Travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected medical expenses and other eligible travel losses when you're away from home — so one emergency doesn't become a financial emergency too.
Your provincial or territorial health plan may cover some emergency medical costs while you're outside Canada.
But reimbursement may be based on what the same treatment would have cost at home — not what the foreign hospital actually charges.
Travel insurance is designed to help protect against that gap.
Travel insurance is designed to help protect travellers against eligible financial losses that occur while travelling.
Depending on the policy, coverage may include emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption, baggage, medical transportation and other travel-assistance benefits.
Travel medical coverage is particularly important when travelling outside Canada because provincial or territorial health coverage may reimburse only part of the cost of treatment abroad.
When Canadians receive emergency medical treatment outside the country, provincial or territorial health plans may reimburse some eligible costs.
However, reimbursement can be limited to what the province would normally pay for similar treatment in Canada.
If the foreign provider charges substantially more, the traveller may be responsible for the difference.
Different travel plans protect against different financial risks.
Helps cover eligible medical expenses resulting from an unexpected emergency while travelling.
May reimburse eligible prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when a covered event prevents you from travelling.
Can help with eligible costs when a covered event forces you to return home early or alters a trip already underway.
Some plans provide eligible benefits for lost or delayed baggage and other specified travel-related losses.
Depending on the policy and medical circumstances, travel medical insurance may provide benefits beyond emergency physician and hospital care.
Eligible emergency medical treatment can include hospital and physician services subject to the terms of the policy.
Some policies may arrange transportation to an appropriate medical facility or back to Canada when medically necessary.
Assistance services may help coordinate medical care, provider communication or eligible emergency arrangements.
But this is one area where the wording of the policy matters enormously.
Some travel insurance plans can cover eligible pre-existing conditions if they meet the insurer's stability requirements before departure.
Age, condition, medication changes, recent treatment and the specific policy can all affect eligibility.
Flights, resorts, cruises and tours may require significant non-refundable payments in advance.
Trip cancellation insurance may reimburse eligible prepaid costs when you cannot travel because of a covered reason.
Trip interruption coverage addresses certain covered events after the trip has already started.
Many credit cards include useful travel benefits.
But coverage can depend on the card, how the trip was purchased, traveller age, trip length and the particular benefit.
Before purchasing additional insurance, review what you already have and identify the gaps.
Travellers spending weeks or months outside Canada can have different insurance needs than someone taking a short vacation.
Age, medical history, stability periods, trip duration and provincial health-plan eligibility can all become important.
This is especially true when existing medical conditions or recent medication changes are involved.
Your policy documents should travel with you.
Your immediate health and safety come first.
Notify the insurer or assistance service as soon as reasonably possible.
Certain services or expenses may require coordination or approval.
Keep receipts, medical documentation and other records required for the claim.
Two policies can both say “$5 million emergency medical” while having different rules underneath the headline.
We look at your age, destination, trip length, existing medical conditions and what coverage you may already have — then help you understand the options.
Travel insurance becomes much easier to compare when you separate medical coverage from trip protection.
Coverage is subject to eligibility, policy limits, exclusions, definitions and claim requirements. Pre-existing medical conditions may be excluded or subject to stability requirements. Benefits vary by insurer and plan. Travel advisories, destinations, trip duration, age and medical history may affect eligibility or coverage. Policy wording governs in all cases.
Tell us where you're going, how long you'll be away, your age and any health concerns that may matter. We'll help you understand the travel insurance options before you leave.
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