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December 2021, 4th quarter edition
Feature news
Enhancing our sales team with additional members to support you
COVID-19 will likely continue to be one of the most defining historical moments of the global travel and tourism industry. With the travel industry still at a slow-down and travellers eagerly awaiting a return to “normal”, we used this opportunity to enhance our team structure to successfully deliver in this ever-changing travel industry.
Considering this new landscape and the increasing trend of working-at-home for many of you, we’re taking a more focused approach with sales to continue to best serve you to help you grow your business.
To help build your insurance revenues, we have 5 additional sales team Internal Business Development Managers (IBDM). Each IBDM will work more closely with their territory of travel agencies. Look for an IBDM e-introduction, shortly, if you haven’t already received one from your IBDM!
All of us at Manulife are honoured and proud to work with you and to continue to support you to grow your business. Reach out to your IBDM if you have any questions.
United States land border is open
The United States (U.S.) land border is open for non-essential travel (as of November 8, 2021). This means that your vacationing Canadian clients who wish to drive south can enter the U.S. by car. Educate your clients about all border entry requirements before they depart, to help ensure a smooth border crossing. You and your clients can find up-to-date information on the U.S. Government website.
And, as the COVID-19 situation continues to change, remind your clients that there may be different re-entry requirements when they return to Canada. You and your clients can find information on entry requirements into Canada on the Government of Canada website.
Whether your clients are travelling to the U.S. by land or air, encourage them to prepare for the unexpected by having the proper travel insurance in place. This could make or break their trip!
Important details your clients should know before travelling
Since July 1, 2021, COVID-19 travel requirements have changed in many countries including mandatory PCR tests, COVID antigen tests, vaccination status requests, mandatory insurance coverage and whether a country is considered to be green or red travel status.
Remind your clients to check the government websites of their destination countries for information about their COVID-19 requirements which can vary significantly and change from one country to another and within different regions of the same country.
Depending on where your clients are travelling to, here are some useful websites:
- COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders - Travel.gc.ca
- COVID-19 Travel: Checklists for requirements and exemptions - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca
- Entering the UK - Gov.uk
- COVID-19: Entry and stay of foreign talents in France - Welcometofrance.com
The Canadian government suggests the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination is a way for your clients to show their COVID-19 vaccination history when they travel. It’s available from many provinces or territories, but not all. If it’s not yet available to them, they can continue to use the proof of vaccination that is available in their province or territory.
Sales and marketing
31-day minimum trip duration removed
Your feedback is important, and we made your requested changes. Our COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan no longer has a 31-day minimum trip duration for our quarantine benefits to apply! Learn the details about COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan.
You have the expertise your clients want and need
The travel industry has changed immensely since the onset of COVID, and your clients are relying on you more than ever for your vast travel knowledge and expertise. They need you to navigate the travel industry and provide, in an easy-to-understand way, the necessary information to help them decide where, when and how to travel, and explain any travel advisory nuances that could affect their insurance coverage. You can make all the difference in the world and help ensure they have a successful trip!
NEW sales tool and customizable client flyers
As your partner, we’d like to help you efficiently and effectively navigate the travel insurance industry for your clients!
Check out our Global Sales Tool. This game-changing tool can help you navigate what insurance you can sell, and to whom. Use it to help determine the right product with the right coverage at the right time for your client(s). Also, use it as a guide for various scenarios such as new bookings, bookings using future travel credit vouchers travelling anywhere out of the country, or cruise bookings which seem to be the most confusing at this time.
In the spirit of leaving no stone unturned and doing everything possible to solve a problem, below are links to 2 new consumer-facing customizable flyers to help you plant the insurance coverage seed and pique the interest of both existing and new customers.
- The Canada Medical Plan customizable flyer pays homage to Canada in a quirky way that is bound to get a reaction.
- The Corporate Traveller customizable flyer intentionally focuses on corporate or frequent travellers.
Your clients are counting on your expertise to recommend what best suits their needs and to highlight the true value and benefits of the available policies. Note that our Premium Protection Plan continues to provide the most robust coverage, and generous Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Benefit!
More tools and training
Check out our Manulife Travel Insurance Webinar Schedule to find more tools and training designed to help you and your clients.
Product
COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan: Update for departures Sept 20, 2021 onward
The COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan for travelling Canadians (“COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan”) is designed to help cover medical expenses related to COVID-19 while at destination. It also includes Trip Interruption Insurance for hotel and meal expenses, and a return flight if a medical professional requires you to quarantine or self-isolate due to a positive COVID-19 test result or contact tracing, and you are delayed beyond your original return date. See The COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan for travelling Canadians policy for full details. Here are some update highlights:
- No premium increases for your Manulife COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan customers
- Quarantine benefits are now available on all trip durations
- There’s no longer a 31-day minimum trip duration for our quarantine benefits to apply
- Increased benefit amounts for quarantine coverage:
- Daily maximum increase to $200 CAD per day per person or $400 CAD per day per family, for a maximum of 14 days
- Increase of benefit amount to an overall maximum of $2,800 CAD per person or $5,600 CAD per family
- This benefit is triggered when a client tests positive for COVID-19, or there is an indecisive COVID-19 test result in destination, preventing them from returning home as originally planned. In addition, we now cover children under the age of 11 years who are taking a cruise vacation with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.
