Out-of-Province/Country Benefits
Eligible staff
Your Coverage
Out-of-province emergency medical coverage and travel assistance services are included as part of your University of Calgary group extended health benefit plan. Coverage is extended anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. The coverage is in place to assist you and your dependents while away on personal or business travel in case of a sudden death, unexpected accident or illness requiring immediate medical attention or hospitalization. You must also ensure that your personal provincial health care insurance remains in force for the duration of travel. View the province's website for details. Some benefits described below do not apply to your eligible dependents. In all cases, consult the Human Resources website for your staff group to review the limitations and exclusions that may apply.
This page is intended as a general summary of group benefits offered through employment with the University of Calgary. Group benefit coverage is governed by the contract between our plan providers and the Governors of the University of Calgary. In the event of any variation between the information on this webpage and the provisions within the governing documents, the governing documents will prevail.
Information Sheet for UC Pension and Benefits for Travel and Temporary Remote Work Outside the Province/Country.
See Risk Management Travel for more information on international travel.
Academic Staff, Support Staff, and MaPS Coverage
If you have a valid University of Calgary Alberta Blue Cross ID card, and have not waived extended health care coverage, you and your eligible dependents have access to Out of Province Emergency Travel medical coverage from anywhere in the world. The Out of Province Medical Travel Infosheet gives you an overview of this coverage including details of how to access the 24 hour travel assistance services when you or your family are away from home. A medical emergency is a sudden, unexpected occurrence of an unforeseen accident or illness requiring immediate medical attention. We encourage plan members to contact the Alberta Blue Cross travel line directly at 403.225.4289 or toll free 1.888.772.2583 in advance of travel to review the coverage and limitations/exclusions based on your circumstance. These phone numbers are also on the back of your Alberta Blue Cross ID card.
Review the emergency medical provision in your plan booklet before your departure date to determine if you need to purchase more extensive travel assistance insurance under an individual plan, as the travel medical insurance excludes expenses such as trip cancellation or interruption.
Links to the benefit booklets for each staff group are accessible by viewing the “Benefits at a Glance” document for your group. Plan descriptions are also available through your Alberta Blue Cross account.
If you are on a leave of absence, ensure that you are currently participating in the group benefit plan, otherwise you may not have coverage for emergency medical expenses while you are travelling. Academics on a Research and Scholarship leave, consult your benefits booklet and the RSL info sheets for further details as some non-emergent expenses may be eligible.
Employees in Qatar, refer to your Expatriate Health Benefits (available on the intranet) for details.
Coverage for employee Basic Life Insurance and Long Term Disability continue while you travel as long as you remain in a benefit eligible position and participate in the benefit plan. This means that premiums continue to be deducted from your paycheque.
This insurance does not extend to your spouse or dependents. You may choose to participate in the Optional Life Insurance plan for your spouse and/or your dependent children.
The stated principal sum for this benefit is payable in the event you are injured or die as a result of an accident. Coverage under this policy is extended anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. Should you die resulting from an injury more than 50 km from your normal place of residence and indemnity for such loss becomes payable under this policy, repatriation of remains is available up to $25,000.
This insurance does not extend to your spouse or dependents. You may choose to participate in the Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance for your spouse.
This policy is only applicable to Academic Staff and MaPS.
Postdoctoral Associates Coverage
If you are a Postdoctoral Scholar participating in Plan C health benefits, refer to your benefits booklet for details of your Out of Canada emergency medical travel plan. We encourage plan members to contact the Alberta Blue Cross travel line directly at 403.225.4289 or toll free 1.888.772.2583 in advance of travel to review the coverage and limitations/exclusions based on your circumstance. These phone numbers are also on the back of your Alberta Blue Cross ID card.
Coverage for Basic Life Insurance and Long Term Disability continue while you travel as long as you remain in a benefit eligible position.
This insurance does not extend to your spouse or dependents.
The stated principal sum for this benefit is payable in the event you are injured or die as a result of an accident. Coverage under this policy is extended anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. Should you die resulting from an injury more than 50 km from your normal place of residence and indemnity for such loss becomes payable under this policy, repatriation of remains is available up to $25,000.
Portions of this insurance extend to your spouse or dependents.
Non-eligible Employees
If you are not an eligible employee and you are travelling for university business, refer to the university Risk Management and Insurance international travel website.