Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most popular questions for this section are listed below.
  
When does a members insurance begin under the CCGA insurance program?

Answer

A CCGA members insurance eligibility begins once the member has been enrolled and accepted as a member of an Auxiliary association and has signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the CCGA and the CCGA member.
     
When does an owner/operator vessels insurance begin under the CCGA insurance program?

Answer

A CCGA owner/operators eligibility for coverage under the CCGA insurance policies begins once the vessel has been enrolled and accepted by the Canadian Coast Guard as a vessel of an Auxiliary association and the owner/operator has been enrolled and accepted as a member of an Auxiliary association and has signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the CCGA and the CCGA member. Coverage applies during an Authorized Activity.
     
If a member injures himself/herself while on an Authorized Activity, must the members use their own deductible portion from Medicare and/or their own health care insurance first, before claiming against the CCGA insurance. For example, would the member have to use any available coverage for a chiropractor before accessing the CCGA insurance.

Answer

Yes. Expenses that are insured by Medicare cannot be re-imbursed by a private medical plan, with a few exceptions (e.g. in Ontario, private medical plans can now reimburse chiropractor charges that are partially covered by OHIP provided OHIP pays first; then, if there are any excess expenses for the visit, the private health care plan can pay those). After Medicare, an employee’s private health care plan, if there is one, becomes second payer and the CCGA plan sits on top as third payer. It should be pointed out that, if a member does not have a group medical plan through an employer, the CCGA plan will respond as a second payer after Medicare. It is illegal in Canada for insurance companies to sell insurance coverage for protection that is already provided by Medicare.
     
If a member has not returned his/her signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) form, is he/she still covered under the CCGA insurance policies?

Answer

Yes, the member would be covered by CCGA insurances. We never want an administrative technicality to interfere with saving lives. However, every effort has to be made to obtain Memorandum of Understanding forms signed by members. Of course, at some time the CCGA would be forced to strike an individual from the membership list for refusing to submit a signed Memorandum of Understanding.
     
Are CCGA members covered by the CCGA insurance polices while co-crewing onboard Canadian Coast Guard vessels?

Answer

Since co-crewing onboard a CCG vessel is an Authorized Activity, CCGA members are covered by the CCGA insurance policies.
 
Are members’ spouses insured under CCGA insurances while traveling with the member to a CCGA function?

Answer

A spouse accompanying a CCGA member traveling to an Authorized Activity is NOT covered by CCGA insurance policies. The only time a spouse is covered by CCGA insurance policies is when the spouse is an enrolled Auxiliary member and is participating in an Authorized Activity. The trigger for insurance coverage is whether or not an Auxiliary member has been authorized to attend a CCGA function. If the spouse is an Auxiliary member and is authorized to attend then he/she is covered by the CCGA insurance policies.

For example, if a spouse accompanies a CCGA member to a Board of Directors meeting, a National Council meeting, a Regional SAR Skills Competition, a Boat Show, International SAR Competition or CCGA training session and the spouse has not been authorized to attend, that spouse is not covered by the CCGA insurance policies. Authorization to attend a CCGA function means that the CCGA member will be participating in training activities or actively contributing to the meeting or event. Simply accompanying a member to an Auxiliary activity does not constitute authorization to attend.

In most instances, authorization to attend a CCGA function is directly linked to the member’s eligibility for reimbursement of travel expenses. The exception to this is attendance at Annual General Meetings. Although a member has not been authorized to be reimbursed for travel expenses to attend their Annual General Meeting the member has the right to attend and therefore would be covered by the CCGA insurance policies.
How often is it necessary for CCGA to renew its vessel insurance, and how is this done?

Answer

Coverage is continuous with an annual anniversary date of June 1st. CCGA vessels may be subject to reexamination by the insurers on a periodic basis. The examination may be subject to verification by an authorized CCG Officer. It is the responsibility of the individual Auxiliary member to advise the appropriate CCG representative of the cost of any additions and/or alterations to their vessel that may affect the insured value of the CCGA vessel.
 
 
During an authorized search and rescue (SAR) tasking, are passengers on board a CCGA vessel insured if JRCC (Joint Rescue Coordination Centre) or MRSC (Marine Rescue Sub-Centre) is advised?

Answer

Normally, JRCC or MRSC would not task a CCGA vessel to a search and rescue (SAR) mission if passengers were on board. If an exceptional circumstance occurs, and the passenger volunteers and agrees to assist if the vessel is short of crewmembers, then they would be covered under the CCGA insurances.
 
