CUMIS Travel Insurance Review 2024

CUMIS is an insurance provider for approximately 380 of Canada’s credit unions, offering a wide portfolio of products including life, auto, home and travel insurance. CUMIS is the Canadian arm of the U.S.-based CUNA Mutual Insurance Society that was formed in 1935 and is now known as TruStage Financial Group Inc.

CUMIS Travel Insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators group of companies, and administered by Allianz Global Assistance.

Here are the key types of travel insurance coverage offered in CUMIS travel insurance plans:

• Emergency medical insurance: If you get ill or are injured on your trip, travel medical insurance can pay for emergency medical expenses, up to the coverage limits in your plan. These expenses can include doctor and hospital bills, medication and lab work.
• Trip cancellation insurance: If you cancel a trip for a reason listed in your travel policy, such as you or your travelling companion becoming ill, weather conditions causing a massive delay or you end up losing your job, trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable costs.
• Travel interruption or delay insurance: Trip interruption insurance can pay for a last-minute flight home in an emergency and money that you lose if you have to return home earlier than expected, such as non-refundable activities and hotel stays. If your flight is delayed, your insurance can cover the cost of incidentals, such as meals or accommodations, after a specified period of time, usually six, 10 or 12 hours.
• Baggage insurance: Baggage travel insurance can compensate you up to your policy limits if your luggage is lost or stolen. It will reimburse the depreciated value of your suitcases and what you packed. If your checked bags are delayed, it can reimburse you for the cost of the necessities you’ll have to buy to tide you over.
• Travel accident insurance. This coverage offers compensation in the event of accidental death or catastrophic injury from an accident during your trip. Flight Accident Insurance typically covers injury while you’re on a commercial plane, during a connection or in an airport. Travel Accident Insurance covers death or dismemberment, including the loss of limbs or eyesight, while on your trip. This coverage may also be known as Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance.

CUMIS offers the following insurance options:

Emergency Hospital & Medical Plan: If you’re worried about medical mishaps while travelling, this benefit offers coverage for emergency medical treatment including:

• Hospital accommodation in a semi-private or private room
• Fees for a physician, surgeon, anaesthetist or registered nurse
• Paramedical services, such as care from a physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropodist, podiatrist, acupuncturist or physiotherapist, up to $500 each
• Lab tests and/or X-rays
• Licensed local air, land or sea ambulance services (including mountain or sea evacuation)
• Emergency transportation to the nearest medical facility or repatriation
• Rental of crutches or a hospital-type bed, and the cost of splints, trusses, braces or other prosthetic appliances
• Emergency out-patient services provided by a hospital
• Prescription drugs or medication, up to a 30-day supply (after discharge), up to $1,000
• Costs for commercial accommodation and meals, child care for dependent children or travelling companions, essential phone calls, taxi fares and in-hospital expenses, such as TV rental and internet, up to $3,500 total
• Costs to bring up to two bedside companions to your hospital bed, up to $3,000 for transportation and up to $1,000 for accommodation, meals, taxi fares, internet usage
  and essential telephone calls
• Emergency dental due to an emergency blow to the face, up to $4,000
• Emergency dental due to pain, up to $500
• Return of your vehicle or watercraft due to a covered injury or illness
• Return of your remains or cremation/burial at the place of death
• Pet return if you are hospitalized
• $5,000 towards returning you to your original destination if you are repatriated due to a medical emergency and you chose to resume your trip

Trip Cancellation & Interruption: This coverage option reimburses you for insured travel expenses (such as hotels or prepaid excursions) if you have to cancel, interrupt, extend or modify your trip due to a covered reason.

Accidental Death or Dismemberment: This coverage option offers reimbursement in the event you die, or lose the use of one or more limbs or eyes during a travel accident. The amount paid out depends on the severity of the accident and is either 50% or 100% of the sum insured.

Flight Accident: This coverage option offers reimbursement in the event you die, or lose the use of one or more limbs or eyes during a flight accident. The amount paid out depends on the severity of the accident and is either 50% or 100% of the sum insured.

Baggage: This provides compensation if your baggage or personal effects are lost, stolen or damaged during your trip.

All-inclusive Package Plan: This option includes all of the above coverage in one package.

When selecting your trip destination, you can select USA, Non-USA or Non-USA but travelling via USA plan, which provides five days of coverage while you are in transit.

We’ve highlighted the key benefits for each coverage option available for the single trip plan when travelling outside of Canada to help you identify your travel needs:

Emergency Hospital & Medical:

Travel Accident:

Trip Cancellation & Interruption:

Baggage:

The price of a CUMIS travel insurance plan depends on factors such as the number of days you are travelling, your age and the amount of coverage you choose.

Here are some examples of the cost for CUMIS single trip Emergency Hospital & Medical plans for healthy travellers based in Ontario.

Online quotes are not provided for coverage such as trip cancellation and interruption, travel accident or baggage. The insurer notes that optional plans, such as trip cancellation, can be purchased by calling a 1-877 number. Also, coverage cannot be provided online for travellers age 60 or older. You must call a toll-free number for coverage.

With your emergency medical coverage, you can also add an optional $250 deductible, or the amount you will pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in.

Here’s how the cost compares with and without the deductible.

A family rate is available for emergency hospital & medical single-trip and multi-trip plans. Family includes the application, one additional adult family member (spouse, parent, sibling, step-family, in-law, etc.) and dependent children. The oldest applicant must be 59 years of age and younger to qualify. The premium is calculated at 2.5 times the premium for the eldest adult.

Co-operators

Emergency medical: $10 million
Cancel For Any Reason: No
Baggage insurance (maximum): $500

Related: Co-operators Travel Insurance Review

Travelance

Emergency medical: $10 million
Cancel For Any Reason: No
Baggage insurance (maximum): $1,500

Related: Travelance Travel Insurance Review

TuGo Travel Insurance

Emergency medical: $10 million
Cancel For Any Reason: Yes, 50%
Baggage insurance (maximum): $500

Related: TuGo Travel Insurance Review

CUMIS Travel Insurance does not offer any add-ons, endorsements or riders to its insurance.

No. CUMIS Travel Insurance does not offer any discounts.

Yes. You can buy multi-trip annual insurance if you travel more than once a year for multiple individual trips. CUMIS offers multi-trip plans based on the number of days provided for a single trip.

Here’s how the prices between single trip and multi-trip insurance compare assuming $0 deductible:

If you require medical treatment while travelling due to a health emergency, Allianz Global Assistance can help you 24/7 with a referral to the nearest medical facility, and can arrange billing and advise you of important information related to the claims process. You can reach Allianz Global Assistance toll-free worldwide. You’ll need your policy number when calling.

In the event of a medical emergency you, or someone calling on your behalf, must call Allianz Global within 24 hours of admission to a hospital and before any surgery is performed. If you don’t, the processing and payment of your claim may be delayed and the insurer will only pay 80% of the claim payable.

Allianz Global Assistance also provides multi-lingual support and recommendations for non-medical emergencies.

No.

No.

CUMIS will not pay any medical expenses related to any medical condition that is not stable for a set period of time, before your coverage takes effect.

A medical condition is considered stable when all of the following are true:

• There has been no new treatment.
• There has been no change in treatment, including change in treatment frequency or type.
• There have been no new signs or symptoms or new diagnosis.
• There have been no test results showing deterioration.
• There has been no hospitalization.
• There has been no referral to a specialist (made or recommended) and you are not awaiting the results of any tests or investigations.

In addition, CUMIS has a number of age- and condition-specific exclusions, including:

For travellers 59 years of age or under: Benefits are not payable for costs related to any medical condition that was not stable in the 90 days before your policy’s effective date.

For travellers 60 and over: Depending your answers to a medical questionnaire, benefits are not payable for costs related to any medical condition:

• That was not stable in the 90, 180 or 365 days before your policy’s effective date, or
• That you received treatment for in the 365 days before the effective date, or
• For you received treatment at any time before the effective date.

In addition, for travellers who purchase trip cancellation insurance:

If the amount insured is $15,000 or less: Benefits are not payable for costs related to any medical condition that was not stable in the 90 days before your policy’s effective date.

If the amount insured is $15,000 or more: Benefits are not payable for costs related to any medical condition that was not stable in the 180 days before your policy’s effective date.

There are a number of scenarios not covered by travel insurance and it’s critical to know what not to do before you make a claim. The following are some of the most common situations not covered by CUMIS travel insurance:

• Further treatment after emergency treatment of a sickness or injury
• Emotional or mental disorders, including anxiety or depression
• Suicide or attempted suicide, or intentional self-inflicted injury
• Routine prenatal or postnatal care
• Pregnancy, childbirth or complications after 31 weeks of pregnancy, or any high-risk pregnancy
• A child born during a trip
• Loss, injury or death due to abuse of alcohol, prohibited drugs or other intoxicants, including misuse of medication
• Non-compliance with prescribed treatment
• Training for, competing or participating in motorized speed contests, stunt activities, professional sports or other high-risk activities
• Costs due to a motor vehicle accident when you have existing car insurance coverage, except when those benefits are exhausted
• Any trip for the purpose of seeking medical treatment or advice
• Travelling against your physician’s advice
• Travelling after being diagnosed with a terminal condition
• Any treatment that can be delayed until you return home
• Recurrence or complication of a sickness, injury or medical condition if you return home for treatment and then chose to resume your trip
• Any non-emergency consultation or treatment that is non-emergency, elective or the consequence of a prior electric procedure
• Rehabilitation to convalescent care
• Dental (except for emergency dental) or cosmetic surgery
• Naturopathic or holistic treatment
• Costs that exceed the local reasonable and customary rates for treatment
• Costs associated with treatment that is prohibited by provincial or territorial legislation and/or your government medical plan
• Any lung or respiratory condition if you’ve been prescribed or used home oxygen or prednisone in the last 12 months
• Any heart condition if you’ve been diagnosed with or had an episode of congestive heart failure
• Any heart condition if your most recent heart surgery was more than 12 years ago or less than six months ago
• Any autoimmune disorder, such as AIDS or HIV, Grave’s disease, ALS, MS, scleroderma or lupus
• Any kidney disease requiring dialysis
• Costs due to a diagnosed unrepaired aneurysm 4cm or greater
• Any sickness related to or due to any bone marrow or major organ transplant, or the need for one
• Any cancer (other than basal or squamous cell skin cancer or breast cancer treated only with hormone therapy) for which you received treatment for in the three months before your policy’s effective date
• Any expenses related to a Government of Canada travel advisory issued to avoid all travel or avoid all unnecessary travel in a certain country/region and the claim is related to that reason for the warning
• Any fraudulent, dishonest or criminal acts
• Any acts of war, kidnapping, acts of terrorism called by nuclear, chemical or biological means, any riot, strike or civil commotion, or unlawful visit in any country
• Any nuclear occurrence
• Participating in a protest, armed forces activities, a commercial sexual transaction, the commission or attempted commision of any criminal offence, the contravention of any statutory law or regulation
• Any air travel other than a commercial flight

