GMS
Visitors Insurance

Benefits
Exclusions
Claims
FAQ
Rates
Downloads

Administrated by: GMS Insurance Inc.
Underwritten by: GMS Insurance Inc.
24 hours Emergency Assistance Center: GMS Insurance Inc.

Note: This plan is available for purchase in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

BENEFITS:
  - Emergency Medical Expenses maximum benefits: $25,000; $50,000; $100,000 and $150,000.
  - Hospital Room - semi-private.
  - Physicians or surgeons.
  - Diagnostic Treatments: Lab tests and X-ray examinations ordered by a physician. Magnetic resonance imaging, computerized axial tomography scans, sonograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies have to be pre-authorized by GMS.
  - Ambulance Transportation: Licensed local air or land ambulance, when necessary, to the nearest hospital.
  - Prescription drugs or medicines, 30 day supply.
  - Professional Medical Services - care received from a licensed physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath, chiropodist, and/or podiatrist, up to $300 per category of practitioner.
  - Funeral Expenses: In the event of death from covered condition, up to $3,000 is provided to return the body home, or up to $2,000 for cremation or burial at the place of death.
  - Accidental Dental: Up to $2,000 for repair or replacement of natural teeth or permanently attached artificial teeth, damaged by an accidental blow to the face.
  - Dental Emergencies: Up to $250 for treatment or relief of acute dental pain.
  - Child Care - up to $500, with prior GMS approval, for licensed care of dependant, should you be hospitalized for forty-eight (48) hours or more due to a medical emergency.
  - Out of pocket expenses - up to $150 per day to a maximum of $1,000 for accommodations, meals, necessary telephone calls and taxi or bus fares incurred by an accompanying family member in the event that you are hospitalized. This benefit must be pre-approved by GMS.
  - Emergency Transportation: The cost up to the policy limit of air ambulance, one-way economy airfare or stretcher to transport you to your country of origin, and a medical attendant if required, when immediate medical consultation is required following a covered emergency sickness or injury.
 - Parent and Grandparent Super Visa holders will be deemed to have coverage for a full 365 days, without limitation as to the number of departures and re-entries into Canada.

EXCLUSIONS: Your coverage is subject to various exclusions, which are completely set out in the Exclusions section of the policy document. The following, although not an exhaustive list, are some of these exclusions:
ELIGIBILITY:
1. You are eligible to purchase this insurance if you are an immigrant or visitor to Canada who is not covered under a provincial or territorial government plan.
2. You are not eligible to purchase this plan if:
   a) You are age 80 years of age or older as of the date of application.
   b) You have had a medical consultation with a physician since you arrived in Canada.
   c) You have been in Canada for more than thirty (30) days at the time of application;
   d) You have reason to seek medical attention when you apply;
   e) You are not eligible for coverage if, on your effective date; you are a visitor to Canada over the age of 55  or are an immigrant of any age and in the past twelve (12) months:
        i) You have suffered from, been diagnosed with, received new treatment for, or had a recurrence of, or complications relating to any of the following: stroke/TIA, blood clots, congestive heart failure, atrial/ventricular fibrillation, AIDS, any terminal illness, renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding;
       ii) You have undergone the following procedures: renal dialysis, valve replacement or organ transplant;
       iii) You are awaiting further tests or treatment for heart disease;
       iv) You have both heart disease AND insulin dependent diabetes and are taking prescription medication for both;
       v) You use home oxygen for a heart and/or lung disease;
       vi) You take oral steroids for a lung condition;
       vii) Any of the following apply to you; under active treatment for cancer, have an aortic aneurysm that remains surgically untreated, have experienced undiagnosed episodes of syncope/fainting or falling;
       viii) You have and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator).
3. If you apply for coverage prior to your arrival in Canada, there is no waiting period to obtain emergency medical treatment.
4. If you apply for coverage within thirty (30) days of your arrival in Canada, no benefits will be paid for ANY expenses incurred within forty eight (48) hours of your effective date. 
5. The maximum number of days coverage may be purchased for is three hundred sixty-five (365) days per trip.
6. Only a person who is named on the application, who meets the eligibility requirements on the effective date of this application is covered.

The following expenses are not covered by the policy and no payment for these claims will be made:

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS for Visitors to Canada:
This insurance policy does not provide coverage for any expenses related directly or indirectly as a result of:
   a) Your medical condition and/or related condition and/or symptoms (whether or not the diagnosis has been determined) if at any time in the 180 days preceding your effective date your medical conditions or related conditions and/or symptoms have not been STABLE;
   b) If at any time in the 180 days prior to your effective date:
      - any heart condition has not been STABLE;
      - any lung condition has not been STABLE.

STABLE: Any medical condition or related medical condition for which:
   a) there have been no new symptoms, more frequent or more severe symptoms;
   b) there has been no change in treatment or change in medications;
   c) there has been no deterioration of your medical condition;
   d) there has been no hospitalization or referrals to a specialist including initial follow-up visits, tests or investigations booked in conjunction with a medical condition/symptom;
   e) there is no further testing, treatment or investigation booked or results pending;
   f) you have not experienced a symptom that remains undiagnosed;
   g) no further medical treatment after departure would be anticipated.

