Top-Up Travel Insurance Overview

This page provides a concise overview of the Saskatchewan Blue Cross Top-Up Travel Insurance plan, outlining key considerations for extending travel coverage, potential restrictions based on the original insurance provider, and important purchasing requirements. This guide is designed to support advisors and customers in navigating the process of securing Top-Up coverage while ensuring compliance with Saskatchewan Blue Cross policies and maintaining the integrity of original travel insurance plans.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to issue a quote or application for a Top-Up Travel Plan, please see the scribe linked below.

Top-Up Travel Insurance Summary

Eligibility

Saskatchewan Blue Cross Top-Up Travel Plans are designed to provide additional coverage for travelers with existing insurance plans. The Top-Up Plan is available only as a supplement to other insurance coverages, such as:

• Saskatchewan Blue Cross VIP Travel Plan

• Saskatchewan Blue Cross Group Plan

• Another insurance company’s group or individual travel plan

• Credit card coverage

Top-Up plans can only add additional days of coverage and cannot increase the policy's monetary maximum amount from the first insurer.

• Coverage is available for 1-365 days; however, the total number of days must include coverage from the original plan.
  Example: If traveling for 365 days with the original plan covering 90 days, the insured can only purchase 275 additional days (365 days – 90 days = 275 days).

• For trips over 214 days, insureds must notify Saskatchewan Health to extend their Saskatchewan Health Card validity.

• Saskatchewan Health Card must be valid throughout the trip; otherwise, coverage is void.

• Stability period is calculated from the date of departure from Saskatchewan.

Purchasing Requirements

• Top-Up Travel Plans must be purchased before leaving Saskatchewan.

• For Saskatchewan Blue Cross Group and VIP Travel plans, a Top-Up can be purchased outside the province if:

  • The original coverage has not expired.

  • No claims have been incurred or are pending.

Important Note: Refer to the specific Top-Up Travel Plans Policy for detailed insurance guidelines and rules.

Who Can Top-Up?

Top-Ups on Other Carriers, Groups, and Credit Card Plans

The original coverage must be non-restrictive, allowing for completion by another insurer. If a customer’s original plan is restrictive, purchasing a Top-Up will render their initial coverage null and void.

Individual and Annual Travel Plans

• Individual and Annual Travel Plans are restrictive and can only be extended through Saskatchewan Blue Cross unless denied due to eligibility or existing claims.

Saskatchewan Blue Cross Group and VIP Travel Plans

• VIP Travel and Group Travel Plans are non-restrictive, meaning Top-Ups can be purchased from another carrier.

Top-Up for Saskatchewan Blue Cross VIP Travel or Group Travel Plans

• Top-Up can be used to add additional days of coverage for existing Saskatchewan Blue Cross VIP or Group Travel plans.

• The Top-Up Travel Plan offers Emergency Medical Care and 24/7 Travel Assistance benefits.
  Note: No Accidental Death or Dismemberment, or Air Flight Accident add-ons are available under the Top-Up Travel Plan.

• Top-Up must be purchased before the date of departure or before the expiry of the existing Saskatchewan Blue Cross VIP or Group Travel coverage.

For customers traveling outside of Saskatchewan:

• An SBC VIP Travel or Group plan member can purchase Top-Up coverage from another provider without affecting their existing coverage.

Claims Process for Top-Ups to VIP or Group Travel Plans:

• Medical conditions arising during the first coverage period are not considered pre-existing conditions.

• Expenses incurred during the first coverage period are not covered by Canassurance.

• Follow-up visits for conditions that arose during the initial coverage are covered unless:

  • The condition was pre-existing at departure.

  • The customer refused repatriation.

  • The customer should have been hospitalized or repatriated based on Canassurance standards.

• Ongoing hospitalizations that started during the first coverage period will remain the responsibility of the first insurer.

Top-Up for Other Insurance Carriers

Customers can purchase a Top-Up Plan to extend coverage for travel insurance held with another insurance company, such as credit card coverage or a group insurance travel plan.

• Confirm with the original insurance carrier that the plan allows for Top-Up coverage with Saskatchewan Blue Cross.

• The Top-Up Travel Plan provides Emergency Medical Care and 24/7 Travel Assistance benefits.

• The Top-Up must be purchased before the departure date and prior to leaving Saskatchewan.

Advisor and Customer Responsibilities

• Ensure the original insurance carrier authorizes a Top-Up with another insurer.

• Know the exact number of days covered by the original insurance plan.

• Understand the coverage provided by Saskatchewan Blue Cross may differ from the original insurance.

• Invalid information about the initial travel coverage will render the Top-Up Plan null & void.