01.17.2025

Navigating Group Travel Insurance: Key Insights and Strategies

Robert Crowder, founder and President of The Benefits Trust, has over 30 years of experience serving pension and employee benefits clients. In 1994, he founded The Benefits Trust as a Third Party Administrator serving small and mid-sized business across Canada. Through Rob Crowder's dedication and leadership, The Benefits Trust has grown into the successful benefits provider that it is today.

Navigating Group Travel Insurance: Key Insights and Strategies

Travel insurance is no longer just a nice-to-have. Recently, it’s become an essential aspect of many group benefits plans.

For many, travel insurance is like a car jack. You know you have it, but you don’t know where it is, and you’re not sure when to use it. But when employed properly, it’s a lifesaver — in every sense.

As a benefits advisor, ensuring clients are prepared and informed about group travel insurance can make all the difference. Misconceptions and oversights abound, and it’s your expertise that can save the day—and a lot of money—when emergencies strike.

Understanding the Travel Insurance Marketplace

The travel insurance landscape offers an array of options, but for clients, navigating these choices can be daunting. As an advisor, your role is to help them make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

From benefits plan add-ons and online platforms to credit card coverage and airline solutions, travel insurance options are often misunderstood, leading to incorrect assumptions and coverage gaps.

Media horror stories of travellers facing staggering medical bills underscore the vital role of benefits advisors. By simplifying complex coverage options and guiding clients to effectively communicate these benefits to their employees, you become an indispensable resource and trusted partner.

Communication is Key

Travel insurance isn’t a magic wand. Policies are underwritten at the time of claim, meaning the details matter. It’s crucial to educate clients about nuances like the stability clause, which determines eligibility based on recent medical history.

Advisors should make it a habit to regularly remind clients about the importance of reviewing their travel insurance policies—think of it as the periodic tune-up of their coverage needs.

Overcommunication is key; clients should feel confident enough to ask every question, even the ones they think might be silly. It’s also crucial to debunk the myth that simply having travel insurance means they’re automatically covered for everything.

By taking the time to educate your clients, you’ll equip them and their teams with the knowledge they need to navigate their coverage confidently and use it effectively when it matters most.

The High Costs of Medical Care Abroad

One of the strongest arguments for robust travel insurance is the staggering cost of healthcare outside Canada. Even minor incidents can result in life-changing financial strain.

From ambulance and triage fees to medical supplies and surgery costs, and with OHIP covering only 3-6% of out-of-country medical expenses, the cost is staggering.

Highlighting these realities to clients underscores the importance of having comprehensive group travel insurance to protect against unforeseen expenses. The true value of travel insurance often goes unnoticed—until an emergency strikes. That’s why emphasizing its importance is essential.

Pre-Travel Responsibilities

Helping clients gear up for their travels is one of the most impactful—and frankly, rewarding—roles you can take on as an advisor. Think of it as your chance to be the behind-the-scenes MVP of their travel plans, ensuring smooth sailing (or flying).

Here’s how you can make it happen:

Key Topics to Address:

  • Coverage Review: Make sure clients are crystal clear on their trip duration limits, stability clauses, and pre-existing condition exclusions. A little clarity now saves a lot of headaches later.
  • Family Coverage: Double-check that every family member is covered and that essential details—like health card info—are correct. Nobody wants to be scrambling mid-trip.
  • Contacting Providers: Teach clients how to reach their insurer from abroad, including the quirks of collect calls. Think of this as their travel insurance tech tutorial.

Practical Tools for Advisors:

  • Point clients to gc.ca for government travel advisories—it’s like their pre-flight checklist in website form.
  • Share tips for navigating tricky communication barriers in places like Mexico, where dropped calls can turn a small problem into a big one.
  • Walk them through step-by-step instructions for contacting CanAssistance (or similar programs) during emergencies. Think of this as their emergency insurance roadmap.

A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to keeping travel emergencies from snowballing into full-blown disasters.

The Role of CanAssistance

For clients, knowing that support is available 24/7 is a comfort. For clients using Green Shield travel solutions, CanAssistance plays a critical role in making emergency situations manageable.

CanAssistance provides essential services, including:

  • Directing clients to appropriate care providers.
  • Confirming coverage and potentially handling upfront payments.
  • Providing translation services and coordinating follow-up care.

Even in cases where claims aren’t covered, CanAssistance provides logistical support. Emphasizing this to clients helps set realistic expectations and reinforces the value of their insurance.

Your Role as an Advisor in Travel Success

As an advisor, you have the unique opportunity to transform the labyrinth of insurance jargon into a simple, actionable plan for your clients. You’re their trusted guide, clearing the path for stress-free travel experiences.

One way to add value is by encouraging clients to host lunch-and-learns or create short, snappy explainer videos—five minutes is all it takes to demystify the world of travel insurance. Equip your clients with handy travel insurance checklists, and encourage them to print and share multiple copies of their insurance cards.

These small steps can make a big difference when their team members are far from home.

On the flip side, unprepared clients can spell trouble—for both them and you. Misunderstandings about coverage can lead to catastrophic claims, and emotional turmoil, and even dent your reputation as their go-to advisor.

By communicating proactively and ensuring everyone’s on the same page, you’ll not only save time and energy but also help your clients breeze through their travels with confidence.

Stay Prepared and Partner with The Benefits Trust

As a benefits advisor, your role isn’t just about handing over a policy and calling it a day. It’s about empowering your clients with the tools and knowledge they need to travel confidently.

Insurance isn’t the ultimate solution—it’s just the foundation. The real safety net lies in understanding how that coverage works and being ready to use it when it matters most.

Encourage your clients to make reviewing their travel insurance as routine as packing their bags or planning their itineraries. After all, preparation is the difference between an unexpected detour and a full-blown travel disaster. With your guidance, they’ll be ready to handle anything their journey throws at them.

As a group benefits advisor, contact The Benefits Trust to access invaluable support and take your client support to the next level. Together, we can help ensure every trip is safe, smooth, and financially secure.

Because when it comes to travel, confidence starts with preparation—and that starts with you.

Robert Crowder, founder and President of The Benefits Trust, has over 30 years of experience serving pension and employee benefits clients. In 1994, he founded The Benefits Trust as a Third Party Administrator serving small and mid-sized business across Canada. Through Rob Crowder's dedication and leadership, The Benefits Trust has grown into the successful benefits provider that it is today.

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