Group medical services: gms travelstar stability comparison: effective may 15, 2013

G M S T r av e l S Ta r ® T r av e l I n S u r a n c e
Stability comparison chart
The following is a side-by-side comparison of the policy updates related to stability. emergency
Stable: Any medical condition or related medical condition related directly stable: a medical condition is stable if, during the period of time specified a. there have been no new symptoms, more frequent or more severe a. have not received new medical treatment; cancellation
b. have not been prescribed a new prescription medication; & Interruption
b. there has been no change in treatment or change in medication*; c. have not had a change in medical treatment; c. a dosage adjustment of an anti-hypertensive or cholesterol lowering d. have not had an alteration in a prescribed medication; medication done in the pre-existing time frame does not constitute a e. have not experienced a deterioration in your condition; f. have not experienced new, more frequent or more severe symptoms; d. there has been no deterioration of your medical condition; g. have not had or required medical consultation to investigate e. there has been no hospitalization or referrals to a specialist including initial follow-up visits, tests or investigations booked in conjunction with a medical condition/symptom; h. have not required in-hospital care or a referral to a specialist, including initial follow-up visits, tests or investigations related to the f. there is no further testing, treatment or investigation advised and/or medical condition and pending results; and/or i. do not anticipate further medical treatment after departure from your g. you have not experienced a symptom that remains undiagnosed; h. no further medical treatment after departure from your province of alteration: includes any newly prescribed medication, change in medication type or the increase, decrease or discontinuation of a medication and the * Any newly prescribed medication, change in medication type, increase/ adjustment (stop and start) in an anticoagulation medication dosage due to decrease in dosage or discontinuation of a medication constitutes a surgery within ten (10) days prior to your effective date, except: change. It does not include a change from a brand name medication to a generic brand medication of the same dosage. If you are taking Coumadin/ a. a dosage adjustment for an anti-hypertensive or cholesterol lowering Warfarin for anticoagulation therapy or are insulin dependent or take oral medication for diabetes and are required to have your blood levels tested b. a change from a brand name medication to a generic brand on a regular basis and your medical condition remains unchanged, yet you are required to adjust the dosage of your medication only to ensure correct c. if you are taking Coumadin/Warfarin for anticoagulation therapy and blood levels are maintained, this is not considered a change in medication, are required to have your blood levels tested on a regular basis (INR) except for an adjustment (stop and start) in an anticoagulation medication and your medical condition remains unchanged, yet you are adjusting dosage due to surgery within ten (10) days prior to your departure date or, the dosage of your anticoagulation medication to ensure your INR is if used as a top-up, on the effective date, constitute a change.
maintained within therapeutic range as directed by your physician(s); or d. if you are taking insulin or oral anti-diabetic medication for diabetes and are required to have your blood levels tested on a regular basis and your medical condition remains unchanged, yet you are adjusting the dosage of your medication to ensure your blood glucose level is maintained within therapeutic range as directed by your physician(s).
nOTe: in the new policy, 'stable' and 'alteration' appear in alphabetical
order in the Definitions section.
emergency
4. Coverage for medical conditions that existed prior to your departure 1. Stability - GMS does not cover any expenses resulting from medical date or prior to your effective date (if used as a top-up) is subject to the condition(s) which have not been stable for one hundred and eighty (180) days immediately prior to your departure date, including: This policy does not provide coverage for any expenses related directly a. medical condition(s) for which you received medical treatment or a. your medical condition and/or related condition and/or b. undiagnosed medical condition(s) related to symptoms for which symptoms (whether or not the diagnosis has been determined) if you received medical treatment or medical consultation.
at any time in the one hundred eighty (180) days preceding your You must be stable based on the definition of stable in this policy, departure date your medical conditions or related conditions regardless of the opinion of your physician or any other person who may provide an opinion on your medical condition(s).
b. if at any time in the one hundred eighty (180) days prior to your 2. Stability When Topping-Up Other Insurer's Plans - GMS does not cover any expenses where this policy is being used as a top-up for i. any heart condition has not been stable; another insurer's emergency medical insurance, unless the medical ii. any lung condition has not been stable.
conditions have been stable for one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the effective date of the top-up.
3. Stability When Topping-Up a GMS Plan - GMS does not cover any expenses where this policy is being used as a top-up to existing GMS emergency medical coverage, unless medical conditions are stable as defined by the stability period as specified within the GMS policy this policy is topping-up.
Stability Comparison Chart continued on next page >
Group Medical Services • 2055 Albert Street PO Box 1949 Regina, SK S4P 0E3 • 1.800.667.3699 • www.gms.ca Group Medical Services is the operating name for GMS Insurance Inc. in provinces outside of Saskatchewan. ® TravelStar is a registered trademark of Group Medical Services. G M S T r av e l S Ta r ® T r av e l I n S u r a n c e
Stability comparison chart
> Stability Comparison Chart continued
4. Expenses related directly or indirectly as a result of your medical 1. GMS does not cover any expenses resulting from medical condition(s) cancellation
condition and/or related condition and/or symptoms (whether or not which have not been stable for one hundred and eighty (180) days & Interruption
the diagnosis has been determined) if at any time in the one hundred eighty (180) days preceding your purchase date for the Single Trip a. the date you purchased your Trip Cancellation & Interruption Daily Plan or booking date for the Multi-Trip Annual Plan, your medical conditions or related conditions and/or symptoms have not been 5. Expenses incurred, if at any time in the one hundred eighty (180) days prior to your purchase date for the Single Trip Daily Plan or booking a. for which you received medical treatment or medical consultation; a. any heart condition, has not been stable; b. related to undiagnosed symptoms for which you received medical b. any lung condition has not been stable.
You must be stable based on the definition of stable in this policy regardless of the opinion of your physician or any other person who may provide an opinion on your medical condition(s).
emergency
3. You or other travelers to be insured are not eligible for coverage, If on 2. You are not eligible if, within the twelve (12) months prior to applying, you have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions or you have any of the following conditions which have not been stable (as i. you have suffered from, been diagnosed with, received defined in the policy wording) for twelve (12) months prior to applying: new treatment for, or had a recurrence of, or complications a. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); relating to any of the following: stroke/TIA, blood clots, b. a terminal illness (an advanced stage of a progressive disease atrial flutter, atrial/ventricular fibrillation, peripheral vascular with an unfavourable prognosis and no known cure); disease, AIDS, any terminal illness, renal/liver failure, or ii. you have undergone any of the following procedures: renal dialysis, valve replacement, valve surgery, or organ transplant.
f. stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA); Should any changes in your health occur after the application date and prior to the effective date, GMS must be contacted and h. gastrointestinal bleeding; and/ori. kidney/liver failure.
nOTe: in the new policy, Single-Trip and Multi-Trip annual plans have
separate eligibility sections. This restriction is listed for Single-Trip as 2.
and for Multi-Trip annual as 3.
Group Medical Services • 2055 Albert Street PO Box 1949 Regina, SK S4P 0E3 • 1.800.667.3699 • www.gms.ca Group Medical Services is the operating name for GMS Insurance Inc. in provinces outside of Saskatchewan. ® TravelStar is a registered trademark of Group Medical Services.

Source: http://www.gms.ca/resources/pdf/TravelStar-Stability-Comparison.pdf