Find the Best Travel Insurance in Canada

If you are travelling between provinces within Canada it is still be worth investing in travel insurance as not all incurred medical expenses are totally covered by your provincial health insurance when you’re out of the province.

Each province has a different system and the costs vary by province. Some of the expenses that are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), for example, include:

• Ambulance service costs (transport and paramedic)
• Prescription drugs
• Dental emergencies
• Cosmetic surgeries
• Private hospital fees
• Laboratory/Diagnostic services (outside of a public hospital)
• Assistive devices
• Long-term care, home care, etc.

Relying on just provincial health insurance coverage could cost you hundreds of dollars out of pocket for these services, leaving you with potentially huge financial repercussions.

You should start looking into senior travel insurance when you hit the age of 65.

Aging is a fact of life. But that shouldn’t hinder your travel plans. You will need to be prudent about taking care of yourself and making sure you have the right travel insurance.

When looking for senior travel insurance, you should be honest about your health and what conditions you may or may not have. Having that extra insurance may be the difference between reimbursement for unforeseen medical issues and not.

You should also look at how you want to travel. Are you taking long or short trips? Are you visiting places where you are prone to get sick or take risks? These are important issues that can help you determine when to consider senior travel insurance.

Keep in mind that the older you are, the more of a risk you are to insurance companies. You may feel fine and be able to undertake travel, but your age can play a factor in insurance costs.

If you’re one of the many Canadians who travel south for the winter, you will need travel medical insurance. Also known as snowbird medical insurance, these policies are available to Canadians who choose to live in warmer climates during the colder months of the year and may need a wider medical coverage while they're away.

Your Canadian provincial health insurance coverage is not valid outside the country. Any emergency medical services you may need will not be covered. Healthcare in the U.S. is really expensive too, so make sure to compare travel insurance and find the best seniors travel medical insurance for snowbirds today.

As a snowbird, you can look for travel insurance policies and choose what suits you best: single trip travel insurance, multi-trip emergency medical insurance, or all-inclusive travel insurance policy (which provides the most comprehensive coverage). Some insurance companies may require you to complete a medical questionnaire to better determine your rates and premiums.

It is better to purchase travel insurance before your departure, as doing so will ensure you have coverage from the beginning to the end of your trip.

However, if you do end up needing to buy, or add, coverage after you’ve already departed, you can still do so. Just note that not all companies allow it. Some only allow extensions of coverage that you already have. Others allow you to purchase medical coverage if you are abroad but may require you to wait up to 48 hours before the policy becomes active.

Always do your best to purchase travel insurance before leaving the country – otherwise, you may not get the coverage you need.

Absolutely! Travel insurance protects you from travel related expenses that may occur due to unexpected trip cancellations or delays, theft, medical emergencies and accidents, all of which, can leave you with a hefty bill. Travel insurance is a small price to pay compared to the potentially huge medical costs typical of other countries.

If you have a pre-existing health condition, you can still find travel insurance coverage, it just might cost you a little more. The cost and coverage depends on the type of pre-existing medical condition you have, how long it has been stable for, and how long it has been since your diagnosis, among other factors. If you have a medical condition that makes you high risk, you could see higher premiums.

Insurance companies have a period of stability which varies from policy to policy (from 7 days to as long as 180), which requires your condition to have been stable for this period of time. Some medical conditions like a terminal illness may not be covered even if your conditions have been stable.

When you compare travel insurance plans on Rates.ca, you will be able to check out the pre-existing stability periods that different policies offer. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, make sure you mention it when you apply for travel insurance to ensure you’re covered. If the insurer finds out after the fact, they may deny your coverage. Check out our tips on how to get the right travel insurance, even with a pre-existing condition.

Yes, there is a difference between travel medical and trip insurance. Travel medical insurance covers medical emergencies and emergency evacuations, while trip interruption insurance provides coverage for inconveniences such as trip interruption, delays, accommodation problems and baggage issues.

Provincial and territorial health plans can offer some healthcare coverage while you are away but usually it will only be a small portion of your needs. Also, bills are never paid upfront. That comes out of your pocket first, and only then can you submit receipts for reimbursement.

Another potential problem to consider is some foreign hospitals will not treat you if you don’t have the right amount of insurance to pay your bills upfront. That’s why it’s so important to understand the reasons you’ll need travel insurance in the first place.

Rates.ca makes it easy to find the cheapest rates on travel insurance in just minutes.

This is a common question, and travellers are often confused about whether your personal property is covered with your travel insurance policy or not. Here’s the thing: your personal valuables like computer, laptop, camera, phones, etc. are actually covered under your home insurance policy, and not your travel insurance! Your home insurance covers your personal belongings no matter where you are, including when you’re travelling.

However, you may not want to go through your home insurance for personal belongings lost in transit. For loss related to baggage while in transit, you will need to have purchased lost luggage coverage in order to make this claim, which is usually offered as part of a trip interruption policy.

It’s very important to weigh the pros and cons of not getting travel insurance. The right insurance can be the deciding factor in your health and financial security.

The Government of Canada recommends that your travel medical insurance policy cover four important elements:

• Coverage for flight cancellation, trip interruption, lost luggage and document replacement for flight travels.
• Limitations, or restrictions on any pre-existing medical conditions.
• Medical evacuation coverage (either back to Canada, or to the nearest medical facility), with the policy covering the costs of a driver to travel with you in case of an accident.
• Repatriation in the event of death, where the return of your remains to Canada is covered.

As with other insurance products, you should compare quotes and ask questions. It is important to read the fine print to verify what the conditions, benefits, and exclusions mean in your insurance policy. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your insurance provider.