A spring break could be costly on your family vacation
Treatment for a broken limb in Florida can cost up to $35,000
without insurance
MISSISSAUGA, March 9, 2010— March ushers
in the start of a busy travel season with one-in-10 (10 per
cent) Canadians planning to travel outside of Canada this
month for Spring Break, according to a recent RBC Poll.
"Spring Break is a popular time to travel, whether it's
a quick one-day cross border stop with the kids or a longer
trip to a sunny destination," said Tim Bzowey, vice-president,
Travel, RBC Insurance. "What parents may not be aware
of is the high cost of medical care outside Canada for minor
injuries like sprains or an asthma attack."
Parents could expect to pay up to $1,000 if their child sprained
an ankle in the Mayan Riviera and up to $750 if their child
suffered an asthma attack in Buffalo that required a visit
to a local hospital.
"Employer plans or credit cards may offer travel insurance
coverage, but it's wise to compare benefits," adds Bzowey.
"Credit cards often provide coverage for a shorter number
of days or restrict the amount you can claim, and employment
benefits may not cover all medical emergencies or may limit
travel benefits."
Travellers depending on government health insurance plans
(GHIP) should also know that only a small portion of out-of-country
medical costs are covered by GHIP. For example, a broken leg
in Florida could cost $35,000 with only $2,000 covered by
GHIP.
Furthermore, as more Canadians choose to fly to their destinations
from U.S. airports, such as Buffalo or Seattle, it's important
they are insured from the date they leave home, and not the
date of their flight. An unexpected accident en route to the
airport could spoil travel plans and cost a family their entire
trip.
RBC Insurance is reminding families travelling south of the
border to review their existing travel medical insurance to
ensure they have comprehensive coverage, even if they're only
crossing the border for the day.
Here are five points Canadian travellers should consider
before heading south of the border with their family:
- Are there any gaps in your travel insurance coverage?
Government health plans, employee plans and credit cards
may only provide a limited amount of coverage.
- Does your travel insurance extend to your children?
Many employer plans have an age limit for children being
covered under their parents' insurance.
- Who will care for your child if you become ill or injured?
Travel insurance can help ensure that arrangements are made
for the safe return of your child back home.
- Are you prepared to handle additional costs? Unexpected
expenses such as hospital fees, an extended hotel stay and
long distance phone calls can quickly add up.
- Does your existing medical insurance coverage handle
up front payments? Many hospitals and treatment centres
require up front payment, which could rise as high as $20,000.
The RBC Poll is based on the results of an online survey
of 1,064 Canadians, ages 18 and over, conducted by Ipsos Reid
between February 9 and 12, 2010. This data represents the
most timely and comprehensive snapshot of consumer attitudes
regarding their finances and the economy in Canada. Weighting
was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that
the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population
according to Census data and to provide results intended to
approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted
probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response
rate would have an estimated margin of error of ±3.1
percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results
would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada
been polled.
About RBC Insurance
RBC Insurance, through its operating entities, including RBC
Insurance Company of Canada, Assured Assistance Inc., and
The Liberty Marketing Corporation, provides a wide range of
travel, life, health, home, auto, business, and reinsurance
products, as well as creditor and business insurance services
to more than five million North American customers. The company
is the leading provider of travel insurance and emergency
assistance services in Canada and has also expanded into the
U.S. travel insurance market. Its travel insurance operations
draw on more than 40 years of professional experience and
provide a wide range of products and services through a network
of over 4,000 travel agencies, as well as over the Internet,
through retail insurance branches and bank channels, to more
than three million individual and corporate customers annually.
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For more information contact:
Margie McNeil, RBC Insurance, 905-606-1425, margie.mcneil@rbc.com
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