if we can’t wait for a
facility recommendation
from the assistance company,
will i still be covered?
Save
with AMA
AMA members save
10% on travel medical
insurance plans
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If you weren’t able to get in touch
with the assistance company, or
if emergency responders couldn’t
wait, call as soon as you are able.
Keep in mind: Without contact
with the assistance company, you
could be required to pay up front
for services, but you’ll be reim-
bursed later for eligible expenses.
i’m in a medical facility and
i’ve reached the assistance
company. What’s next?
EmErgEncy carE
What should you do if an emergency strikes
while travelling? AMA is here to help
If you suffer a medical emer-
gency while you’re on the road
and away from Alberta, the first
thing to remember: Don’t panic.
AMA Assistance will be standing
by to take you through the pro-
cess so you can focus on the task
at hand. Here are some answers
to frequently asked questions
about what to do next.
i need medical assistance
outside of alberta. Help!
“In the event of a major
emergency, call 911 and seek
medical attention immediately,”
says Pam Murray, AMA’s manager
of travel medical insurance.
Then contact your assistance
company as soon as possible.
“When you purchase travel
insurance, you receive a wallet
How to
Submit a claim
18
Winter 2018
AMA insider
Without
contact with
the assistance
company,
you could
be required
to pay for
services up
front, but
you’ll be paid
back later
for eligible
expenses
card with their contact number.”
This independent third-party
assistance company will refer you
to a medical facility to handle the
emergency. If you don’t speak
the local language, the assistance
provider has staffers who speak
several common languages.
What if i can’t get through?
“The assistance company is
there 24/7, but phone systems
around the world can be tricky,”
Murray says. “You’ll find an email
address on the card as well.”
If you’re still not able to make
contact, don’t worry. Reach out
to a family member at home, give
them your policy number and the
phone number for the assistance
company so they can contact the
company on your behalf.
The assistance company will check
to make sure treatment is covered
by your insurance plan. They’ll
send you the claims forms to fill
out and return. If your expenses
aren’t eligible, you’ll be informed
as soon as possible. “The assistance
provider is with you until the end
of the emergency or until you
return home, whichever happens
first,” Murray adds. “Once the
assistance in destination wraps up,
they pass the file over to the claims
department, which gathers bills,
submits eligible expenses to
Alberta Health Care and deals with
any other insurers you may have.”
The assistance company says
i should come home but i want
to stay. What happens to my
coverage?
If you stay, you run the risk of not
being covered under your policy
for things related to the required
emergency treatment. “But every
situation is different and will be
evaluated and managed by the
assistance company,” Murray says.
“So if someone needs a couple of
days to get home, they’ll take that
into consideration.”
1 2 3 4
Always carry your policy
number and the assistance
company phone number. in
the case of an emergency,
call the assistance company
as soon as you can. stay in
contact with
the assistance
company
throughout
the process. keep all receipts
related to the
emergency, as out-of-
pocket expenses may
not be paid without
documentation. Fill out all claim
forms promptly and
thoroughly; indicate
any other sources
of coverage you
may have.
Always read and understand your AMA travel insurance Policy before travelling. AMA travel insurance is underwritten by orion
travel insurance company. cAA Assistance is provided by Active care Management inc. terms and conditions apply.
insurance iQ