you choose to speak with your travel agent or insurance broker about additional coverage while travelling, have them refer to the Sun Life extended health benefits booklet and other coverage booklets. Note, that coverage and their exclusions and limitations vary across plans – it is important you read and understand your benefit coverage and conditions.
Q: I just went to the travel medical clinic and received recommended travel vaccinations. Are these vaccinations covered under our extended health plan?
A: No, vaccinations are not covered under the extended health plan.
Q: Does my coverage include trip cancellation insurance?
A: No.
Q. What should I do if I am travelling in a country that is experiencing a natural disaster and I require emergency medical services?
Make contact with Europ Assistance, Sun Life’s travel assistance provider as soon as you are able to do so. The information on how to contact Europ Assistance is on the downloadable Travel Benefit and Medi-Passport Information Sheet. Europ Assistance will endeavour to provide services to the best of their ability during a natural disaster, however services may be delayed or unavailable depending on the situation in the country, city or region you are in. If services are unavailable and conditions change, contact Europ Assistance to determine if there are any changes to their ability to provide services.
Q: I’m going to be cancelling my ticket and plans to travel abroad because I’m concerned about a health travel advisory issued from the Public Health Agency of Canada or because of a travel warning issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Is the ticket and any hotel costs reimbursable under my extended health plan’s Travel Assistance benefit?
A: No. Your extended health plan doesn’t cover the cost of your ticket and/or hotel costs if you decide to cancel your travel plans. The purpose of the extended health plan’s out-of-Province/Canada and Travel Assistance benefit is to deal with medical emergencies while travelling for yourself and/or your covered dependents.
Q: I require a letter from my employer stating my coverage while travelling outside of BC. Who can I contact to obtain such a letter?
A: Contact your UBC Benefits Administrator by email or call 604-822-6823.
Q: I have specific questions about my out-of-Province/out-of-Country coverage. Who can I contact for further information?
A: Please contact Sun Life directly at 1-800-361-6212 or 1-800-661-7334, or send a secure email via the Sun Life Plan Member’s Website if you have specific questions about out-of-Province/out-of-Country coverage under your plan.
Q: What is considered an “emergency service”?
A: Emergency services means any reasonable medical services or supplies, including advice, treatment, medical procedures or surgery, required as a result of an emergency. When you or your family member has a chronic condition, emergency services do not include treatment provided as part of an established management program that existed before leaving your province of residence.
Q: What should I do if I have a medical emergency?
A: If you encounter an emergency while travelling outside of BC or Canada, contact Europ Assistance for help.
Q: What information do I need to provide Europ Assistance in the event of a medical emergency?
A: Give Europ Assistance the following information:
Q: What emergency services are provided by Europ Assistance?
A: Europ Assistance provides:
Emergency travel assistance services:
Q: What if I need emergency dental care?
A: If you receive emergency dental care while outside BC or Canada, the dental plan will continue to pay based on the terms of the plan up to the BC dental fee guide limits in Canadian funds. All receipts must be translated into English, and amounts for procedures will be converted to Canadian funds. Submit your claim when you return home using a paper dental claim form. If your claim was a result of a dental accident, use an extended health claim form.
Q: What would be considered eligible emergency medical expenses?
A: A medical emergency means an acute illness or accidental injury that requires immediate, medically necessary treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Eligible medical expenses as a result of a medical emergency may include the following:
Q: What would be deemed as “non-emergency” and therefore not covered under the emergency medical expense?
A: Medically necessary expenses that are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP), such as services and supplies while in hospital, semi-private hospital room and outpatient and physician’s services, are covered in the event of an emergency only, if incurred outside of BC or Canada. These services are not covered in non-emergency situations.
Non-emergency expenses for all other services and supplies eligible under your extended health plan and outlined in your Sun Life booklet (e.g., prescription drug, medical equipment and supplies (outpatient), paramedical services, and vision care benefits) are covered and these expenses are subject to the conditions outlined in your plan. Payment for these expenses will be limited to the reasonable & customary charge within BC, and in Canadian funds.
Q: What if I have non-emergency out-of-Province/out-of-Country medical expenses?
A: Medically necessary expenses that are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP), such as services and supplies while in hospital, semi-private hospital room and out-patient and physician’s services, are covered in the event of an emergency only if incurred outside of BC or Canada. These services are not covered in non-emergency situations.
Non-emergency expenses for all other services and supplies eligible under your extended health plan and outlined in your Sun Life booklet (e.g., prescription drug, medical equipment and supplies (out-patient), paramedical services, and vision care benefits) are covered and these expenses are subject to the conditions outlined in your plan. Payment for these expenses will be limited to the reasonable & customary charge within BC, and in Canadian funds.
Q: How do I submit out-of-Province/out-of Country claims?
A: For instructions on how to submit claims, please refer to the Preparing for Travel page.
Q: Who do I contact for further information if I still have questions?
A: Contact your UBC Benefits Administrator by email or call 604-822-6823.
Disclaimer: This outline is for information purposes only and is a descriptive outline of the plans described; it is not a contract. UBC does not warrant the completeness, timeliness or accuracy of any of the information contained in this web site. Plan terms and conditions are governed by policy contract numbers 25205, 23218, 50555-G, 100328 and 51075 with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and Policy #920137 with AXA Insurance Inc. In the event of a discrepancy between the information provided on this web site and these policy contracts, benefits will be paid in accordance with the policy contracts.
Any information on the Medical Service Plan of BC (MSP) is a descriptive outline only; UBC is not responsible for the terms and provisions of this plan as it is administered by Health Insurance BC (BC Provincial Government). UBC does not warrant the completeness, timeliness or accuracy of any of the information contained in this web site. For further information, please refer to http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp.
You must be registered and enrolled the benefit plans to receive the coverage under the plans. Coverage under some of the UBC benefit plans is not automatic. It is the sole responsibility of the traveller to ensure that they are enrolled in the UBC plans and have appropriate coverage in place based on their personal circumstances and their travel destination.
