Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) Members Travelling to Cuba
Date:
To: Compensation Managers; Heads of Human Resources; Participating Separate Employers
The purpose of this notice is to inform PSHCP members that effective , the Government of Cuba has implemented a requirement that all travellers, both foreign and Cubans living abroad must possess certain medical coverage to enter the country.
The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada has confirmed with the Government of Cuba Tourism Bureau that Cuban authorities will accept either provincial government health insurance cards, or private travel insurance documentation, as sufficient proof to meet this requirement. Travellers without such proof will be required to buy insurance from Cuban companies at point of entry.
Travellers should be prepared to present their Provincial Health Insurance card as proof of medical coverage. Each member of the family should travel with his or her own personalized card.
Even though proof of provincial health care coverage is considered to be sufficient, it is recommended that travellers also have available their PSHCP benefit card, which includes the travel benefit and emergency travel assistance benefit telephone numbers. PSHCP members travelling to Cuba can contact the Sun Life Personal Health Insurance team at (613) 247-5100 in the Ottawa area or toll free at 1-888-SUN LIFE (1-888-757-7427) to obtain a letter outlining their coverage and listing any insured dependants. This letter can be presented as evidence of medical coverage to Cuban officials. Further information can be obtained on the Sun Life website.
Under the PSHCP, each participant is eligible for out of country coverage up to $500,000 (Canadian) in eligible medical expenses incurred as a result of an emergency while travelling on vacation or on business. As identified in the Plan document, the Plan reimburses participants for all or part of the costs they have incurred for eligible services and products. Travellers should print the "Emergency Benefit While Travelling" and "Emergency Travel Assistance Services" information from the Extended Health Provision, Out-of Province documentation located within the PSHCP Plan Directive, and bring this document when visiting Cuba. Plan provisions are listed in the PSHCP Plan Directive.
Specific information regarding the Public Service Travel Benefit and Emergency Travel Assistance Benefit can be found here.
For more information when planning your trip to Cuba, you may wish to visit the Cuban Embassy and the Cuba Tourist Board of Canada websites.
Should you have any questions regarding this notice, you may contact
Stephen Taylor, PSHCP Benefits Officer at Treasury Board Secretariat at
613-952-3250 or Contact Stephen Taylor by E-mail : Stephen.Taylor@tbs-sct.gc.ca.
Daphne Meredith
Chief Human Resources Officer
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