Are CCGA members insured for diving activities during SAR Operations?

Answer

No. CCGA members are not insured under the CCGA insurance policies for any diving activities.
 
 
What is the time limit to submit a claim under the CCGA insurances?

Answer

Each policy has its own requirements but, in general, the policies state that a claim should be reported as soon as possible after an incident has occurred (e.g. if a boat suffered damages during a search and rescue (SAR) mission, the damages should be reported immediately after completion of the SAR mission). If someone is being sued for something he or she did while involved in an activity for CCGA, then this should be reported to the CCGA insurance brokers or insurers as soon as the member becomes aware of the potential claim.
 
While on CCGA business, are members required to rent vehicles (daily rentals) in the name of both the CCGA and themselves?

Answer

Yes, CCGA members are required to rent vehicles while on an Authorized Activity in the name of both the CCGA and the member. The vehicle must be rented in the name of the CCGA in order to be covered by the CCGA insurance. However, most daily rental agencies will not rent vehicles in the name of a company or corporation only (requiring the vehicle to be rented in the name shown on the credit card used for the rental) unless there is a pre-arranged agreement executed between the daily rental company and the CCGA association. Each of the CCGA associations, or the CCGA associations as a group should explore this type of arrangement for CCGA employees who may rent vehicles on a daily rental basis, as well as CCGA members if they have to rent a vehicle in connection with an Authorized Activity. The CCGA insurance only applies to daily rentals in Canada and U.S.A. and coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions for CCGA volunteer members.
 
What is the maximum dollar value of a daily rental vehicle that is permitted?

Answer

The maximum value of a daily rental vehicle covered by the CCGA insurance policy is $65,000. Under CCGA policy and the CCGA insurance policy, short-term and daily rental of vehicles is limited to Private Passenger and Light Commercial vehicles only.
 
Download the completed list of FAQ's
 

What's New

01.02.2011
Annual Renewal Process

Annual Renewal Process

Each year in January the entire membership of CCGA (NL) is sent a renewal form in order to renew their membership and update their status. Members are reminded to keep their status updated and send in this renewal form. Failure to receive your renewal form back in the office in St. John's by March 31 will result in being removed from CCGA (NL) and loss of membership and years of service.
07.17.2011
Marine Basic First Aid

Marine Basic First Aid

For members who are planning on taking the Marine Basic First Aid course, call the office in St. John's to advise staff that you are planning to do so. By calling the office, it authorizes you to receive payment for the course, up to a maximum amount of $150.00. If more information is required do not hesitate to call the CCGA NL office in St. John's at 1-800-563-6158
08.10.2011
New Reimbursement Rates

New Reimbursement Rates

Vessel rate currently sits at $11.91 per meter of vessel length per hour of operation. New rate came into effect September 1, 2011.
09.05.2011
Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

Each year the entire membership of CCGA (NL) Inc. are asked to vote for a District Director. In September the following Directors were elected from their respective Districts:


District 1 – Marcel O’Brien, L’anse au Loup – Labrador
District 2 – Ron Pittman, Englee
District 3 – Howard Noel, Woody Pt. (elected by acclimation)
District 4 – Wesley Snook, Hr. Breton
District 5 – Winston Pitcher, Burin
District 6 – Ed Bruce, Long Hr.
District 7 – Jim Chidley, Renews
District 8 – Ross Petten, Port de Grave
District 9 – Aidan Penton, Joe Batts Arm
District 10 – Eugene Gray, La Scie
10.15.2011
Training Seminar

Training Seminar

In October, 2011 CCGA (NL) will host a Training Seminar at the Lewisporte Marina in Lewisporte for members from each of the 10 Administrative Districts. Three members from each district will travel to the Lewisporte Marina to participate in events such as Search and Rescue Planning, First Aid Refresher, Emergency Abandonment, and Marlin Splice.

The seminar will began with the inflation of a liferaft and an overview of its contents. From there members will practice donning and doffing an Immersion Suit, jumping into the water, and actually swimming to an inflated raft and getting into and out of the raft.

During the first aid refresher members will have an opportunity to practice their first aid skills. At the Search and Rescue Planning event members will be given an opportunity to review search patterns and to plot a location on a chart.

This training is facilitated by the Canadian Coast Guard's Search and Rescue department.

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