Every year, thousands of travelers get into accidents while they're traveling abroad. They get into ski accidents, get bit by mysterious bugs, get food poisoning, and all sorts of travel emergencies. And you know what they all have in common? They never thought it would happen to them.
Green Shield travel insurance is here to help you in those situations. If you ever find yourself hurt or ill unexpectedly on your trip, we'll help you figure out where to get help and how to get reimbursements for your expenses. In addition, we'll also help you figure out how to get home if you get stranded.
In other words, we're there to help make you emergency situation less stressful and worrisome. Because the last thing anyone needs when they're hurt or ill abroad is to figure out how to get help alone.
But before you go, read on to find out what Green Shield travel insurance is exactly and what they can do for you when bad luck strikes on your travels.
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Who Is Green Shield?
Green Shield is a non-profit medical insurance provider that was found in 1957. We offer different health insurance plans for working employees, students, and senior citizens. We are owned by a larger international medical service organization called Allianz.
For Canadian citizens who wish to travel abroad or outside of their provinces, they may enroll in the Green Shield Travel Insurance plan for protection. We cover medical emergencies, transportation emergencies, as well as travel assistance.
We have an on-call health center that you can call from anywhere in the world and we offer assistance in over 20 languages.
What Benefits Does Green Shield Travel Insurance Offer?
Green Shield travel insurance covers all eligible members for 180 days or 90 days per trip depending on the plan that you have. There is a limit of $3,000,000 per person, per lifetime. For referral services, we cover up to $50,000 per covered person per the calendar year.
As for what type of emergencies we cover, we cover sudden illnesses, injuries, and losses of transportation. This includes injuries from road accidents, traveling activities, expeditions, and illness from food, diseases, and environmental causes.
Below is a more detailed review of all the situations and benefits of travel insurance.
1. Lost or Stolen Travel Documents
Left your wallet with all your identification cards in a taxi? Dropped your passport? Did someone steal your bag with all your travel documents in it? It's okay, it happens, we understand.
If you ever find yourself stranded somewhere without your travel documents, don't worry, we'll help you get in touch with the Canadian embassy wherever you are. We'll try to help you replace the documents or provide you with temporary ones to help you continue your journey or return home.
2. Emergency Illnesses and Injuries
If you ever find yourself suddenly sick or injured on a trip, where you need immediate medical attention, we'll be there to help you. We will help you locate the closest and best doctors. And we'll help you manage the bills either during your stay or after.
Please keep in mind, an emergency illness or injury is defined as a condition that prevents you from partaking in your travel plans due to severe pain. Or if the condition is life-threatening.
In addition, the illness or injury must have occurred while you're traveling and not a symptom of a pre-existing condition. You cannot be traveling for medical reasons.
3. Emergency Transportation
If you are sick or injured and you cannot get yourself to the hospital, please call yourself or have someone call an emergency ambulance for you. Green Shield travel insurance does cover emergency transportation.
In dire situations where you might need other types of transportation, please call a representative and we'll assist you in getting the type of transportation you need.
4. Laboratory Test and Body Scans
In the case of emergency illnesses or injuries, our travel insurance will cover any laboratory tests and body scans that you need. This covers body exams, consultations, blood tests, x-rays, or any kind of diagnostic examination.
All tests and scans must be carried out by licensed doctors or nurses and we'll require proof of your lab results.
5. Surgical Procedures
If your illness or injury requires immediate surgery or operation, Green Shield travel insurance will cover up to $3,000,000 per lifetime. This also includes dental surgeries if the injury is in the mouth.
All medical costs leading up to and after the surgery are part of this quote.
6. Medical Supplies and Prescription Drugs
We reimburse all medical supplies such as crutches, casts, or slings. If it's a tool or equipment that will assist you in your recovery and movement, it counts. For wheelchairs, you can rent them temporarily.
Our travel insurance also covers prescription medications that come from licensed doctors. Please make sure you keep the receipts and prescriptions of everything you buy and use.
If you are already taking any kind of medications at home, we advise you to keep a list of them for emergency uses.
7. Lost or Stolen Vehicles
If your personal vehicle gets stolen anytime during your trip, you must report it right away to authorized personnel and file a police report.
If local authorities can find your vehicle, we'll pay the costs to transport your vehicle back to you. If your vehicle is not found or it is damaged beyond use, we'll pay for your return transportation costs back home.
Hearing news about someone in our family hurt while we're on vacation is one of the worst things that can happen to any traveler. If someone in your immediate family falls into a life-threatening illness or condition while you're away, we'll help you get to their bedside as soon as possible.
People included as a part of your "immediate family" are your parents, spouse, siblings, and children.
9. Travel Assistance
Need someone to help you find medical attention? Or get in touch with family members in case of a national emergency? Our free Green Shield travel assistance hotline will be there for you 24/7 from anywhere in the world.
We'll answer any questions you have before, during, and after your trip. We also offer multilingual assistance if you're in a country where you cannot speak the language.
10. Meals and Accommodations
While you're at the hospital recovering, we'll cover room and meals for as long as your doctor orders. If your doctor discharges you but your body is not stable enough to travel home yet, we'll pay for your stay in a local hotel or accommodation of your choice. All arrangements should be within usual and reasonable charges.
Please make sure to keep all receipts and discharge papers, including a statement from your doctor about your inability to travel. We will check in with you during your recovery process.
How to Make Travel Insurance Claims
For all medical emergencies, make sure you report them within 48 hours of your first treatment. This means 48 hours from the time you enter the hospital or clinic. If you are unable to, please have someone else do it for you.
Once you get to the treatment center, let someone know you have travel insurance and give them your travel insurance card. They can get in touch with us directly for billing reasons and we can help you set up plans to return home right away if necessary.
Even better, if you are able to call us before you seek medical treatment, we'll help you find the best providers near you. We can help you let them know you're coming and help you set up direct payment with them.
For all emergencies and incidents, make sure you get copies of official documents detailing the time and date of the event. Always get the names of people who are servicing you so if we ever need a statement from them, we'll know who to call.
Have a Wonderful and Safe Trip
Traveling can be stressful enough as it is. And when something goes wrong, the last thing we want you to worry about is how you can get help or whether something we cover something. Travel insurance can help you alleviate some of that stress so you can focus on getting the help you need.
Almost every person who's had Green Shield travel insurance has told us they were happy to have us when they got into an accident. But no one's ever told us they regretted having us when nothing happened. Don't get caught as the person without travel insurance when something goes wrong.
If you have any more questions about travel insurance or would like more information on any other type of insurance, please visit our website to learn more.
