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COVID-19 travel insurance coverage for Canadians

You can now be covered for medical costs if you’re infected by the COVID-19 virus while travelling. Coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses is currently offered by several insurance providers for those travelling out-of-province or internationally.

Though coverage types and amounts may vary by insurance provider, the following list identifies COVID-19 protections that may be offered as part of, or as an add-on for, emergency medical travel insurance:

  • Emergency medical costs, including intensive care, medical tests and medications, for up to $1,000,000 CAD per insured.
  • Non-COVID-19 emergency medical coverage for physical injury and illness for up to $5,000,000 CAD per insured.
  • Quarantine related costs, including meals and accommodation, for up to of $2,100 CAD per insured.
  • Ambulance transportation costs.
  • Air evacuation from destination to Canada. This includes a one-way economy ticket for the insured, and may also include passage for dependents and travelling companions.
  • In the event of death, repatriation costs for up to $5,000 per insured.

Before you travel

Travel insurance 101

Whether you're an occasional traveller going on a well-deserved vacation, frequent flyer, or a snowbird going away for the winter, all it takes is a few minutes to get travel insurance quotes from many of Canada's leading travel insurance companies and purchase your policy.

 

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Travel insurance is the easiest thing to pack and also the most important. It's there to protect you while on vacation. Imagine not having travel insurance and falling ill or breaking a bone while on your dream vacation. Throw in the costly medical bills and you have yourself a traveller's worst nightmare. The best way to prevent this nightmare from occurring, is to pack travel insurance.

Who Needs Travel Insurance?

Short answer: All travellers need travel insurance
 

Whether you're travelling by plane, train or automobile, whether it's a day trip, weekend getaway or week-long vacation, travel insurance is a must. The length of your trip does not decrease the chance of something going wrong and neither does the destination. If you're going somewhere tropical, on a European excursion, or cross-border shopping for the day, travel insurance should be going with you. Even if you're travelling out of province but within Canada it's worth it because your provincial health insurance plan coverage may be limited. Things like ambulance services and prescription drugs may not be covered and you could end up paying out of pocket for some of the services you need.

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance and coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus is an unprecedented international pandemic. Here’s how it might affect your travel plans, and your travel insurance coverage.

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Does travel insurance cover coronavirus?

Certain travel insurance plans can provide you with comprehensive COVID-19 (coronavirus) coverage. While comparing travel insurance plans, look for the most comprehensive COVID-19 coverage to give you the peace of mind you're looking for when travelling.

Compare the best COVID-19 travel insurance plans on RATESDOTCA.

Can I cancel my trip because of coronavirus?

If you purchased trip cancellation insurance, you might be covered if you decide to cancel your trip depending on when you purchased your policy. Many travel insurance providers are now excluding COVID-19 related cancellations for coverage purchased after a certain date. Each provider is different, so check your policy to find out if you can cancel your trip for this reason. It might not be too late.

If you’re worried about coronavirus and you’re currently making travel plans, consider purchasing trip cancellation coverage or a comprehensive COVID-19 travel insurance plan to keep you covered incase you get infected with the coronavirus while abroad.

Does my credit card travel insurance cover me if I contract coronavirus abroad?

Many credit cards offer travel insurance, but not all credit card travel insurance is created equally. You’re going to want to ask a couple of questions first:

  • Does the policy include emergency medical travel insurance?
  • Does your policy cover just you, or your whole family?
  • Did you book the trip on that credit card?

Credit cards require you to have booked the trip on that card for the travel insurance to be valid. Depending on the credit card, coverage might only apply to you or it may extend to your family, so read the fine print to find out for sure. If it only includes you, you will likely want to purchase additional travel insurance for your family.

Credit cards rarely cover trip interruption or trip cancellation insurance, so you will likely have to purchase that coverage separately.

Do my employer benefits cover me for coronavirus?

If you have emergency medical travel insurance under your employee benefits, you might be covered.

Similar to credit cards, double check your policy to see if coverage applies to just you, or if it extends to your entire family. Many people opt to purchase additional travel insurance coverage when their employee benefits aren’t enough. As with credit card coverage, it’s unlikely trip cancellation is covered. If you want that type of coverage, you will have to purchase it separately.

Which travel destinations might not be covered by travel insurance?

Advisories are updated daily. For the most up to date and accurate information on Canadian travel advisories related to coronavirus, please visit the official Government of Canada website.