- Up to $500 CAD for the cost of a one-way economy class airfare to return home if quarantined or self-isolated beyond original return date
Cruise ahoy!
Cruise ship travel update effective November 18, 2021
- If your client has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, at least 14 days before the start of their trip, Emergency Medical Insurance up to a combined maximum of $5 million CAD will be available for COVID-19 and related complications during an “Avoid All Cruise Ship Travel” advisory. This applies only for policies issued on or after November 18, 2021.
- If your client is age 11 and under and isn’t eligible to receive the vaccine before the start of their trip, and when travelling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian, Emergency Medical Insurance up to a combined maximum of $1 million CAD will be available for COVID-19 and related complications during an “Avoid All Cruise Ship Travel” advisory. This applies only for policies issued on or after November 18, 2021.
Canadian Travel advisory update
- If your client has been fully vaccinated against Coronavirus (COVID-19), at least 14 days before the start of their trip, and the Canadian Government travel advisory for their destination does not instruct to “Avoid All Travel” or “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” due to COVID-19, Manulife Travel Insurance policies that include Emergency Medical Insurance benefits will provide coverage for any unforeseen medical emergency related to COVID-19 in accordance with the terms and conditions of their policy. This applies for trips with a departure date on or after October 21, 2021.
- If your client has NOT been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, at least 14 days before the start of their trip, the Travel Advisory to “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” remains in effect.
What does this mean for your clients?
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption
Manulife still considers COVID-19 a known event/knowledge as of March 5, 2020.
The following events are NOT considered known events/knowledge:
- Their sickness (accompanied by a medical certificate) due to contracting COVID-19 prevents them from travelling as planned.
- A positive COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before their departure from home or during their trip prevents them from travelling as planned.
- Their job loss at their place of employment as a result of the pandemic impact.
Medical
As of Oct 21, 2021, fully vaccinated clients taking a land vacation, don’t have to purchase a separate COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan if they have a Premium Protection Plan, All Inclusive Plan or Global Medical Plan. They will still be covered medically and have the 2 quarantine benefits as shown below, provided the “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” advisory is not in place at time of travel.
- They or their travel companion are denied entry into any destination included in their trip and are quarantined as requested by a medical professional.
- Due to a positive COVID-19 test result or contact tracing in any destination included in their trip, they or their travel companion are required to self-isolate, or quarantine as requested by a medical professional, in their destination beyond their original return date.
Read more about the quarantine benefits and cruise coverage.
Manulife Basic Plan
Introducing the Manulife Global Basic Package Plan.
Plan highlights include:
- Available for clients up to 69 years of age
- Covers fewer events with fewer benefits, however at a lower premium
- Doesn’t include Cancel for Any Reason Benefit
- Available in igoinsured.com on the 2nd page of our product offerings
Listen to our recorded webinar for all the details.
Benefit Summary:
- Emergency Medical: Up to $1 million CAD
- Trip Cancellation: Up to the sum insured (limited benefits compared to other plans)
- Trip Interruption: Up to the sum insured (limited benefits compared to other plans)
Insurance industry news
Manulife sponsored Travel Agency Business Insurance Program
Looking to save on your business costs? It’s time to review your insurance options!
Explore a unique preferred group insurance package for Manulife sponsored travel agencies only – underwritten by Northbridge Insurance and administered by Marsh Canada Limited.
Program features:
- Errors and Omissions (E&O) liability insurance
- Commercial general liability (CGL) insurance
- All risks property insurance
Questions?
Contact your Marsh Canada Limited licensed insurance broker by toll-free phone 1-844-493-4992 or email businessinsurance.travel@marsh.com.
Get to know our people – Rob Iafrate, AVP Travel Insurance
Rob is part of our dynamic, passionate and industry leading/award winning team who takes pride in their culture and customer service. Driven by success, his primary responsibility is to oversee Manulife’s individual travel insurance business, including strategy, managing partner relationships and business development for Canada and other world markets. Rob also supports product management, marketing strategies and operations of the business across all channels. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from Queen’s University and has over 25 years of experience in the travel insurance industry.
How did you come to work in travel insurance?
The father of a university housemate became the head of RBC Insurance and helped me to secure a position in their sales internship program, following graduation. After 6 months in the program, a sales position became available in a company RBC had recently acquired – Voyageur Insurance, and I became an Area Sales Manager.
Do you have a most embarrassing moment from an industry event?
There are a few… I missed the opening tee-off time at a team industry golf tourney because I slept through my alarm (or likely didn’t set it based on the previous evening’s events). When I eventually arrived at the course, I was driven to the 3rd hole to join my team – only missed the first two holes!
What is your dream vacation?
A very long wine and food themed European river cruise, followed by a journey throughout England, Ireland and Scotland, to play the iconic British Open golf courses. Fore!
What is one thing you wouldn’t want to live without?
Given the pandemic, we have learned to live more simply. What is most important has come to the forefront and I would say I wouldn’t want to live without my freedom to be mobile and explore… in other words, travel.
What book is currently on your nightstand? Favourite all time read?
- Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
- Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
What song would you want to listen to if stranded on a deserted island?
I am a bit of a freestyle junkie but if stranded would go more motivational – Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
Fun fact about Rob Iafrate?
Elon Musk was in my first year Commerce Program at Queen’s University in 1990 before he moved to the U.S. and transferred out. Talk about feeling like an underachiever!
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