OTHER EXCLUSIONS:
   - Any services or expenses incurred when a journey is undertaken for the purpose of obtaining medical or surgical diagnosis or treatment, or when any medical treatment is pre-scheduled prior to departure from your province of residence for a medcial condition for which hospitalization could have reasonably been expected.
   - Expenses resulting from the regular care of a chronic condition.
   - Expenses incurred as a result of pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage childbirth or complications thereof.
   - Routine or general physical examinations, check-ups, or services of a continued nature following emergency treatment of a sickness or injury.
  - Expenses resulting directly or indirectly from the commission or attempted commission of any criminal, criminal-like, or illegal activity; intentional self-injury, suicide, or attempted suicide; the abuse of medication, drugs, or alcohol; any participation in the armed forces; or any wilful exposure to peril.
  - Expenses resulting from participation in professional sports, any speed contest, SCUBA diving (unless PADI, ACUC or SSI certified), extreme sports including but not restricted to parachuting, mountaineering, skydiving, rodeo, hang gliding, bungee cord jumping, acrobatic or stunt flying, or a flight accident unless riding as a passenger on commercially licensed airline.
  - Treatment or services that contravene or are prohibited by the provincial laws of your province of residence and the federal laws of Canada that applies in your province of residence.
- Services provided for persons working in hazardous occupations.

CLAIMS:

You or someone on your behalf must contact GMS prior to treatment whenever possible. Failure to contact GMS within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving medical treatment or admission to hospital will limit benefits, otherwise payable to you, to 70% of eligible expenses to maximum of the sum insured amount purchased. Emergency phone numbers: Toll free within Canada and the USA: 1-800-459-6604 and Collect call from all other locations: 905-726-5196.

Claims Instructions:
   1. Complete a claim form and attach all original itemized medical bills and prescription receipts.
   2. Sign and date completed form and return package to:
                          Group Medical Services
             150 Commerce Valley Drive W. 9th floor
                          Thornhill, ON, L3T 7Z3
For claims inquiries, please contact:
Toll Free 1-800-459-6604(within Canada and the USA) or
Collect (905) 726-5196 (from all other locations)

Please keep a copy of all the submitted correspondence for your records.

FAQ:

EXTENSIONS:
Automatic Extensions: if coverage expires while hospitalized due to an emergency, coverage will continue to you, your spouse and any dependants for whom coverage is purchased and listed on the application, up until seventy-two (72) hours after discharge from hospital.
Extensions may be approved if GMS is notified forty-eight (48) hours prior to the expiry date of the existing coverage and you have not required medical services in excess of $500 during your period of coverage.

SIDE TRIPS: Travel to the U.S.A. or Mexico during the period of coverage is valid as long as the majority (50% or greater) of the period of coverage is spent in Canada. Coverage is not applicable in your country of origin.

REFUNDS:

Daily Immigrants & Visitors Option
1.  A full refund is available if the entire trip is cancelled prior to the effective date of coverage.
2.  A partial refund is available if:
    a.  you return to your country of origin and a minimum of thirty (30) days remains unused on the policy;
    b.  you become eligible and covered under a provincial or territorial Government plan during the period of coverage; or
    c. you have a minimum of thirty (30) days unused on the policy as a result of your death.
3.  No refunds are available if claims have been incurred under this insurance plan.
4.  No refunds will be issued for amounts under $5.00.

Annual Immigrants & Visitors Option
1.  A full refund is available if the entire trip is cancelled prior to the effective date of coverage.
2. A partial refund is available if:
    a.  you have a minimum of thirty (30) days unused on the policy as a result of your death; or
    b.  you become eligible and covered under a provincial or territorial Government plan during the period of coverage.
3.  Supporting documentation may be requested when applying for a refund.
4.  No refunds are available if claims have been incurred under this insurance plan.
5.  No refunds will be issued for amounts under $5.00.

About GMS
Group Medical Services (GMS) has been providing health and travel insurance coverage since 1949. GMS is expert in emergency medical coverage and offer a wide range of flexible plans at competitive rates. GMS is a non-profit corporation based in Regina, Saskatchewan.

RATES:

   - To determine rates for a $500 deductible, add 15% to the $1,000 deductible premium above.
   - To determine rates for a $100 deductible, add 30% to the $1,000 deductible premium above.
   - To determine rates for a $0 deductible, add 45% to the $1,000 deductible premium above.

Dependant: any unmarried child of you or your spouse (including step-child or adopted child) who is chiefly dependent upon you or your spouse for support and maintenance, and is 18 years of age or under.

Note: This information is an illustration only. It is not an insurance policy. Travel insurance does not cover everything. For the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions please see the policy wording online or refer to your policy booklet.

DOWNLOADS:

GMS Visitors Insurance POLICY PDF

GMS Visitors Insurance CLAIM FORM PDF

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