Alberta Blue Cross provides health insurance for more than 1.8 million Albertans as of 2023, including individuals, seniors, employers, and families.
Advantages
- You can make a claim online.
- Various coverage combinations and add-ons are available.
- The quotation process is simple.
Disadvantages
- If you’re a Canadian traveller aged 76 or over, you can’t get travel insurance online. You’ll need to contact Alberta Blue Cross by phone or visit one of their offices to purchase travel coverage. Visitors to Canada can still purchase online up to age 79.
- The Emergency Medical Care plan, Trip Cancellation or Interruption, and Top-Up travel insurance are only available to residents of Alberta.
- Activities that Alberta Blue Cross consider to be extreme sports will not be eligible for coverage should you get hurt. In other words, if it’s not considered a traditional sport, or it’s made extreme and dangerous by modifying the equipment or locale, the claim isn’t likely to be covered.
Overview
Alberta Blue Cross offers a variety of travel plans, including the:
- Emergency Medical Care Plan
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption Plan
- Visitors to Canada Plan
- Top-Up Insurance Plan
There are some option add-ons that you can add to an emergency medical care, trip cancellation or interruption, or top-up insurance plan at an additional cost, including Baggage Loss, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Optional Protection: Pandemic coverage.
Alberta Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care Plan
The Alberta Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care plan is designed for Albertans with access to their provincial health plan looking to travel outside their province.
It includes up to $5 million of emergency medical coverage. Trip cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage insurance are not included.
The stability period for pre-existing conditions is 3 or 6 months.
This plan is available as a single-trip or annual multi-trip policy if you want to travel more than once a year (up to 180 days per trip).
Alberta Blue Cross Trip Cancellation or Interruption Plan
The Alberta Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care plan is designed for Albertans with access to their provincial health plan who want coverage in the event they need to cancel or interrupt their trip.
Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage is available as both a single-trip and multi-trip plan.
If you purchase a single-trip policy, your coverage is up to the cost of your trip. With a multi-trip plan, it is up to $5,000. Trip interruption coverage is unlimited if you need to return home or stay longer due to an emergency while travelling.
Alberta Blue Cross Visitors to Canada Plan
Alberta Blue Cross’ Visitors to Canada plan is an emergency medical plan policy option for visitors to Canada, immigrants or permanent residents waiting for a provincial health care plan and Canadian citizens returning to Canada with no access to a provincial health plan.
You can get up to $150,000 of coverage and choose an optional deductible to lower your policy premium.
Alberta Blue Cross Top-Up Insurance Plan
The Alberta Blue Cross Top-Up plan is designed for Albertans with access to their provincial health plan throughout their trip who want emergency medical coverage. Top-up insurance is specifically intended to extend your period of current insurance coverage.
Similarly to the Emergency Medical Care plan, you get up to $5 million in emergency medical coverage and coverage for stable pre-existing conditions that meet the policy requirements. Trip cancellation, trip interruption and baggage coverage are not included.
You can top-up a single-trip policy or a multi-trip policy.
Comparison Chart for Alberta Blue Cross Travel Insurance Plans
| Plan | Medical Insurance Coverage | Deductible | Trip Cancellation and Interruption | Baggage | Maximum Age |
| Alberta Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care | Up to $5 million | Up to $5,000 |  | Optional add-on | Up to age 85 |
| Alberta Blue Cross Trip Cancellation or Interruption | Up to the cost of the trip (up to $5,000 for multi-trip plans) | Up to $5,000 | ✅ | Optional add-on | Up to age 85 |
| Alberta Blue Cross Visitors to Canada | Up to $150,000 | Up to $5,000 |  | | Up to age 79 |
| Alberta Blue Cross Top-Up | Up to $5 million | Up to $5,000 | | Optional add-on | Up to age 85 |
Tips for Saving with Alberta Blue Cross Travel Insurance
If you are an Alberta Blue Cross member with a personal or group plan, you can get 10% off the Emergency Medical Care or Trip Cancellation or Interruption plan.
Refunds and Extensions
When you apply for a refund before the effective date of your policy, you can get a full refund on Blue Cross’ Emergency Medical Care, Visitors to Canada and Top-Up Insurance plans.
If you are applying for a refund because you have returned home early after your policy has started, you can get a partial refund on your Emergency Medical Care (single-trip option only), Visitors to Canada, and Top-Up Insurance policies. You would need to supply proof of return (e.g., a boarding pass). You cannot get a refund if a claim is pending or if a claim has been paid.
You cannot get a refund on the Blue Cross Emergency Medical Care multi-trip plan after the effective date, but If you apply in writing before the effective date, you can get a full refund. Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage is non-refundable because it goes into effect the day you buy it.
You can purchase an extension on your annual plan (beyond 30 days for a single trip), but you must purchase the extension before you leave on your trip. You can extend your single-trip plan as well, but again, you need to get the extension before you leave on your trip.
You Need to Know
- Alberta Blue Cross plans are underwritten by The Canassurance Insurance Company Inc. (Blue Cross Canassurance).
- You need to have a valid Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) before purchasing Alberta Blue Cross Travel (except for the visitors to Canada policy).
- You must get coverage for your entire trip, or your coverage may be void. You need to get your travel insurance policy before you leave on your trip. There are a few travel insurance companies that will let you get travel insurance after you’ve departed. Compare rates here: BestQuote Travel Insurance
- Policies and coverage can change at any time, without warning. This article is only intended as general advice. Please check your own policy carefully.
How to Learn More
You can learn more about Alberta Blue Cross travel plans online or by phone or by visiting any Alberta Blue Cross office. However, applicants aged 76 and above need to contact Alberta Blue Cross by phone at 1-800-394-1965.
Want to Learn More and Compare Alberta Blue Cross’ Rates and Plans?
If you’d like to compare Alberta Blue Cross plans and policies with other travel insurance companies, the quickest way is to get a few comparison quotes.
Comparison websites, like BestQuote Travel Insurance, let you compare quotes for travel insurance from several different companies at once. You type in a few details about your trip and compare policy coverage and prices to help narrow down your choice.