Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on March 03, 2023
Now that the world has opened back up, Canadians are eager to explore — and, more than ever, they appreciate the value of a comprehensive travel insurance plan to cover the costs of unexpected events, as a new study from Blue Cross confirms.
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on March 03, 2023
Now that the world has opened back up, Canadians are eager to explore — and, more than ever, they appreciate the value of a comprehensive travel insurance plan to cover the costs of unexpected events, as a new study from Blue Cross confirms.
According to the 2023 Blue Cross Travel Study, the majority of Canadian travellers (58%) have experienced travel-related issues, including an airline cancelling or changing flights, lost baggage, damaged baggage or needing medical attention. As a result, they’re buying travel insurance to manage their risk and enjoy a stress-free trip.
The study found that 42% of Canadian travellers are more likely to purchase travel insurance than they did in the past, and 58% indicated they would never consider leaving home without it. The ability to travel without worry was cited as the number one reason to buy. The top stressors are travel costs, flights being cancelled or changed and baggage being lost or stolen, mirroring the experiences of Canadian travellers.
The study indicates that travel insurance is increasingly becoming part of the trip-planning process, and travellers have several options to choose from. Different types of travel plans include:
For extra assurance, Medavie Blue Cross-insured travellers have one easy toll-free number to call for travel-related issues and pre-departure consultations. Our data shows that these consultations – a key differentiator for our business – are up 184% since 2021, which can be attributed in part to the volatile nature of travel since the pandemic.
The study indicates that travel insurance is increasingly becoming part of the trip-planning process, and travellers have several options to choose from. Different types of travel plans include:
For extra assurance, Medavie Blue Cross-insured travellers have one easy toll-free number to call for travel-related issues and pre-departure consultations. Our data shows that these consultations – a key differentiator for our business – are up 184% since 2021, which can be attributed in part to the volatile nature of travel since the pandemic.
The impact of travel disruption is also reflected in our claims data. While medical emergency claims continue to account for the majority of claims, the proportion of trip cancellation and baggage claims has increased.
If you’re an employer, it might be a good time to ensure your employees have sufficient coverage for business travel. In doing so, you protect their health and safety and your travel investment. Further, travel insurance can enhance your value proposition to complement your group benefits package, attracting and retaining top talent.
The impact of travel disruption is also reflected in our claims data. While medical emergency claims continue to account for the majority of claims, the proportion of trip cancellation and baggage claims has increased.
If you’re an employer, it might be a good time to ensure your employees have sufficient coverage for business travel. In doing so, you protect their health and safety and your travel investment. Further, travel insurance can enhance your value proposition to complement your group benefits package, attracting and retaining top talent.
As a member of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, we have enhanced our travel insurance portfolio by partnering with CanAssistance to offer the BlueCard program exclusively to Blue Cross policyholders.
The program gives travelers insured through Blue Cross access to the Blue Cross Blue Shield health care providers network, the largest network of its kind in the United States (95% of physicians and 96% of hospitals), with no upfront costs and easier, faster claims processing. In other words, Blue Cross-insured Canadians who become ill or get injured while travelling in the United States are “treated like a local.”
The program links participating health care providers through a single electronic network for claim processing and reimbursement. During a visit to a health care provider, the insured traveler benefits from a fast and efficient 100% digital experience with no out-of-pocket medical costs.*
Coverage spans the entire United States (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska), where a Blue Cross plan insures 100 million or 1 in 3 Americans.
The U.S. is the number one destination of Canadian travellers based on CanAssistance data, with Florida being the most preferred state to visit.
*The insured traveller must contact CanAssistance before any medical consultation to benefit from this service.
To learn more about travel insurance from the experts, view a recording of our recent Insights webinar, during which representatives of Medavie Blue Cross and CanAssistance take an in-depth look at travel trends and how our data mirror them. We also invite you to contact your Medavie Blue Cross representative for further information on our plans.
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...