Gary Sawatzky | Chief Operating Officer , ARTA

Now that opportunities for travel are appearing again , I want to provide some information and reminders when planning your next trips as you make up for lost time . To guarantee the comfort of travelling worry-free , it ’ s important to review your emergency travel insurance policy and understand your coverage .

If you are covered by a plan other than ARTA ’ s , ensure that you read any stability clause included in the contract ’ s fine print . A stability clause requires pre-existing medical conditions to be stable prior to leaving on your trip . This stability period varies , depending on the policy . Any pre-existing conditions that do not meet the criteria are excluded from coverage while you are travelling , even if your health state has improved .

ARTA ’ s Emergency Travel plan has no stability clause — any medical illness or injury must simply be considered “ sudden and unexpected .” ARTA ’ s policy wording is available on the ARTA website ( arta . net ) under Forms and Documents . Remember that travel coverage is for emergencies . It is not designed to cover routine medical expenses , such as physician check-ups .

It ’ s a good idea to visit your doctor at least six to eight weeks before you leave . If your doctor indicates you are not healthy enough to travel , and if you have coverage with ARTA , you are covered for Trip Cancellation insurance . While you are talking to your physician , ask if you need any vaccinations , which may require multiple doses administered over several weeks .

It ’ s also a good idea to visit your dentist and pharmacist prior to leaving on your trip . This avoids any unwanted dental issues while travelling and ensures that you have enough medication for your entire trip .

Proof of departure might be required if you need to make a claim . Keep your boarding pass or make a small purchase with your credit card and keep the receipt to serve as proof . If you are covered

by ARTA ’ s Emergency Travel plan , the same tip applies to reset your 92-day trip duration — once you can prove you have returned to your province of residence , you can leave on another trip . If you are not covered by ARTA ’ s plan , ensure you are familiar with the trip reset rules of that plan .

Contact your emergency travel assistance provider as soon as possible , and preferably before any treatment , in the event you need to make a claim . The sooner they hear from you in an emergency , the sooner they can find a quality local medical facility for you , make billing arrangements , and more .

If you are covered by ARTA ’ s emergency travel plan , Allianz Global Assistance is your primary travel assistance provider . You can contact them 24 / 7 by calling the number provided on the back of your ARTA Benefits ID card . If you continue with your trip following your emergency , your coverage only applies to new and unexpected emergencies unrelated to your existing condition .

This information will allow you to take those trips that you have been putting off with comfort , knowing you are prepared to handle any emergency travel situation . news & views AUTUMN 2021 | 11