When traveling abroad or outside your province in Canada, travel medical insurance should always be one of your top concerns in planning your trip. This is because you do not want to get into trouble with your health.
So it goes without saying that if you travel to a country where healthcare services might be less reliable, it is best to be covered.
If not, you will have no other choice but to come up with a considerable amount of money if you have a health emergency and need immediate care.
This article will discuss the basics of travel medical insurance, what factors should be considered when buying travel medical insurance, and how to compare platforms for the best deal.
5 Best Travel Medical Insurance in Canada
Travel medical insurance can be a massive benefit for your trip. Accidents happen every day, especially when traveling. It doesn’t matter how responsible you are; unexpected things come up. Travel medical insurance will help cover unexpected situations, and you can get it through travel agents, insurance brokers, employer’s insurance providers, and credit card companies.
When weighing your options for travel medical insurance, compare and find the provider that meets your needs and budget.
Here are our top picks for the best five travel medical insurance providers in Canada.
1. World Nomads Travel Insurance
- Best for: Thrill-Seekers
- Cover: up to $5,000,00
- Age limit: Below 66 years old
They ensure adventure sports, activities, volunteer/work experiences, sporting equipment, and loss/theft. What makes them unique is they provide 24/7 information on an adventure, from weather reports and travel advisories to assistance locating the nearest trail to finding a gear shop. You can cover trip cancellation, baggage theft, and many more. To qualify, you must be below 66 years.
Why We Recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance
- Offers coverage for many adventure activities
- You can easily purchase coverage online
- Simple and flexible travel insurance offerings
Why We Don’t Like World Nomads Travel Insurance
- Less adapted for older travelers and snowbirds
- Some clients may prefer telephone assistance.
2. CAA Travel Insurance
- Best for: Families
- Stand-alone emergency policy: Up to 5,000,000
- Age limit: Anyone
CAAA is a Canadian institution that offers comprehensive and flexible travel insurance plans to suit every type of traveler and vacation. Their coverage includes medical repatriation, emergency dental and pet care, and kenneling reimbursements.
Their vacation package plan renders full cancellation insurance, which is ideal for prepaid and all-inclusive vacation packages. Family transportation and escort of children during emergencies are also part of it. Members get a 10% discount and coverage for COVID-19-related illnesses.
However, this is beneficial for vaccinated members traveling during a Government of Canada-issued Level 3 (avoid non-essential) travel advisory. You get a cover of up to $2.5 million if partially vaccinated and up to $5 million if fully vaccinated.
Why We Recommend CAA Travel Insurance
- Enjoy 24/7 customer service.
- Easy to apply for coverage or file a claim online.
- Membership with CAA gives a 10% discount on travel insurance packages
- Extensive coverage for emergency medical intervention.
Why We Don’t Like CAA Travel Insurance
- It only offers special discounts to CAA members.
3. Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance
- Best for: Budget Travellers
- Emergency medical benefit: up to $1,000,000
- Age limit: Between 15 and 50
- Editors Choice: Travel CUT
They start at only $1.36 daily and offer students very affordable travel insurance packages. Due to exam schedule issues, students can swap their travel dates at no charge. The standard package includes adventure, sports, dental care, air ambulance evacuation, flight accident, and trip cancellation insurance.
Why We Recommend Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance
- Covers high-risk activities and extreme sports
- Easy, intuitive online purchase
- Affordable, starting at $1.36/day
- Travel CUTS has a hassle-free TIC emergency assistance 800-number available 24/7 to find a local doctor.
Why We Don’t Like Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance
- You must be under the age of 50 to get Travel CUTS insurance.
4. Manulife CoverMe Travel Insurance
- Best for: Canadians with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
- Coverage: up to $10,000,000
- Age limit: Anyone
Manulife Cover travel insurance plan offers comprehensive emergency travel medical insurance packages for those traveling as a family, a visitor to Canada, or a student. They give you access to the travel aid mobile app. The app provides directions to the nearest medical facility and local emergency telephone numbers.
Moreover, they have a ” TraveEase” policy with fully disclosed medical conditions. Customers with pre-existing conditions enjoy health services and goods transportation systems. Moreover, they are seen as unicorns in the travel insurance world.
Why We Recommend Manulife Travel Insurance
- Up to $10 in emergency medical benefits
- Coverage for a single trip or for multiple trips
- Save money if you are traveling within Canada
- Clear explanation of what the plans cover
- Several offers depending on your profile
Why We Don’t Like Manulife Travel Insurance
- Those above age 60 must fill out a medical questionnaire
- If you cannot call before seeking treatment, you pay 20% of the expense out of pocket.
5. Medipac Travel Insurance
- Best for: Emergency Medical Assistance
- Age limit: No age limit
Medipac is one of the travel insurance companies in Canada that is staffed by its own team of trained medical professionals.
You can get through these teams via their Medipac Assistance hotline. Their teams of medical professionals are your first point of contact in an emergency medical situation.
They offer several features for their travel insurance plans, like a claim-free discount, and operates a 90-day stability period for a most pre-existing condition.
