Travel

Insurance for Doctors

Important Travel Insurance implications during the COVID-19 outbreak

We encourage our members to follow the advice of the Government of Canada and local government when booking and travelling.

If you do choose to travel, here is some additional information to help you plan ahead. Be sure to read your policy in full, to ensure you have an understanding of what it covers, and what it doesn’t cover. Rules and guidelines are changing rapidly. For the Doctors of BC MEDOC policy:

  • Out of Country Emergency Medical Insurance coverage IS available for COVID-19 medical emergencies, even where travel advisories due to COVID-19 are in place. This applies to both the travel insurance included with Doctors of BC HBTF plan and to the standalone coverage purchased through Johnson.

  • Trip cancellation/trip interruption, coverage for COVID-19 IS NOT available, even where there is no travel advisory in effect. Trip cancellation is only included with standalone coverage purchased through Johnson.

Out of Country Emergency Medical Insurance Coverage

Typically, any medical condition you suffer or contract in a specific country, region or area while a travel advisory of “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” is in effect for that specific country, region or area and the travel advisory was issued by the Government of Canada before your day of departure, is excluded from coverage. However, for Emergency Medical Insurance benefits, this exclusion does not apply to medical conditions or losses related to COVID-19, even while a travel advisory related to COVID-19 is in effect.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance policies, including MEDOC, typically exclude coverage where the insured is aware, on the date they book travel, of any event that may prevent the insured from travelling as planned. As the Coronavirus outbreak has been declared by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic, Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage for COVID-19 IS NOT available, even where there is no travel advisory in effect.

Please visit for the most up-to-date information regarding travel advisories or https://www.johnson.ca/coronavirus for information related to COVID-19 coverage on the MEDOC plan.

Doctors of BC members can choose from two exclusive programs offered by Johnson Inc.: 

  • Emergency Medical Travel Plan

  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage

Emergency Medical Travel MEDOC is an Emergency Medical Travel Plan designed to insure those traveling outside their province of residence. All members and their spouses are eligible to purchase coverage, regardless of age or health.

The MEDOC coverage is a multi-trip annual base plan. Supplemental coverage can also be purchased for longer trips. Here are just some of the special and unique features of MEDOC:

  • Covers up to $5,000,000 of emergency medical expenses each time you travel

  • Includes Trip Cancellation, Interruption & Delay Insurance up to $8,000/person

  • Baggage & Personal Effects benefit up to $1,500/person, maximum $3,000/family

About the Plan

  • Annual base plan covers the member and/or spouse and family members for an unlimited number of trips per year, each up to 35 days duration

  • Supplemental Plan available in 15 day increments for single trips longer than the 35 day annual plan duration

  • Competitive rates and pricing for three health options: Optimum, Preferred and Standard

  • Direct claims payment, whenever possible

  • Coverage available regardless of age or health status

  • Vehicle return

  • Bedside transportation for a relative

  • Emergency dental care

  • Repatriation

  • And... many additional benefits.

The MEDOC Plan also includes the services of a travel assistance company, Global Excel Management Inc., who provides support through a claims assistant help line. Some of the services provided by Global Excel Management include:

  • 24 hour, 7 days-a-week multilingual help line

  • Claims assistance and medical monitoring

  • Confirmation of coverage

  • Direct payment of claims to the Medical Service Provider, whenever possible

  • Assistance with replacement of lost travel documents and tickets

  • Language assistance and help in obtaining legal services

  • Pre-trip planning

Trip interruption/cancellation coverage

Stand-alone Trip Interruption/Cancelation coverage is now available if you already have travel medical coverage and are seeking trip cancelation, interruption and baggage loss coverage only. Contact Johnson Inc. for full details.

Contact information

For more information, contact Johnson Inc.:

Telephone: 604 881 8840 or 1 866 799 0000
Fax: 604 881 8828
www.johnson.ca/travel-insurance
 

Helpful tips

Emergency contact information for MEDOC covered members 

In case of a Travel/Medical Emergency, you or someone on your behalf MUST call the MEDOC Claims Assistance Centre prior to treatment or your coverage will be limited. 

24 HOUR EMERGENCY HELPLINE 

  • In Canada/USA: 1 800 709 3420 

  • Other Countries: 819 566 1002 (collect call) 

  • Fax Canada/USA: 1 877 566 8723 

  • Fax outside Canada/USA: 1 819 566 8723