How Alcohol Can Affect Travel Insurance Coverage
Many Canadians purchase travel insurance before leaving the country. This coverage may be obtained directly from an insurer, through an employee benefits plan, or as a feature of a credit card. What is less commonly understood is how alcohol consumption can affect coverage if a medical emergency occurs while travelling.
Most travel insurance policies contain some form of alcohol-related exclusion. The wording and scope of these exclusions vary, but in some cases coverage may be denied if alcohol is found in your system at the time of the incident.
More restrictive policies may exclude coverage where your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeds a specified level, even if alcohol did not directly cause the injury or illness.
For example, a common exclusion may state:
“Coverage will be denied if your medical condition occurs while you are impaired by drugs or alcohol, or have an alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood.”
Understanding BAC Limits in Travel Insurance
A BAC of 80 mg per 100 mL of blood is a familiar legal threshold in Canada. However, travellers may not realize how easily this level can be reached.
Based on estimates commonly used in alcohol service training:
- A 175 lb. man may reach a BAC of approximately 80 mg after consuming about seven standard drinks over six hours.
- A 150 lb. woman may reach the same level after about five standard drinks over a six-hour period.
Importantly, a denial of coverage may occur even if you did not feel impaired. In Ontario, for example, it is possible for someone to be convicted of having a BAC over the legal limit without a finding of impaired driving, because impairment itself could not be proven.
If no BAC test is performed at the hospital, an insurer may attempt to estimate your BAC based on available information, such as receipts or reported alcohol consumption. This can be particularly difficult to assess accurately at all-inclusive resorts.
Types of Alcohol-Related Exclusions
Some travel insurance policies take a less rigid approach and require a connection between alcohol consumption and the medical event. These policies may include exclusions for situations involving:
- “Alcohol-related sickness, injury, or death, or the abuse of medication, drugs, alcohol, or other toxic substances.”
- “Being under the influence of or addicted to intoxicating liquor or drugs.”
Because policy language differs, even small wording changes can have a significant impact on whether a claim is accepted or denied.
Why Reviewing Your Travel Insurance Policy Matters
If you expect to consume alcohol while travelling, it is important to review your travel insurance policy carefully. This applies whether you are purchasing a new policy or relying on coverage you already have.
A denied claim can result in substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses that must be paid before returning to Canada. Resolving a dispute after the fact may not ease the immediate financial burden.
Travel Insurance Assistance
If you have questions about alcohol-related exclusions or need help understanding how your travel insurance policy may apply to a denied claim, Wallace Smith Lawyers can assist. We help clients review policy language, assess coverage issues, and address disputes with insurers.