'Exceptional measure' taken to halt sales in Ontario, Quebec until further notice
Consumers in Ontario and Quebec will not be able to purchase individual Blue Cross travel insurance plans for the foreseeable future.
In separate but similar statements, Ontario Blue Cross and Quebec Blue Cross announced that they will immediately stop selling individual travel insurance products for their respective markets until further notice.
“This exceptional measure was undertaken in the context of efforts by public health authorities, both in Canada and abroad, to limit the movement of individuals as much as possible, due to the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic,” the statements read.
The two Blue Cross entities cited two priorities — limiting travel to the fullest extent possible and encouraging the public to follow public health authorities’ recommendations — which it said were inseparable from their “mission to be a partner in health and wellness.”
While people currently travelling are insured in accordance with their contract, the two Blue Cross units stressed that such individuals do all they can to return immediately to Canada. Given the scale of the coronavirus crisis and limited availability of medical resources abroad, they said they may be unable to provide assistance.
Both Ontario Blue Cross and Quebec Blue Cross promised to continuously assess the situation as information and recommendations from health and government authorities arrive in the coming weeks.
