Travel remains a challenge as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, things are slowly improving as more and more people get vaccinated. This has allowed some travel restrictions to be lifted and for more people to begin travelling again.
To ensure plan members are up-to-date with the latest travel coverage information, the NSTU Group Insurance Trustees have prepared the following Frequently Asked Questions. For more information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and your travel benefits, please visit Medavie Blue Cross at https://www.medaviebc.ca/en/info-centre-covid-19.
The NSED Travel Insurance Plan offers complete coverage for your travel needs in one convenient package, with options to suit your budget. The Provincial Health Plan provides limited basic coverage for travel outside of your Province of Residence. If you have a medical emergency while travelling outside Canada, costs can easily escalate and will not all be covered by the government plan.
You and/or your family must be insured under the Provincial Health Insurance Plan in your Province of Residence to be eligible to join the plan. You can also cover your spouse and your eligible dependent children under the family option.
The NSED Travel Insurance Plan is available to all retired members and deducted monthly from your Nova Scotia Teacher’s Pension.
Member pays 100% – Annual Plan – renews automatically each September 1st.
As per the policy wording, there are no refunds available under the base plan.
Base Plan allows unlimited travel up to a maximum of 35 calendar days per trip during the policy year. Supplementary Plan provides coverage for trips in excess of 35 calendar days on a per trip basis up to 210 days and includes the Base Plan coverage.
Click here for the full policy wording of NSED Travel Out of Province/Canada Emergency Medical Insurance Plan.
In the event of a medical emergency while travelling outside your Province of Residence, you or your representative must call Medavie Blue Cross’ appointed travel assistance provider as soon as possible at one of the following numbers:
From Canada or the United States – 1-800-563-4444
From anywhere else – 1-506-854-2222 (collect) – If calling collect is not possible, Medavie Blue Cross will reimburse the cost of the call
The coverage is available to all members who are enrolled in the NSED Travel Out of Province/Canada Emergency Medical Insurance Plan, and deducted monthly from your Nova Scotia Teacher’s Pension.
Member pays 100% – Annual Plan – renews automatically each September 1st
Available to all members who are enrolled in the NSED Travel Out of Province/Canada Emergency Medical Insurance Plan
Trip Cancellation – up to $5,000 per insured person per annual coverage period
Trip Interruption – up to a maximum of $5,000 per insured person for each covered trip
For a complete breakdown of all of your benefits when you are retired under age 65 and the change when you are retired over age 65, click on the Retired Teachers Benefit Chart.
Click here for the full policy wording of NSED Travel Insurance Trip Cancellation/Interruption Plan.
Prior to the departure date, upon the occurrence of an event listed amongst the eligible risks, you must contact the travel agent or carrier, as the case may be, within 48 hours of the event in order to cancel the trip. Medavie Blue Cross must also be notified within the same time limit.
The Medavie Blue Cross toll free customer information line is 1-800-667-4511 (ask for Travel Claims)
If the trip has already commenced, you must contact Medavie Blue Cross’ appointed travel assistance provider as soon as possible at one of the following numbers:
From Canada or the United States – 1-800-563-4444
From anywhere else – 1-506-854-2222 (collect) – If calling collect is not possible, Medavie Blue Cross will reimburse the cost of the call
Did you know that the insured days of your trip starts when you leave your residing province and not when you leave the country? For example, you have a 35 day base plan and have a trip booked in Florida for 34 days. Prior to heading to Florida, you decide to travel to a different province to visit Family or Friends for 7 days. This means your total trip is now 41 days (days outside of your province) and you will not be covered for the last 6 days of your trip in Florida. You can purchase Supplemental Plans that can range from 40 to 210 days to cover you in instances like the above to cater to you trip length.
Underwritten by Medavie Blue Cross
If you have any questions regarding the above, please call the Administrator, Johnson Inc., at 453-9543 or 1-800-453-9543 (toll-free).
email: insurance@nstu.ca or nstu@johnson.ca