COVID-19 Updates
As coronavirus continues to impact our communities, we’re here for you when it matters most.
Travel insurance updates
The information on this webpage applies to travel policies underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada. Applaud members can make a claim or get more information by visiting our dedicated Applaud Covid-19 support page.
We continue to support you
COVID-19 continues to impact travel and we strongly encourage Canadians to follow the advice of the Government of Canada and local government when booking trips and travelling.
We know that travel is a personal decision. It’s important that you plan ahead and do your research, to make sure your trip is a safe experience. Be sure to read your policy in full, to make sure you know what’s covered – and what isn’t.
Before travelling outside of Canada, check for any new travel restrictions, guidelines or requirements at your destination country such as:
- Status of allowing foreign visitors
- Proof of vaccination
- Requirements to be recognized as fully vaccinated
- Quarantine requirements upon arrival and/or the need for a recent negative COVID-19 test
- Any other entry requirements i.e. download local app, QR code, etc.
Make sure you know about re-entry requirements when returning to Canada.
Not all travel insurance products include emergency medical coverage and/or trip cancellation/interruption coverage. While the information on this webpage could address most cases, each person’s travel arrangements and coverage may differ. Please refer to your policy to find out which coverages apply to your travel insurance.
COVID-19 travel insurance FAQs
Yes. Coverage is available for COVID-19 medical emergencies, even if there is a travel advisory for the area in which you are travelling.
For MARGE Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of May 1, 2023, the policy includes coverage should you need to cancel, interrupt or delay a trip because you or your travelling companion has a positive COVID-19 test result or becomes ill with COVID-19 or dies due to COVID-19.
For RTAM Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of April 1, 2023, the policy includes coverage should you need to cancel, interrupt or delay a trip because you or your travelling companion has a positive COVID-19 test result or becomes ill with COVID-19 or dies due to COVID-19. This coverage is not available if you have opted out of Trip Cancellation, Interruption and Delay benefits.
For MEDOC Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Travel Insurance and all other Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of September 1, 2022, the policy includes coverage should you need to cancel, interrupt or delay a trip because you or your travelling companion has a positive COVID-19 test result or becomes ill with COVID-19 or dies due to COVID-19.
For MARGE Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of May 1, 2023, the policy includes coverage for certain additional expenses if you or your travelling companion tests positive for COVID-19.
For RTAM Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of April 1, 2023, the policy includes coverage for certain additional expenses if you or your travelling companion tests positive for COVID-19. This coverage is not available if you have opted out of Trip Cancellation, Interruption and Delay benefits.
For MEDOC Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation & Interruption Travel Insurance and all other Prestige Travel Insurance customers, as of September 1, 2022, the policy includes coverage for certain additional expenses if you or your travelling companion tests positive for COVID-19.
A documented proof of a professionally administered or professionally observed positive antigen test is required. The test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained and must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
Coverage is available for COVID-19 medical emergencies, even if a COVID-19 travel advisory is in effect for your destination or cruise. However, you are not covered for a trip cancellation caused by a COVID-19 travel advisory.
Coverage is available for COVID-19 medical emergencies, even if a COVID-19 travel advisory is in effect for your destination or cruise. However, you are not covered for a trip interruption or trip delay caused by a COVID-19 travel advisory issued after your departure date.
No. Check with your local or provincial public health department for information about how and where you can get a COVID-19 test. Be sure your test results meet the timeframe for your destination.
If you received the vaccine before your departure date and did not have symptoms or complications before you left, you are covered.
If you receive the vaccine at your destination, you are covered for medical emergency costs arising from a COVID-19 vaccination. Your coverage does not include expenses for the vaccination.
For RTAM and MARGE Prestige Travel Insurance customers, please carefully review the details of the modifications to your policy for the current policy year, which can be downloaded, printed and saved by these links:
For all other customers, refer to your policy directly for details.
If you have decided to stay longer than planned at your destination you may be able to purchase an extension by calling 1.866.606.3362 before the date your coverage would normally expire.
It’s important to remember that your coverage will end at midnight on the last day of your insured trip.
Contact your travel supplier if you are unable to use a voucher or credit before its expiry, or if you have other disputes regarding refunds and credits. If the credit or voucher expires or a situation arises where you are unable to use it and you are not entitled to a refund from your travel supplier, please contact Global Excel Management Inc. to understand what solutions may be available.
For Canadian government travel advisories, go to travel.gc.ca.
Check for the most current information and details at travel.gc.ca before you leave and prior to your return. These rules and guidelines change frequently. Expenses related to entry requirements are not covered by your travel insurance.
