A Guaranteed Stability Option, for 40 per cent more, extends coverage to medical conditions that existed prior to departure. A Future Stability Option, for 10 per cent extra, provides coverage for conditions that had been stable for a required number of months (three, six or 12 depending on the condition) before the policy was purchased, then became unstable after you bought the policy.

Both options become invalid if symptoms of a condition, other than a minor illness, arise or a medical consultation is required or takes place on the day of departure, or seven days prior to that day. In addition, neither option will provide for coverage of a medical condition if you have been waiting for treatment, diagnosis, consultation, examination, tests or test results.

Cappon, who lives in Gloucester, near Ottawa, but continues to service Toronto customers through his company First Rate Insurance, says a Quest stability option has proved beneficial for one client who had a medical emergency.

But a Quest policy would not have been a better choice than staying home for one 89-year-old Ontario man who was treated in Texas earlier this year for a heart condition. The Toronto Star has reported previously that RBC Insurance denied his claim.

The Quest policy might have helped if all he did was fail to disclose he was on medication to lower his blood pressure. But, as an RBC official and a family member have disclosed, he saw a specialist about chest pains before leaving, and left before receiving tests that showed he had congestive heart failure.

“If you are required to have tests, and you either don’t have the tests done or you leave before getting results, you are not covered for anything related to those tests,” says Will McAleer, director of business development at Travel Underwriters.

McAleer notes his company only deals with brokers who have experience selling travel medical insurance to be sure the Quest policy or other alternatives are explained properly.