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GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada - Parents & Grandparents Super Visa FAQ
1. What are the minimum requirements for private Canadian health coverage to qualify for a Parent & Grandparent Super Visa?
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced the new Parent & Grandparent Visa effective December 1st, 2011. It is designed to allow eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian residents easier entry into Canada. As part of the new Super Visa program, applicants must provide proof they have purchased Canadian healthcare insurance for a minimum of $100,000 in coverage and which is valid for 365 days. In addition, the coverage must be continuous during the 365 days, allowing the applicant to return to their home country as many times as needed within the year.
2. What is the minimum deductible required for the new Parent & Grandparent Super Visa?
No minimum deductible is required; however we would recommend a $0 deductible to ensure the best protection for your client. In situations where cost may be a factor, you may want to consider a higher deductible for a reduced rate.
3. What if my client is under 55 years of age and qualifies for a Super Visa; will they be eligible for continuous coverage?
Super Visa application requirements are not dependant on the age of the applicant. If your client is under age 80, they can purchase a GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan that will meet the CIC requirements.
4. What is the difference beyween the sellecting Super Visa plan option and the visitor or Immigrant plan option?
All our plans can now be purchased for a maximum of 365 days and are available to clients up to the age of 79. The Super Visa plan provides a full 365 days of coverage, assessing stability from the effective date (the first date of entry into Canada) regardless of the number of re-entries to Canada during the coverage period. It is intended to provide flexibility for your client, to re-enter at any time during the coverage term without the need to reapply. The Visitor or Immigrant plan, both also valid for 365 days, end when your client returns to their country of origin, and a refund will be allowed if more than thirty (30) days remains unused on the policy. Your client will need to re-qualify for coverage upon a future visit and the stability period for the new plan will be based on the new effective date. Note that, there will be no refunds for unused days on the Super Visa plan option.
5. What will be the effective date of the plan?
Coverage begins on the later of either the date shown on the Immigrants & Visitors to Canada application or the date your client arrives in Canada from their country of origin.
6. What will be the end date of the plan?
For Parent & Grandparent Super Visa holders, the plan will be in effect for 365 days from the effective date of the plan. Other visitors with a traditional visa or a long-term visa will be subject to an end date effective when they leave Canada to return to their country of origin or the end date as indicated on their GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada application. If a client becomes insured by a government plan, their GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada coverage ends on the first day their government insurance is effective.
7. What if my client wants to stay longer than 1 year (365 days)?
GMS will allow the purchase of an Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan up to a maximum of 365 days. If your client wishes to extend their stay beyond that, they may re-apply for a new plan prior to the expiry of their existing plan. Your client must meet all current eligibility requirements when re-applying. It is important to remember that our stability requirements remain unchanged and are based on the effective date of the new plan.
8. How does my client apply for coverage for a stay longer than 1 year (365 days)?
In order to apply for a new plan, beyond the original 365 days, your client must have a current Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan with GMS and must apply prior to the end date of that plan. GMS is in the process of modifying the online Immigrants & Visitors application to accommodate this change. Until we are able to implement the update, please call the contact centre at 1-800-667-3699, to reapply for coverage.
9. What if my client is in Canada now and wants to apply for a Super Visa; can they apply for Immigrants & Visitors to Canada coverage to meet the Super Visa requirements?
CIC stipulates that applications for a Super Visa must be made outside of Canada. If there are exceptions made by CIC, clients are still able to apply for coverage as long as they have not been in Canada for more than 30 days. Applicants that have been in Canada for more than 30 days and applying for coverage are subject to a 48 hour waiting period for benefits.
10. What if my client currently has a GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan and they qualify for a Super Visa; can I extend their coverage for the balance of the year?
CIC stipulates that applications for a Super Visa must be made outside of Canada. Based on this, your client would need to re-apply for a full year of coverage once they are in their country of origin and applying for a Super Visa. Extending a plan that has already been in force will not provide your client with a full 365 days of coverage to meet CIC requirements. With the changes GMS has made, clients between the ages of 55 and 79 who are not eligible for the Super Visa can now extend their plans to a maximum of 365 days. To extend a client’s plan, simply log into the GMS website and click on the “Travel Change Request” link on the left-hand side of the screen.
11. Can my client purchase a GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan if they have been in Canada more than 30 days, insured with another carrier and can prove to have been claims free?
No. In order to be eligible for a GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan your client must apply for it outside of Canada or apply for it within 30 days of their arrival in Canada. GMS will consider allowing a client to re-apply for a new plan after 365 days, but only if the client was insured with GMS originally.
12. My client may not be eligible to enter Canada for a period of time after they have applied for Immigrants & Visitors to Canada coverage; when will the stability period begin?
The stability period begins 180 days prior to effective date of the plan. If applying for the Super Visa plan, the stability period will be based on your client’s first entry into Canada during the 365 day coverage period. If there is a delay between the time your client applies and the time they are eligible to enter Canada, it is important to ensure they report any changes to their medical conditions prior to the effective date to GMS. Changes in their medical conditions may impact coverage.
13. How do I address changes to the effective date of an Immigrants & Visitor’s to Canada plan resulting from delays in the approval time of a Super Visa application?
If there is a need to change the effective date (as per 4 above) due to a delay in your client’s entry to Canada, simply log into the GMS website and complete the Travel Change Request form. Changes in the effective date must be reported to GMS prior to your client arriving in Canada or the effective date as indicated on the application will be used. It is important to remember our stability requirements are in effect 180 days before the effective date of the plan. Please report any changes in your client’s medical conditions as they may impact your client’s coverage.
14. Will my client be required to make an annual payment for Super Visa coverage or will a monthly payment plan option be available?
We will require an annual payment for the plan by credit card.
15. What if my client wants to cancel their plan before the end of the 365 day period?
As this plan is intended to meet CIC requirements, we will not allow the plan to be cancelled unless the request is a result a rejection of your clients Super Visa application. Proof of the rejection will be required to process any cancellation requests. Refunds will not be permitted if a claim has been processed on the plan.
16. Will my client be able to take advantage of Immigrants & Visitors to Canada plan benefits outside of Canada?
Yes. Your client will be able to take advantage of their GMS Immigrants & Visitors to Canada coverage when visiting the United States or Mexico—as long as they have entered Canada first and the United States or Mexico are not their country of origin. Certain restrictions and conditions apply; please refer to our policy wording for details. Please note that expenses for medical emergencies will not be provided outside of Canada except while travelling to the United States and Mexico as provided for in the plan. Your client will be considered outside the coverage territory upon entering any sort of transportation with a destination outside of Canada.
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