Medical Emergency
A medical emergency is a sudden and unforeseen illness, injury, or medical condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent serious harm, disability, or death. In the context of health and travel insurance, it refers to an unexpected situation where urgent care is needed while away from home or outside your province or territory of residence.
Medical emergencies include situations such as heart attacks, strokes, fractures, severe infections, or accidents that demand prompt medical intervention. Insurance coverage for emergencies ensures that necessary hospital, surgical, or physician services are provided without delay, often including ambulance transportation and emergency repatriation for travel plans. The goal of emergency coverage is to stabilize the patient and prevent the condition from worsening, not to treat ongoing or elective medical needs.
Example:
If you are traveling abroad and experience chest pain that turns out to be a heart attack, your travel medical insurance would cover emergency hospital and physician costs, as well as any necessary surgery or medical evacuation, subject to the terms of your policy.
What to Watch For:
Emergency coverage applies only to unexpected and urgent medical events, not to routine care or follow-up appointments. Insurers may deny claims if the condition existed before travel or if it was not stable according to the policy’s definition. Always review your plan’s stability and pre-existing condition clauses before traveling, and contact the insurer’s emergency assistance line as soon as possible when a crisis occurs.