Types of travel insurance plans

What's great about travel insurance is that it's not a one-size-fits-all type of coverage. Every type of travel insurance policy comes with different coverage options and benefits. This means you're able to purchase only the coverage you need.

Travel insurance typeWhat it covers
Single Trip Emergency Medical Travel Insurance / Single Trip Travel Insurance
  • Most common type of travel insurance
  • Covers any of your emergency medical expenses that may arise during your vacation
  • Coverage for a single trip can be up to 365 days
  • You may need to complete a health questionnaire to qualify for the policy depending on how old you are
  • If you are planning one trip, it’s best to get coverage for the exact number of days you will be away
  • Provides up to $10 million in emergency medical benefits
Annual Emergency Medical Travel Insurance / Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
  • Emergency medical travel insurance that covers all trips taken over the course of a year
  • Best for people who take multiple trips in a year, and those who travel frequently for business
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Covers the full cost of your trip in the event it is cancelled, delayed or interrupted for reasons beyond your control
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are similar insurance types, but the difference is that trip cancellation typically comes into play before your trip, while trip interruption applies once you have left for the trip
  • Best for travellers who have medical coverage through their employer's health benefits or credit card
  • Great for travellers who want additional peace of mind
Top-up Travel Insurance
  • An optional insurance coverage for travellers who already have coverage through an employer or a credit card, for example, but who are not covered for the entire length of the trip, or do not have enough coverage
  • Top-up travel insurance ensures that you get extended coverage for the full length of your trip
All-Inclusive Travel Insurance 
  • This bundles all of the most popular travel coverages including emergency medical, loss (or delay) of baggage, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance into one handy policy
  • Most expensive option, but also the most protection offered
  • Best for longer trips and/or travellers that prefer peace of mind.
  • A great option for you if you want to feel protected from any travel hassles while you're on the go

What to know before you buy travel insurance: a checklist

Here is a handy checklist you can reference when purchasing travel insurance. It is important to read the fine print and understand the policy and ask (a lot of) questions if you have any doubts. With travel insurance, it’s better to assume nothing, and ask those hard questions. Creating a travel insurance checklist should be your top priority.

Your travel insurance checklist

  • Does the insurance plan have a deductible? How much is it?
  • Is there continuous coverage for the length of my stay, and after my return?
  • What are the exclusions in the policy? Are there any exclusions or limits in coverage for a certain country or region that I am travelling to? Are there exclusions for any sports or adventure activities?
  • Is the coverage renewable from abroad where I am staying? Can I extend my insurance if I suddenly decide to stay longer than anticipated?
  • Does the plan provide coverage for pandemics and epidemics? With the coronavirus outbreak, would I be covered for these health risks?
  • Is there a travel advisory for my desired destination? If yes, am I covered? Sometimes insurers exclude destinations that the Canadian Government advises against. Check the Canadian Government's current travel advisories here.
  • Does my plan offer emergency medical evacuation coverage, and repatriation expenses?
  • If there was a medical emergency due to a pre-existing health condition, would the plan deny any benefits?
  • Would the plan cover my hospital costs that could occur in the event of an illness or injury while I am abroad?
  • Does the plan pay bills/out-of-pocket expenses upfront, so that I don’t have to pay them?
  • Does the company offer worldwide emergency assistance 24-hours/7-days? How can I reach the company of there is a medical emergency? Who do I call? Are there translation services for providers in the country you are travelling to?
  • Am I travelling to a destination that is, or could be, at war (e.g. Gaza or Ukraine)? The Government of Canada strongly advises against travelling to active war zones. However, if you do end up in one, your travel insurance can help you return home early and recuperate some of the costs.

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Your passport to stress-free travel

Nobody wants to use insurance, but everyone needs it. The risks of not buying protection for things like healthcare or cancellation far outweigh any savings you might get from not buying it all.

The good news is that you don't have to settle for an expensive plan that covers more than you need. You can comparison shop on sites like RATESDOTCA tofind the cheapest quotes for your travel needs. You can even make your purchases online, if you so choose.

Travel insurance is the one item you should never forget to pack.

*Based on the average savings found on RATESDOTCA for emergency medical travel insurance for a single traveller, age 30 with no pre-existing conditions travelling to U.S. for 10 days, as compared with the published rates of three financial institutions for their equivalent insurance. Actual savings vary depending on number of travellers, age, trip duration, medical conditions, and coverage selected. Based on research as of August 2020.

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