Check provincial/territorial websites. If you are planning to travel within Canada, it is important to have travel insurance coverage to cover gaps in GHIP (Government Health Insurance Plans).
Helpful websites:
- Travel advisories: travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
- Provincial and territorial restrictions: travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/provinces
- Returning to Canada: travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start
- ArriveCan app: canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html
- Definition of fully vaccinated: travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#determine-fully
Home and car insurance updates
As we navigate these unprecedented times, we aim to provide you with insurance policies that reflect your current circumstances.
We’d like to remind you to update your home and car insurance policies with recent lifestyle changes to avoid a claim denial or mid-term cancellation.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Have you resumed your commute to work? If you made changes to your car policy at the beginning of this pandemic to reflect less driving but have now resumed your commute to work, it's time to update your policy again. Please contact us to ensure your coverage is appropriate.
- Are you permanently working from home now? If you haven't already done so, you may want to contact us to update your home insurance coverage to include home office use.
- Do you use your car for deliveries? If you have used your car for delivery services since September 30, 2020, please contact us to ensure your coverage is appropriate.
Please note that any changes to your policy may result in premium changes.
COVID-19 home and car insurance FAQs
To support customers the following assistance has been offered to Unifund home and car insurance customers:
- All car insurance customers with an active policy on May 22nd automatically received a rebate of 10% of their car insurance premium for the months of April, May and June 2020. The rebate had no impact on coverage, and no action was required by you.
- Reductions in premiums for customers who are driving or commuting less because circumstances have changed due to the pandemic. Please note: customers must notify us once they begin commuting again in order to maintain your coverage.
- Extended coverage to customers who temporarily used their vehicle for delivery services until Sept 30, 2020. Customers who continue to temporarily use their vehicle for delivery services after September 30, 2020 must contact us to ensure their insurance coverage is appropriate. NSF fees were waived until Sept 30, 2020.
- Customers who are required by their employer to work from home due to the current situation with COVID-19 can rest assured that the property coverage they already have in place will not be impacted.
To learn more feel free to reach out and chat with one of our agents.
If your number of kilometres driven has decreased, you may be able to reduce your auto insurance premium. For example, if you no longer commute to work and only drive to obtain essentials such as groceries and prescriptions.
You’ll need to update your policy once your driving habits return to normal. Otherwise, you may not be covered for a claim or have the appropriate insurance coverage. You can also do this through our online vehicle usage form. Please note that an increase to your coverage may result in a change to your car insurance premiums.
If you’re continuing to use your vehicle for deliveries after October 1st (e.g. an employee of a pharmacy, restaurant, grocery store or part of an app-based food delivery service such as UberEats, Skip the Dishes, Instacart, etc.) please contact us to ensure you have the appropriate coverage in place. The temporary accommodation for coverage for this usage under existing policies has been removed and the proper vehicle for delivery coverage needs to be put in place.
We understand that many parents are seeking alternative solutions for their children instead of attending school in-person. Coverage is not impacted when parents are keeping their children or relatives at home for the sake of online learning, or are sharing parenting duties or online learning with neighbours or relatives. However, we do not allow commercial/paid childcare (including daycare) or schools where teachers or tutors are hired to be operated in the home. In these situations, it is important to call us to get commercial or specialty insurance put in place.
If you are required to work from home due to the current situation with COVID-19, the property coverage you have in place will not be impacted. This is an extraordinary situation where everyone is doing what is needed to help prevent the spread of the disease.
We offer a variety of payment options to suit your needs. The most common include either direct withdrawal from your bank account or payroll deductions (that are available for certain groups).
Customers can also pay by cheque, however, due to recent events related to COVID-19, we are experiencing delays in our mail processing. This has resulted in some customers who pay using cheques inadvertently receiving late payment notices. While cheque payments are still acceptable, we strongly recommend that you use other options, including online banking.
Our claims teams are available to help you 24/7. To ensure the most efficient service, we would like to remind you that the most effective way to report a claim:
- Call 1.800.804.0087 to speak to a representative
Helping neighbours as a volunteer is a wonderful way to assist the community and you will continue to have auto coverage when doing so.
Branch closures
Our branches remain closed to ensure we keep our customers and employees safe. Thank you for your understanding.
Help and support
Whether it’s our 24/7 claims line or online self-service, we’re here when it matters most. Here’s how you can get assistance with your policy:
FAQs
Find answers to your most common insurance questions. Visit our help and support page to see all FAQs.
Chat
Quick and convenient, ask questions to a live chat agent. Visit our help and support page to chat online now.
Claims support
Need to make a claim or check the status of an existing claim? Our representatives are happy to help. Visit our Claims page to find the best number to call.