A lucky traveller will never discover what happens when they call their travel insurance company’s assistance line. In a risk-free world, we want our sole interaction with any insurance company to be before we take a trip.
Travel health insurance—which usually covers unexpected emergency health care costs such as treatment by a physician, hospital stays, diagnostic tests and, in some cases, prescription drugs—is an important consideration for LGBTQ2S+ travellers. Especially since they are at a higher risk of violence than other travellers, especially in regions where levels of homophobia and transphobia are high—possibly including from police and government. Then there are the health issues that can affect any traveller, like a traffic accident, food poisoning or other unexpected health problems.
In the last decade, insurance companies have moved to be more inclusive of queer travellers. For example, two people travelling together don’t have to define their relationship as spouses. This sounds like a tiny tweak, but it can help prevent a same-gender couple from being outed in front of local service providers and police when getting assistance from an insurance company.
“It’s also important for married LGBTQ2S+ travellers to understand that their marriage or civil union may not be recognized in another country and may cause additional complications, such as in a healthcare environment where one’s partner may not be considered next of kin for making decisions or even visits,” says Warren Brown, a member of the leadership council of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada.
Brown says all travellers, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, should take three key factors into account when buying travel insurance.
Know your health
Does the traveller have any pre-existing medical conditions that need to be disclosed with the insurer? Do you need to clarify any questions with your medical professional?
Know your trip
What type of activities will you be undertaking while on your trip? For example, if scuba diving, does the policy mention any conditions around this?
Know your policy
What are the benefits and limitations of the policy? Whom do you contact for assistance during your trip?
Canadian travel health insurance companies guarantee several rights for their customers, including the right to confidentiality and the right to worldwide assistance. Brown says customer service agents at Canadian companies are trained on these issues, including confidentiality around orientation and identity. Agents can also provide advice on filling out forms when a couple’s legal status at home doesn’t match their legal status abroad. “If there is a risk that is identified, then the assistance company would also help to manage that risk, both from the medical component as well as the security component,” says Brown.
Once travellers have done their research and picked a plan that fits their needs, Brown says they need to make sure they do one last thing: alert friends or family members about their travel plans. This should include someone back home—someone who’s not on the trip and will be able to take action in the case of a serious situation—as well as any travel companions. Travellers should also “provide them with details on the travel insurance coverage obtained, including the company purchased from, the policy number and emergency assistance contact information,” says Brown. “This applies to both solo travellers and those travelling with a companion, family or group.”
