asrTrust’s Travel Coverage for GM Retirees
All GM members, their spouses, and dependents enrolled in the asrTrust Retiree Benefits plan are covered for health emergencies while traveling outside their home province for up to 35 consecutive days. Importantly, there is no age limit for this benefit. For more details, visit asrTrust Travel Coverage.
What’s Covered?
- Emergency hospital, surgical, and medical fees
- Emergency land and air ambulance services
Your coverage mirrors what your home province would provide in a similar emergency.
What’s Not Covered?
- Trip cancellation or interruption costs
- Uninsurable fees by law in your home province
- Private hospital room charges
- Repatriation of remains
Important Reminder: You must hold a valid provincial health card for the entire duration of your trip to be eligible for coverage.
Key Points to Consider
- Travel Duration: You can travel for up to 35 consecutive days. Coverage expires on day 36 if you haven’t returned home. You may take multiple trips, as long as you return home for at least 24 hours in between trips.
- Pre-existing Health Conditions: If you have known health conditions, they must be stable for 90 days prior to your trip departure date. “Stable” means no changes in medication or treatment, and no upcoming tests or procedures. For clarification of whether your health condition is stable, contact GreenShield Travel Assistance at 1-800-936-6226 before traveling. Even if you choose to travel with an unstable condition, you will be covered for health emergencies that are not related to that specific condition in any way.
Traveling Beyond 35 Days: If you need to travel outside Canada for more than 35 consecutive days, consider the following insurance options:
- Extended Travel Plan: This plan is only available to GM retirees who are within 60 days of their retirement. This annual plan adds an additional 30, 60, 90 or 150 days to your base 35 days of coverage without requiring medical underwriting. Premiums are adjusted annually. If you stop paying premiums or opt out of the plan, you will not be able to rejoin this plan in the future.
- Individual Travel Policy: If you didn’t opt for the extended plan when you retired, you can purchase an individual travel policy from GreenShield or other travel insurance providers. If purchasing from Greenshield, the insurance will start on day 36 of your travel, allowing you to retain travel insurance without interruption. A medical questionnaire will be required, and the premium is based on age and your trip duration.
Traveling Within Canada: If your trip is within Canada, your provincial health plan will cover most emergency medical costs, but ambulance services may not be included. It’s wise to review your provincial coverage to determine if additional travel insurance is needed.
Happy Travels
Being informed about your travel coverage can save you from unforeseen challenges while traveling. Always read the fine print of any insurance policy to fully understand your rights and responsibilities. For any questions about your coverage for an upcoming trip, please contact Greenshield at 1-877-266-5494 or customer.service@greenshield.ca. Safe travels!
