Gary Sawatzky | Chief Operating Officer, ARTA
With the winter travel season quickly approaching, we want to remind our members of the difference between Emergency Travel claims and regular Extended Health Care claims for health-related goods or services obtained while travelling.
Emergency Travel claims are exactly that — if you are travelling outside of your province of residence and incur a sudden and unexpected illness or injury, call the Emergency Travel number written on your ARTA Benefits ID card and arrange for assistance. (If you have experienced a serious injury or medical episode, go directly to a hospital and call the Emergency Travel number when you are reasonably able to do so.) Beneva is ARTA's Emergency Travel Insurance provider, but all claims are processed through AXA Assistance. In an emergency, AXA Assistance is the one you'll need to contact. AXA Assistance will direct you to a medical facility (if you aren’t already at one) and open a claim for you. If the medical facility or procedure you need is costly, AXA will arrange payment to be made directly to the provider.
ARTA’s Emergency Travel plan will cover physician, hospital, or medical facility fees and ancillary costs associated with the medical emergency, such as expenses for prescription drugs, X-rays, physiotherapy, and chiropractor expenses, as long as those expenses are related to the medical emergency. It is not used to cover routine physician visits, maintenance medications, regular visits to a paramedical practitioner (such as a massage therapist or a physiotherapist) or follow-up visits related to the original medical emergency.
You may be able, however, to submit these extra claims to your regular ARTA Extended Health Care plan. If the service provided follows the same rules that apply to claims incurred inside your province of residence (for example, if you get a massage while you are travelling and the massage therapist is qualified and registered by the local massage college), your claim is eligible for coverage under the ARTA Extended Health Care Plan. Just make sure you obtain a detailed receipt outlining the service or goods provided — a till receipt is not acceptable when making a claim.
You can also submit your claim online or on your phone using the MyARTA Health Hub. Video instructions on how to do so are available on YouTube — just search for TheARTAChannel. Knowing when and where to submit eligible claims while travelling will ensure you can receive coverage in a timely manner while still enjoying your trip.