Coronavirus Updates

• Review the  official Government of Canada travel advisories. The government’s advisory issued on March 13, 2020 remains in effect and states to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.

• If you make the decision to travel, it's also important to understand your preparedness role to help ensure as smooth a trip as possible and to plan for some situations that may be costly and not necessarily anticipated.

• Although RWAM encourages you to heed the advice of the Canadian government travel advisories, to support our Plan Members who have chosen to travel and to provide additional peace of mind, we made the decision to remove our travel advisory exclusion in July 2020.
• This means that if you choose to travel after this, you can be assured that you will be covered for emergency medical treatment should you contract COVID-19 while away, even if your trip is for non-essential reasons, or if the COVID-19 travel advisory is still in place. Please note that this coverage is dependent on being symptom-free and in good health prior to leaving.

• On the Government of Canada’s website Travel Advice and Advisories, select your “destination country”, then select “entry and exit requirements” to review information that may include mandatory PCR testing and quarantine requirements, potential travel insurance certification, and the specific travel documents that you must carry for entry into the country.
• Complete the Registration of Canadians Abroad with the Government of Canada as another source of up-to-date information.
• Review the Government of Canada's COVID-19: Travel, quarantine and borders page to learn more, including requirements for travellers returning to Canada.
• Pre-plan your re-entry into Canada by reviewing the Flying to Canada requirements checklist - Travel.gc.ca or the Driving to Canada requirements checklist – Travel.gc.ca .
• Travellers are encouraged to download the ArriveCAN mobile app prior to arrival to reduce wait times and limit contact at the border.
• Pre-plan your 14-day quarantine period upon your return to Canada by reviewing the following information: Mandatory quarantine or isolation – Travel.gc.ca .
• Stay connected to Canada wherever you are through the Government of Canada’s smart travel tools. Subscribe to their daily Travel Updates to receive emails that summarize changes made to their Travel Advice and Advisories.

• If you do travel and experience sudden symptoms of COVID-19 while away, call RWAM Travel Assist at the emergency assistance number on the back of your RWAM OneCard. In Canada and the USA – 1-866-520-8829, anywhere else in the world (call collect) 519-742-4196.
• These numbers will put you in touch directly with Allianz Global Assistance, RWAM’s travel benefit provider. Advise Allianz that you are a RWAM member and provide your Certificate #. Allianz will assess your medical situation and provide the appropriate care recommendations.

You can find current information on the new rules, updated with details as they are provided, by visiting the Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, quarantine and borders page. Below are some of the recent changes announced by the Government of Canada in 2021:

• The Government and Canada’s airlines have agreed to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until April 30, 2021. Any expenses incurred for the cost of these cancelled trips or additional expenses incurred by travellers in these destinations are not eligible under RWAM’s travel benefit.
• International flights are now arriving and departing from only Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Additional expenses incurred by travellers to return to their point of departure are not eligible under RWAM’s travel benefit.
• Travellers on inbound flights to Canada are now required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the airport prior to boarding. In addition to this, passengers arriving in Canada on international flights are now required to reserve a room in a Government of Canada approved hotel for three nights and take a COVID-19 test on arrival – at the traveller’s expense. Travellers are still required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Expenses incurred by returning travellers for testing, accommodations, meals, or other costs related to quarantine requirements are not eligible under RWAM’s travel benefit.
• Travellers arriving to Canada by land are now required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, or a positive test taken within 14 – 90 days prior to arrival. (Please note that essential workers such as commercial transport drivers are excluded from this requirement.) The cost of a COVID-19 test to return to Canada is not covered under RWAM’s travel benefit.
• All travellers whether arriving by land or air are now required to submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically via ArriveCAN before crossing the border or boarding a flight and continue to submit daily updates throughout their quarantine period.

• Locations of worldwide COVID-19 testing facilities have now been added to the Government of Canada’s website Travel Advice and Advisories.
• Scroll to the Travel Advice and Advisories section. Choose a destination and click ‘Go’. Scroll to the blue ‘Health’ tab. Under Medical services and facilities select ‘Local COVID-19 Testing Facilities’

• In this situation, you should call Allianz directly at the applicable number on the back of your RWAM OneCard. In Canada and the USA – 1-866-520-8829, anywhere else in the world (call collect) 519-742-4196.
• Advise that you are a RWAM member, quote your Certificate #, and explain that you would like to purchase a top-up policy to extend your RWAM coverage past the maximum day limit.
• Providing your day limit has not yet expired, your provincial health coverage is in force for your entire trip, you are in good health, and there is no known medical reason for you to incur a claim, Allianz will confirm if a top-up policy can be issued once a medical questionnaire has been fully reviewed with you.
• Please note that the Government of Canada’s new travel requirements are subject to change at any time and existing flight suspensions may also be extended.