GMS Travel Insurance

GMS TravelStar^® Travel Insurance is designed for Canadian residents travelling outside their home province or abroad. The plan provides comprehensive emergency medical coverage with a straightforward single 180-day stability rule that applies to all ages — no age tiers to navigate. GMS has been serving Canadians since 1949, with a long history of community commitment and health care innovation. Coverage is available through OnVoyage, a licensed insurance broker.

Who Is GMS TravelStar For?

GMS TravelStar is for Canadian residents who are enrolled in a provincial or territorial government health care plan. It covers emergency medical expenses your provincial plan does not pay while you are travelling outside your home province or outside Canada — including hospitalization, physician fees, ambulance services, and prescription drugs. Emergency Medical Coverage and Trip Cancellation Coverage can be purchased separately or bundled together.

Available Plans

Deductible Options

GMS TravelStar offers four deductible choices: $0, $250, $1,000, or $5,000. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium. The deductible is applied once per claim.

Emergency Medical Benefits

• Maximum coverage: $5,000,000 CAD per insured
• COVID-19 coverage: up to $500,000
• In-hospital care — semi-private room, hospital services and supplies
• Medical services — physician and surgeon fees
• Diagnostic services — X-rays and other tests
• Out-patient medical treatment
• Prescription medication — up to a 30-day supply
• Rental of essential medical appliances
• Emergency dental — accidental injury up to $2,000; dental pain up to $250
• Private duty nursing — up to $5,000
• Health practitioners — up to $300 per specialty (osteopath, physiotherapist, chiropractor, chiropodist, podiatrist)
• Road ambulance — covered in full
• Air ambulance — up to $20,000
• Remote evacuation — up to $20,000
• Repatriation — covered when medically required
• Special attendant — 1 round-trip economy airfare when medically necessary
• Return of family member — up to $1,000
• Return & escort of a dependent child or grandchild
• Family/friend to bedside — up to $3,000 round-trip + $150/day up to $750 for accommodations
• In event of death — up to $2,000 round-trip + $300 for meals and accommodation
• Return of remains — up to $7,000 or cremation at place of death up to $3,000
• Return of vehicle — up to $2,000
• Return of cat or dog — up to $300
• Child care — up to $500
• Out-of-pocket expenses — up to $1,000 ($150/day for accommodations and meals)
• Coverage continuation — available if hospitalized near end of coverage period

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Benefits

Trip Cancellation Coverage protects your prepaid trip costs if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason. When purchased, baggage loss, damage, and delay protection is included at no extra cost.

• Emergency medical conditions
• Pregnancy complications
• Death of insured or immediate family member
• Government travel advisories and visa issues
• Employment and occupation changes
• Delays, schedule changes, and missed connections
• Default of a travel supplier
• Other covered risks as defined in the policy

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

GMS TravelStar covers stable pre-existing conditions. Unlike many insurers, GMS uses a single stability rule that applies to all travellers regardless of age:

Note: a dosage change to Coumadin or Warfarin due to routine monitoring does not affect stability.

Key Exclusions

GMS TravelStar does not cover:

• Pre-existing conditions that were not stable for 180 days before departure
• Travel against a physician's advice
• Travel to destinations under a Government of Canada "Avoid Non-Essential Travel" or "Avoid All Travel" advisory
• Routine medical check-ups, elective surgery, or cosmetic procedures
• Pregnancy beyond routine care; childbirth and complications
• Treatment that is a continuation or recurrence of a prior condition
• Extreme sports without appropriate coverage (scuba diving excepted if NAUI/PADI/ACUC/SSI certified)

Claims & Emergency Assistance

GMS Travel Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You must notify GMS before seeking treatment, or within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital. Failure to notify may result in GMS paying only 70% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $50,000. Claims must be submitted within 90 days of the date of service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum coverage under GMS TravelStar?

GMS TravelStar provides up to $5,000,000 CAD in emergency medical coverage per insured. COVID-19 is covered up to $500,000.

What stability period applies to pre-existing conditions?

A single 180-day stability rule applies to all travellers, regardless of age. There are no different requirements by age group. Your condition must be stable (no new symptoms, treatment changes, or pending tests) for 180 days before departure.

What deductibles are available?

GMS TravelStar offers four options: $0, $250, $1,000, and $5,000. A higher deductible reduces your premium.

Can I buy annual coverage instead of insuring each trip separately?

Yes. The Annual Multi-Trip plan covers unlimited trips per year up to either 15 or 30 days per trip. It is ideal if you take multiple shorter trips throughout the year.

What happens if I don't call GMS before getting treatment?

If you fail to notify GMS before treatment (or within 24 hours of hospitalization), your eligible expenses will be reduced to 70% up to a maximum of $50,000. Always call before non-emergency treatment and immediately upon any hospitalization.

How do I reach GMS emergency assistance?

Call 1-800-459-6604 toll-free (Canada and USA) or 905-762-5196 collect (worldwide). Assistance is available 24/7.