Does RIMI Travel Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

Does RIMI Travel Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?

When sponsoring your parents or grandparents to visit Canada, their health is your top priority. One of the most common questions families ask is: "If my parent already has a health issue like high blood pressure or diabetes, will their visitor insurance actually cover them in an emergency?"

If you are looking at the RIMI Visitors to Canada Travel Insurance policy, the answer depends entirely on the specific plan you choose, the traveller's age, and exactly how "stable" their medical condition is before they travel.

Here is the exact breakdown of how RIMI handles pre-existing medical conditions so you can choose the right protection for your family.

Plan 1 vs. Plan 2: What is the Difference?

When you purchase this policy, you will have to choose between Plan 1 and Plan 2. This choice completely determines how pre-existing conditions are handled.

Plan 1 (No Pre-Existing Coverage): If you select and pay for Plan 1, the policy explicitly does not cover any sickness, injury, or medical condition that existed before the effective date of the policy.

Plan 2 (Pre-Existing Coverage Included): If you select and pay for Plan 2, you can get coverage for a sickness, injury, or medical condition that existed before the effective date, but only if it meets strict age and stability requirements.

The Age & Stability Rules for Plan 2

If you opt for Plan 2, coverage for pre-existing conditions is broken down by the traveller's age:

Travellers Up to Age 69: Any sickness, injury, or medical condition must have been stable in the 90 days prior to the effective date to be covered.

Travellers Age 70 to 84: Any sickness, injury, or medical condition must have been stable in the 180 days prior to the effective date.

Important Catch for Ages 70-84: To be eligible for this coverage, the traveler must accurately answer "no" to all questions on the medical declaration. If any question on the medical declaration is answered "yes," there is absolutely no coverage for any pre-existing medical condition, regardless of whether it was stable or not.

What Exactly Does "Stable" Mean?

Insurance companies do not use the word "stable" lightly. According to the RIMI policy, "stable" means any medical condition (whether the diagnosis has been determined or not) for which there has been:

1. No hospitalization.

2. No new diagnosis, treatment, or prescribed medication.

3. No change in treatment or medication.

4. No new, more frequent, or more severe symptoms.

5. No new test results showing deterioration.

6. No referral to a specialist (made or recommended).

7. You are not currently awaiting surgery or the results of further investigations performed by any medical professional.

What Counts as a "Change" in Medication?

Many seniors adjust their medications, so it is vital to know how the insurer defines a "change."

A change includes any new treatment or medication, stopped treatment or medication, or any increase or decrease in treatment or medication.

However, two major exceptions will NOT reset your stability clock:

1. Generic Brands: Transitioning between generic and brand-name versions of drugs is not considered a change, as long as they have the exact same active ingredient and dosage.

2. Diabetes Medication: The routine adjustment of a dosage within prescribed parameters is not considered a change if the traveller is taking insulin or oral diabetes medication.

The "Prudent Person" Warning

Even if a condition hasn't been officially diagnosed yet, you cannot ignore warning signs. The RIMI policy states that it will not cover expenses related to a sickness or injury that would have caused an "ordinarily prudent person" to seek medical treatment, advice, diagnosis, or care during the 90-day period immediately prior to the effective date.

If your parent has been feeling unwell before their trip, it is always best to have them evaluated by a doctor back home.

The Bottom Line

Buying travel insurance for a parent with a pre-existing condition requires careful attention to their health history. If their condition has been perfectly stable without any medication changes or new symptoms for the required 90 or 180 days, Plan 2 can provide excellent peace of mind during their stay in Canada.

Need to secure coverage for a parent with a stable pre-existing condition? Don't guess when it comes to the fine print. Compare Plan 1 and Plan 2 of the RIMI Visitors to Canada Travel Insurance instantly on DaddySafe.ca. Secure the perfect, compliance-ready protection for your family today! Managed by Immunis Financial Brokers Inc.