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Coronavirus update for RBC Insurance GBS clients

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a flu-like virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China and since reported in several cities around the world.

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to assess the public health risk associated with the virus as low for Canada.  We want to take this opportunity to let you know we’re watching the situation closely and monitoring how it could impact you and your clients.

We are here to support you, your clients and their families as we try to understand the impact of the situation and process this event.  Below is a list of resources to help support and keep you informed. 

Work-Life Employee Assistance program

·       Immediate and confidential EAP services are accessible 24/7 for your clients and their employees by calling 1-877-630-6701 

·       The www.lifebalance.net website features information on the coronavirus and coping with trauma.

·       Tips to protect yourselves and others

·       Members of the Work-Life Employee Assistance Program Traumatic Event Support Team are available to support individuals and organizations impacted by these events.

Disability

·       In recognition of the increasing pressure on our medical clinics and hospitals due to the global health emergency, we will not, at the outset, require an Attending Physician’s Statement as part of a Short Term Disability claim submission if the absence is due to COVID-19 symptoms, a clinical diagnosis of the virus, or a quarantine order.  This is a time limited exception as we move through the current situation. 

·       The attached form is to be completed and emailed to intake@rbc.com if an employee is absent from work due to a COVID-19 symptoms, has had a clinical diagnosis of the virus, or has been ordered to stay home due to potential risk of the illness.

·       If further assistance is needed, call our Life and Health Claims toll free #1-877-519-9501.

Travel

• The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory to certain parts of China on January 24, 2020.  This advisory has since been upgraded to “Avoid All Travel” to the province of Hubei, including the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang and Ezhou, and just added, the cities of Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea as well as Northern Italy and Iran, due to the imposition of heavy travel restrictions in order to limit the spread of the virus.
• Plan members that contract COVID-19 while traveling abroad should call Assured Assistance (Canada and USA toll free: 1-855-603-5571, Local: 905-608-8251 – collect from anywhere) immediately if they have been quarantined at destination.  We are here 24/7.  Emergency Medical Coverage will be extended automatically for the full duration of the quarantine and until they can return back to Canada at no extra charge. 

We will send the attached communication to your plan administrators later today.

Questions?

This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk assessment may change daily. If you have further questions, you can follow updates at Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization.