As a member of the McGill Supplemental Health Plan, the Out-of-Country Emergency Travel Assistance benefit provides you and your eligible dependents traveling outside your province of residence (provided your provincial health care coverage is in force) coverage for emergency medical services required due to a sudden, unforeseen injury or new medical condition, a specific medical problem or chronic condition that was diagnosed but medically stable prior to departure.
Coverage is limited to trips of a maximum 90 day duration and is subject to the Health Plan's Emergency Travel Assistance benefit's lifetime maximum of $5,000,000 per person. Eligible dependent children studying outside their province of residence are covered for periods of 90 day maximum duration.
| Insurance Provider |
Manulife Financial |
|---|---|
| Emergency Travel Assistance Provider | Global Excel Management |
| Policy Number |
85210 |
Pre-Travel Information
- Review Government of Canada travel advisories
- Ensure your RAMQ coverage is in force & visit their website for coverage details
- Review the Supplemental Health Plan details in this section
- Print a Manulife benefit card from Manulife's Plan Member site
In an Emergency
Contact Global Excel Management (Manulife's emergency travel assistance provider) as soon as possible.
- Canada/USA: 1-800-265-9977
- International: country code + 800-9221-9221
- All other countries: use operator to call collect Global Excel Management at: 1-519-741-8450
When you call, have your Plan ID number (5320 for active staff, 5690 for active staff who are temporary residents) and the Policy Number 85210 ready.
RAMQ restrictions
Temporary residents
You can only be absent from Quebec for trips of 21 consecutive days. If you are absent, or intend to be absent, from Quebec for more than 21 days, you will not be covered for either provincial health care (RAMQ) or for emergency travel under the McGill Supplemental Health Plan for the entire duration of your absence.
For more information, visit the RAMQ website.
Permanent residents
Stays outside Quebec are limited to 183 days. For absences of 183 days or more, you must notify RAMQ before you leave to ensure that your coverage will continue. Under certain exceptions, such as the once-every-7-years rule, RAMQ coverage may be maintained for absences of 183 days or more. For full details, refer the RAMQ website.
Remember that you must be covered by RAMQ in order to be eligible for Supplemental Health Plan coverage.
A Medical Emergency occurs when an insured person requires immediate medical attention due to or related to:
- A sudden, unforeseen and unexpected injury, or a new medical condition which begins while an insured person is travelling outside their province of residence.
- A previously identified medical condition that was medically stable at the time of departure from the insured person's province of residence.
A medical emergency no longer exists when the insured person is able, in the opinion of the attending physician and supporting medical evidence, to return to their province of residence.
What does medically stable mean?
As defined by Manulife Financial, for a medical condition to be considered medically stable under the McGill Health Plan, during the 90-days leading up to your departure, retirees and/or their eligible dependents must not have:
- Been treated or tested for any new symptoms or conditions;
- Had an increase or worsening of any existing symptoms;
- Changed treatments or medications (other than normal adjustments for ongoing care);
- Been admitted to the hospital for treatment of the condition.
In addition, coverage for travel medical emergencies is not available if, prior to departure, you or your dependents have scheduled non-routine appointments, tests or treatments for an existing medical condition or another undiagnosed condition to be done after your return.
Additional plan details:
Claiming expenses
Contact Global Excel Management immediately or as soon as medical services are incurred. Global Excel Management will assume responsibility on your behalf for obtaining reimbursement of eligible medical expenses from your provincial health care plan and from Manulife.
If you do not contact Global Excel Management, you pay the service provider for the emergency medical services upfront, or for expenses of $200 or less.
You must obtain a fully itemized bill for any in-hospital expenses or treatment and keep all receipts. Upon your return home, you will need to submit a claim for the expenses:
- Submit a claim for reimbursement to the Régie de l'assurance-maladie de Québec. See the RAMQ website for more information.
- Once you receive reimbursement from the Régie, submit a claim to Manulife for the unpaid balance. Include copies of all receipts and the statement from the Régie.
Coverage and limitations
- Expenses for emergency medical care required as a result of a sudden illness or accident are covered while you and/or your eligible dependents are traveling outside your province of residence.
- A medical emergency no longer exists when the insured person is able, in the opinion of the attending physician and supporting medical evidence, to return to their province of residence.
- Following an emergency stay in hospital while abroad, medication dispensed while in hospital is covered, whereas medication filled at a pharmacy is not.
Coverage limitations
- Coverage is for emergency medical services only. Expenses incurred for ongoing treatment, tests, doctor visits and follow-ups for an existing medical condition are not covered.
- Routine medical tests or doctor visits are not covered.
- Coverage maximum is $5,000,000 per lifetime (lifetime maximum includes emergency travel both as an active employee and as a retiree).
- Pregnancy: Coverage is available for medical emergencies related to pregnancy as long as travel (including sabbatical leave) occurs before the beginning of the 32nd week of pregnancy.
- If your coverage under the Quebec Provincial Health Insurance Plan does not continue while you are away, your coverage under the McGill Supplemental Health plan for emergency out-of-province medical services will terminate for the entire duration of your absence.
Services covered
The plan covers 100% of the following services provided they are ordered by a doctor (or dentist where applicable) and provided part of the charge is payable under the provincial health plan in the province of residence:
Medical Services and Hospitalization
- Emergency hospital expenses incurred during the first 90 days of a trip outside of Canada, but not lasting beyond 14 days, unless the attending doctor (M.D.) certifies that the covered person should not be moved back to his/her home province.
- Charges in accordance with the average rate for semi-private hospital accommodations in the locality where the facilities and services are provided. This includes any admittance, coinsurance or utilization charges where permitted by law.
- Hospital services and supplies.
- Diagnosis and treatment of a licensed physician (reasonable and customary charge according to locality).
- Hospital out-patient services.
- X-rays and laboratory tests.
- Medication.
Transportation and Related Services
- Emergency transportation to the nearest appropriate medical care facility, and if necessary, from the medical care facility to a hospital in Canada (province of residence).
- Charges incurred for the return of a deceased Member or dependent.
- Charges incurred for the return of dependent children under 16 to their residence in Canada in the event the Member or Member's spouse is hospitalized and the children are left unattended.
- Charges incurred if the return trip is delayed due to hospitalization.
- Charges incurred for transportation of an immediate family member to visit a hospitalized individual.
- Charges incurred in connection with the return of a vehicle (does not include commercial vehicles or rented cars) in the event the Member is unable to return it due to illness, injury or death.
Services not covered
- Charges which are not incurred as a result of an emergency while traveling.
- Expenses incurred for ongoing treatment/tests/doctor visits and follow-up for an existing medical condition, or routine medical tests/doctor visits.
- Pregnancy: Routine doctor visits and tests; and any medical emergency related to a pregnancy for insured persons who are pregnant and traveling (or on sabbatical leave) after the beginning of the 32nd week of pregnancy.
- Childbirth: charges in connection with childbirth, and medical complications resulting from childbirth when delivery takes place after the beginning of the 32nd week of pregnancy.
- Services incurred while the insured does not have provincial health care insurance.
- Cancellation insurance or coverage for lost luggage.
