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International Students
Insurance protection for students from overseas enrolled in Canadian educational institutions or for Canadians pursuing their studies in foreign countries
Foreign Workers
Insurance for individuals employed in Canada prior to becoming eligible for provincial health plans
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance is a form of insurance designed to offset the expenses associated with medical care in case of illness or injury during your travels. Additionally, it serves as a safeguard against financial losses should you need to cancel or cut short your trip.
There are two primary categories of travel insurance: travel medical insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.Travel medical insurance is designed to cover the expenses related to medical care if you fall ill or sustain an injury during your travels. It also provides coverage for travel costs associated with being transported to a hospital in another country. This is the most commonly sought-after type of travel insurance. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, on the other hand, can reimburse you for the expenses incurred in case you have to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, inclement weather, or other situations that might lead to delays or cancellations (such as lost baggage or transportation delays). Whether you’re planning a trip from your home in Canada or intending to travel to Canada, it is crucial to ensure you have travel insurance before your departure. This ensures protection against unexpected costs in case of unforeseen events during your trip, providing you with peace of mind and assurance that such incidents won’t become a financial burden.
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Who needs travel insurance?
Inbound travellers
- Visiting Canada from another country
- Super visa applicants
- International students studying in Canada
- Foreign workers or work permit holders working in Canada
- Amateur athletes competing in Canada
Outbound travellers
- Snowbirds (seniors vacationing away from Canada for the winter)
- Canadians vacationing abroad
What are the different types of travel insurance available in Canada?
Travelling Canadians
Canadian residents should consider obtaining travel insurance for international trips. While public healthcare or group health insurance may cover medical emergencies at home, the costs associated with accidents or medical emergencies abroad can be substantial.
Visitors to Canada
Travelers coming to Canada from abroad should consider obtaining travel medical insurance. Despite Canada’s strong public healthcare system, these services are not available to non-residents. In the event of illness or injury during your visit to Canada, you would bear the expenses for doctor’s visits, emergency care, prescriptions, and other related costs.
Super visa insurance
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are parents or grandparents can apply for a unique Canadian visa known as the super visa. This visa grants them the opportunity for an extended stay in Canada, lasting up to 2 years. A crucial requirement for super visa approval is the possession of a medical insurance policy
Snowbirds
Snowbirds refer to retired Canadians who opt to spend the winter season abroad, escaping the colder months in Canada. As a snowbird, ensuring that you secure appropriate travel insurance before heading south for the winter is crucial, as you won’t be eligible for public health insurance at your destination.
International Students
Emergency health insurance is a necessity for international students, whether they are Canadians studying abroad or students pursuing their education within Canada. With emergency travel medical insurance in place, students can concentrate on their studies without the worry of unexpected medical expenses looming over them.
Foreign Workers
Foreign workers arriving in Canada for temporary or permanent employment won’t have immediate access to public health care. To ensure coverage in case of illness or injury while working in Canada, it is advisable to have travel medical insurance.
Travelling Canadians
Canadian residents should consider obtaining travel insurance for international trips. While public healthcare or group health insurance may cover medical emergencies at home, the costs associated with accidents or medical emergencies abroad can be substantial.
Foreign Workers
Foreign workers arriving in Canada for temporary or permanent employment won't have immediate access to public health care. To ensure coverage in case of illness or injury while working in Canada, it is advisable to have travel medical insurance.
Snowbirds
Snowbirds refer to retired Canadians who opt to spend the winter season abroad, escaping the colder months in Canada. As a snowbird, ensuring that you secure appropriate travel insurance before heading south for the winter is crucial, as you won't be eligible for public health insurance at your destination.
Super visa insurance
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are parents or grandparents can apply for a unique Canadian visa known as the super visa. This visa grants them the opportunity for an extended stay in Canada, lasting up to 2 years. A crucial requirement for super visa approval is the possession of a medical insurance policy
International Students
Emergency health insurance is a necessity for international students, whether they are Canadians studying abroad or students pursuing their education within Canada. With emergency travel medical insurance in place, students can concentrate on their studies without the worry of unexpected medical expenses looming over them.
Canadiens qui voyagent
Travelers coming to Canada from abroad should consider obtaining travel medical insurance. Despite Canada's strong public healthcare system, these services are not available to non-residents. In the event of illness or injury during your visit to Canada, you would bear the expenses for doctor's visits, emergency care, prescriptions, and other related costs.
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Who offers the best travel insurance in Canada?