To be eligible for medical insurance with CUMIS, the following must apply:

• You are a member of a credit union.
• You are at least 15 days old and no more than 89 years old.
• You are insured for benefits under a provincial or territorial health plan for the entire duration of your coverage.
• You have not been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
• You have not been diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 cancer, or have received treatment for cancer (except for basal or squamous cell cancer, or breast cancer treated with hormone therapy) in the last three months.
• You do not require assistance with the activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing or dressing, as the result of a medical condition or state of health.

In addition, for travellers aged 60 and over, you must not:

• Have been prescribed or used home oxygen for a lung or respiratory condition during the past 12 months
• Have had your most recent heart surgery more than 12 years ago or less than six months ago
• Have an diagnosed unrepaired aneurysm of 4 cm or greater
• Have received or are awaiting a bone marrow or major organ transplant
• Have been diagnosed with or received treatment for a kidney disease requiring dialysis
• Have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, such as AIDS or HIV, Grave’s disease, ALS, MS, scleroderma or lupus
• Have ever been diagnosed with congestive heart failure

Claims forms are available by calling Allianz Global Assistance. You can also file a claim online.

Completed forms, along with original bills and receipts, should be mailed to the claims department at the address listed in the CUMIS Travel Insurance Program Certificate.

Claims must be reported within 30 days of the event and proof of claim must be submitted within 90 days.

In addition to your claim form you may be asked to provide:

• Receipts from commercial organizations for all medical costs incurred and itemized accounts of all medical services that have been provided
• Proof of any payment made by any other insurance plan or contract, including a government hospital or medical plan
• Substantiating medical documentation

For example, if you are submitting an Emergency Hospital & Medical claim, you may be asked to provide:

• A fully completed and signed claim form with all original bills and receipts from commercial organizations
• Medical records including an emergency room report and diagnosis from the medical facility or a medical certificate issued by the treating physician
• Completed appropriate provincial government health insurance plan forms
• For multi-trip plans, proof of original departure from and return to your province or territory of residence
• Any other documentation as requested

If you are submitting an Accidental Death & Dismemberment claim, you may be asked to provide:

• A fully completed and signed claim form by you or your executor
• The police report, including any witness statements
• The coroner’s report
• A death certificate
• A medical certificate completed by the attending physician or hospital medical records
• Any other documentation as requested

If you are submitting a Flight Accident claim, you may be asked to provide:

• A fully completed and signed claim form by you or your executor
• A copy of the flight itinerary
• A copy of the incident report from the airline or airport
• A medical certificate completed by the attending physician or hospital medical records
• A death certificate

If you are submitting a Trip Cancellation & Interruption claim, you may be asked to provide:

• A fully completed and signed claim form
• A medical certificate completed by the treating physician
• Copies of medical records, if requested
• Copy of death certificate, if applicable
• If cancellation is due to any reason other than sickness, injury or death, you must contact the claims department for supporting documentation requirements
• Itemized copy of the invoice confirming the amount paid for your trip, including the cost of airfare, hotel, taxes, services fees and other expenses
• Proof of payments such as a credit card statement, cancelled cheque, or copy of the official receipt issued by the travel agency
• Statement of refund by the travel supplier
• Unused airline tickets
• Receipt for change-fee, if applicable
• For an unused tour, copy of the original invoice, breakdown of unused tour cost and a copy of the travel itinerary
• Original receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
• Any other documentation as requested

If you are submitting a Baggage claim, you may be asked to provide:

• Completed and signed claim form with a brief explanation of the incident leading to the loss
• Itemized list detailing the value of all lost or stolen items, together with proof of ownership such as receipts, photos, credit card statements, owners manuals, etc.
• Copy of correspondence from any other source that may cover this loss (such as homeowners insurance) confirming payment or denying liability
• Copy of airline tickets and itinerary confirming departure and return dates
• Police report for stolen baggage or personal effects
• Any other documentation as requested