Travelling the world is one of the greatest things a person can do. For most people, the trouble is just finding the time and money to book a ticket. But for those who are on disability benefits, travelling can become slightly more complicated. Every year we get tons of questions about this. Can you travel while on long-term disability? Are you allowed to move? Do you have to notify the insurance company?
In this article, I will be answering some common questions about travel and long-term disability, including vacations, moving, and treatment.
Read on — or click on a question below to see the answer:
This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Long-term Disability Benefits.
Vacations
Here at Resolute Legal, we believe that vacations can be important for your mental health and that you should still be able to travel while on long-term disability benefits. With this being said, you should exercise some caution when going on vacations if you’re applying for a disability claim or if you’re on an approved claim.
If you have been taken off of work by your doctor and are planning on applying for disability benefits, it may raise some red flags if you go on a vacation right away. The same can be said once your claim has been approved. You might want to hold off on taking a vacation until your claim has been established for some time.
Of course, it depends on your situation. Sometimes you need to “read the room” with vacations. What would your insurance company think if you went on vacation at this point in your claim? Would it discredit you or make you look bad? These are some things you need to think about.
Once you’ve read the room and concluded that going on a vacation wouldn’t raise any red flags, there are a few things you need to do.
Read your insurance policy
Before you book your ticket, you should read your long-term disability insurance policy to find out if says anything about travel. Some policies require that you notify the insurer before taking a vacation or only allow you to travel for a certain number of days. Reading your policy will ensure that you don’t accidentally violate any of the terms.
Get medical clearance
If you are planning a vacation, your first step should be to visit your doctor and clear a vacation with them. If they think you can take a vacation, you should try to get them to write a short letter saying that you are cleared to go. Then, you can approach the insurer with the letter and inform them of your vacation plans.
Tell the insurer
We always encourage you to be upfront and honest with your long-term disability insurer. Don’t try to deceive them or withhold information. It can be hard to speak with them at times, but they can find out about you leaving the country, and if you haven’t notified them, this can result in a termination of benefits.
If you are receiving both long-term disability and CPP disability benefits, you will need to notify Service Canada as well. For more information, check out our article: Can I leave the country on CPP Disability?
Get travel insurance
Once you have the “OK” to take your vacation, you may want to get travel insurance in case anything happens and you need treatment or hospitalization while you’re away. We especially recommend this if you’re travelling in the United States or somewhere where healthcare is quite expensive.
Can I leave the country while I’m on long-term disability?
Generally, the answer is yes. Again, you will have to inform your insurer about your travel before you leave. It is always our advice to be upfront and honest with your insurer. Issues can arise when you don’t tell the insurer at all. You might also run into problems if you leave the country for several months each year. You might have to find a way to continue to receive treatment while you’re away.
Be sure to check your insurance policy or speak with your claims representative for any specific rules about travelling.
Can I travel to go care for a sick family member?
Often, people need to leave the country to care for a family member who has fallen ill. If you’re in this situation, be clear with your insurer about the reason you have to travel. Be prepared to answer questions about the tasks you might be dealing with while you’re gone. The insurance company might try to prove that you are able to work if you take on a lot of responsibility during your travel.
Moving
Generally speaking, it should be fine for you to move while you’re receiving disability benefits. As you might imagine, this depends on where you’re moving as well as your specific long-term disability policy. You will likely experience more hurdles and red tape if you’re trying to move to a different country instead of simply relocating somewhere in Canada.
Just as with travelling, we recommend being open and honest with your insurance company and Service Canada about where you are living and where you are moving to.
Can I move somewhere else in Canada while on long-term disability?
Yes, you can. However, keep in mind that you need to continue receiving treatment once you’ve settled in your new location. This means you’ll need to find a doctor and/or specialists to continue your treatment.
If you move to another province, it’s critical that you get the appropriate health care card for that province as soon as possible. You don’t want to be caught without coverage.
Can I move to another country while I’m on long-term disability?
This depends on your policy. Most plans say you must live in Canada for six months out of a 12-month period. Do not try to deceive your insurer and pretend you have a residency in Canada when you do not; this can result in insurance fraud charges.
Treatment
It is your right to seek treatment for your condition. Sometimes this involves travelling out of Canada to see a specialist. If you’re travelling for medical care, the very first step is to clear this with your doctor and insurer. Of course, you will want your doctor to support your decision to get treatment in another country. When you’re ready to return home, always get a copy of your treatment records before you leave.
You may want to speak with a lawyer and doctor if you’re in this situation to make sure that your policy will allow this.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article has answered some of your questions about travelling while on long-term disability benefits.
If you need clarification or have specific questions in regard to your own claim, please feel free to reach out to our support team. You can call us toll-free at (888)-732-0470 to schedule a free consultation.
