INSURERS LIMIT COVERAGE AFTER TRAVEL ADVISORY.

TORONTO • Some insurance providers in Canada are beginning to limit trip interruption and emergency medical coverage following the federal government’s advisory to avoid all non-essential travel, potentially causing further mayhem for Canadians stuck abroad in the whirlwind of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Retired Teachers of Ontario insurance provider, RTOERO, issued a “pandemic preparedness” advisory for its members over the weekend, stating that trip interruption coverage would now be limited to a period of 10 days from March 13 or to a “period that is reasonably necessary for you to safely evacuate the country, region or area,” despite a trip starting before the government’s travel advisory was issued.

That means if you are on vacation, departed before March 13, and are unable to find a flight back, you might only be covered for trip interruptions and emergency medical help until March 23.

“For most members, we expect safe return can take within 10 days of the March 13 advisory. For those in regions or countries with restrictions on movement or travel (e.g., Spain, Italy), coverage will continue until the restrictions are lifted and you can safely return to Canada,” said a statement on RTOERO’S website.

RTOERO is the largest insurer of retired Canadian educators and provides coverage for over 89,000 members, most of whom live in Ontario. Their members range in age from 46 to over 109, and include school teachers, board administrators, educational support staff and college and university faculty in retirement.

RTOERO did not immediately respond to a query from the Post.

RBC Insurance said that any trip cancellation or interruption claim would not be payable if the policy was purchased or trip was booked and paid for on an RBC Credit Card “on or after March 13, 2020, 5:30p.m. EST,” adding that the company now considers non-essential travel advisory a “known or anticipated event.” RBC is also not covering any emergency medical treatment related to the coronavirus abroad, if the trip was booked after March 13.

“You may be eligible to submit a trip cancellation/ trip interruption claim due to a newly issued travel advisory if your trip was booked before March 13,” RBC’S most recent advisory read. RBC Insurance spokesperson Kiara Famularo confirmed that travellers stuck abroad would be provided with an economy fair ticket to get home.

A TD Insurance spokesperson confirmed that Canadians marooned abroad will remain covered if they purchased top-up medical insurance prior to the lapse of their original coverage.