We collaborate with the top travel insurance providers in the country, offering you a wide selection and the optimal choice for your insurance requirements. Whether you’re on vacation overseas, planning an extended visit to Canada, or sponsoring a super visa application for a family member, our aim is to assist you in finding the best provider for your needs.
Some of our partners include:
- Manulife
- Tugo (iA Financial Group)
- Group Medical Services (GMS)
- Allianz
- 21st Century Travel Insurance Limited
- Destination Canada
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Why you should buy Travel Insurance?
For Canadian travelling abroad
- While outside of Canada, your medical expenses may not be covered by Canadian public health care or your provincial health insurance plan.
- Your workplace or group benefits health plan might not provide coverage for, or may only cover a portion of, your medical expenses incurred abroad.
- Overseas medical facilities are typically costly and frequently demand immediate payment.
- Certain hospitals and clinics in foreign countries may decline to provide treatment if you lack sufficient insurance coverage or funds to cover the expenses.
For those visiting Canada
- You do not fall under the coverage of any of Canada's public healthcare plans.
- Cash payments may be necessary for medical emergency treatments and prescriptions.
- Typically, public health care from your home country does not extend coverage to trips abroad.
- Travel medical insurance can encompass various scenarios, such as emergency room visits, repatriation to your home country, as well as expenses for prescription drugs and dental care.
Frequently asked questions
The expense of travel insurance is influenced by various factors, including the type of insurance selected, your age, the trip’s duration, and the extent of coverage. As a general guideline, travel insurance is usually around 5% of your trip cost. However, costs may rise for prolonged stays, such as super visa insurance, insurance tailored for snowbirds, and coverage designed for students or foreign workers.
While having built-in insurance with your credit card offers reassurance, it may not provide comprehensive travel coverage. Credit card insurance often has coverage limits and isn’t designed to protect against medical emergencies during extended trips. Additionally, credit card travel insurance is usually limited to the portions of your trip paid for with that specific card.
Opting for an independently purchased travel insurance policy ensures coverage for the entirety of your trip, offering protection for various unforeseen events throughout its duration.
By default, most travel medical insurance policies do not cover pre-existing medical conditions.
However, there are exceptions. If you haven’t exhibited symptoms or received a diagnosis for a pre-existing condition in the 180 days leading up to the policy’s effective date and haven’t undergone treatment for the condition during that period, it may not be considered a pre-existing condition during your coverage.
During the underwriting process, some conditions may be excluded from your travel medical insurance coverage. Examples of pre-existing condition exclusions include heart conditions, kidney conditions, and certain forms of dementia.
Alternatively, some insurance providers offer policies that cover pre-existing conditions, but these policies typically come with higher premiums to account for the added risk.
You can generally receive a refund for a travel insurance policy if you cancel the coverage before your trip’s departure date.
While most travel insurance is not obligatory, it is strongly recommended due to the potential rapid accumulation of foreign medical expenses. Without travel medical insurance, you bear personal responsibility for any medical costs incurred during your time away from your home country.
However, there are exceptions. Certain travel insurance policies are mandatory. For instance, super visa insurance is a requirement for super visa applicants to obtain approval, and having an in-force policy is compulsory for the entire duration of your stay in Canada using the super visa.
No, the public healthcare plan from your province or territory does not provide coverage for medical emergencies occurring outside of Canada. Similar to Canada’s public healthcare not covering non-residents, healthcare systems in other countries lack reciprocal agreements to treat travelers. Canadians are required to personally cover the costs of any necessary health or medical procedures when outside of Canada.
Therefore, it is crucial to maintain an active travel medical insurance policy when traveling outside of Canada and your home province.
Yes, obtaining some coverage is possible, although there are likely to be exclusions in your policy. Many providers in Canada or abroad may offer emergency medical travel insurance even if you have already left Canada but wish to purchase coverage.
However, the policy typically becomes active 48 hours after the purchase, and this waiting period is in place to prevent individuals from acquiring a policy after they have already been injured or hospitalized with an illness.
If you frequently travel abroad, especially more than twice a year, it might be beneficial to consider purchasing an annual travel policy. Numerous providers offer annual options for their travel medical insurance policies, providing potential savings on premiums and eliminating the need to arrange separate insurance policies for each trip or leg of a multi-trip journey. Given that many Canadians engage in winter travel to warmer climates, commonly known as “snowbirds,” it is advisable to explore multi-trip or annual travel insurance for such needs. Consult with our advisors to determine whether an annual travel insurance policy aligns with your plans.