Medipac also offers personalized and underwritten insurance policies for various customers’ needs, offers a 5% Vaccine Discount to customers who have received a minimum of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and gives the new MedipacMAX option by providing COVID insurance and maximum coverage of up to $5 million for COVID-19.
Why We Recommend Medipac Travel Insurance
- 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance
- Offers coverage of up to $5 million and coverage for COVID-19
- A variety of travel insurance options
- Plans well-adapted for long stays in the United States
Why We Don’t Like Medipac Travel Insurance
- Being above 60 might require filling out a medical questionnaire.
- You must contact Medipac to receive the maximum allowable reimbursement before seeking medical treatment.
- Lacks coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and lost luggage
What is Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel medical insurance is a specialized variant of health insurance that covers healthcare costs related to foreign travel.
It is a type of health insurance designed to cover travelers outside their home country. These policies help cover any accidents or illnesses you might encounter while abroad.
Furthermore, travel medical insurance is a significant factor when planning a vacation to exotic locations. If you are unaware of the significance of travel medical insurance, you will know it as soon as you develop an illness or contract an injury while traveling.
Benefits of Travel Medical Insurance
If you travel frequently or worry about being hurt or sick, it may be time to consider travel medical insurance. Here are also other reasons you should consider getting it:
- Travel medical insurance can provide travelers assistance and coverage that other health plans may not cover. This assistance can include the costs associated with emergency medical care and transportation. Sometimes it also has essential services such as routine doctor visits, prescriptions, vaccinations, etc.
- Travel medical insurance provides people with peace of mind while traveling by covering unexpected medical expenses that may occur while they are away from home.
- It gives you the immediate care you need on the spot without much worry.
- Your travel medical insurance provider can help facilitate care and also help you bypass the issue in a foreign language help.
- Travel medical insurance provides financial protections specific to patients traveling overseas. This includes evacuation and repatriation coverage. You also have coverage for injuries sustained while traveling or due to terrorist acts.
What Does Travel Medical Insurance Cover?
Travel medical insurance covers many emergencies and healthcare situations. However, it is not used for preventive treatments or regular medical care. It is meant to cover emergencies like:
- Broken body bones
- Sudden heart attacks
- Emergency strokes
- Emergency dental issues
- Medical evacuations
- Emergency transport to clinics
- Emergency repatriation
- Ambulance and air ambulance costs
- Outpatient services
- Physician and laboratory costs
- Prescription drugs
- Direct payment to the hospitals and doctors caring for you
- Assistance with bringing a family member
- Air ambulance or commercial home repatriation
- Return your vehicle if you are ill and have to come home.
Additional benefits may include the following:
- Trip cancellation for non-refundable monetary losses
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage loss, rental car damage, out-of-pocket expenses
- Accidental death and dismemberment
Note: Anything that makes up a medical emergency and makes you seek treatment while you are on your trip should be covered by a comprehensive travel medical insurance policy.
What Does Travel Medical Insurance Not Cover?
- Pre-existing medical situations
- Medical evacuation
- Adventurous trip activities
- In the case of death.
How Much Does Travel Medical Insurance Cost in Canada?
How much is the travel Medical Insurance rate in Canada? When planning your trip, the thought of paying for your travel medical insurance may seem like an unnecessary expense.
Fortunately, travel medical insurance is very much affordable. Most insurance companies in Canada charge between $40 and $80 monthly for travel medical insurance coverage.
Who Needs Travel Medical Insurance?
Purchasing travel medical insurance in Canada is a simple way to save money in an emergency. Anyone in Canada can benefit from the coverage.
Travel medical insurance is highly recommended on any trip abroad. While traveling within your own country, you don’t have to be concerned with the language barrier or finding an acceptable hospital or clinic.
However, when you’re abroad, everything changes, and you can only count on your travel medical insurance coverage. Travel medical insurance companies offer a variety of plans. The information below will help you to choose the right plan for you and your family. They include:
- Emergency Medical Plan: It may include physician services, ambulance transportation, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and more.
- COVID-19 Pandemic Travel: Available to Canadians traveling abroad, provides emergency medical insurance for COVID-19 complications, e.t.c
- All-inclusive Plan: Includes emergency Medical coverage, trip Cancellation & Interruption coverage, baggage loss/damage/delays, flight, and travel accident, e.t.c
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Plan: Covers up to the purchased amount, e.t.c
Purchasing Travel Medical Insurance is a must for everybody who enjoys traveling. But don’t just purchase this insurance because it’s required at the border. This purchase should come from a place in your heart, and you should feel comfortable asking yourself, “why should I buy this medical insurance plan?”
Related: Life Insurance: Get Quotes Online Easily
Final Thoughts on Travel Medical Insurance
Overall, the topic I reviewed offers comprehensive knowledge and all you need to know. Travel Medical Insurance is designed to cover medical treatment and evacuation costs that can occur while traveling outside your home country or province.
There is a wide range of plans with different benefits and prices, so it is important to understand what your health insurance plan covers before you go abroad.
One thing to also consider is that coverage rules vary with each insurer, and you may find yourself at the mercy of their decisions regarding your claim if anything goes wrong on your vacation. Read and explore.
FAQs on Travel Medical Insurance
Can you get medical-only travel insurance?
Yes, most insurers will offer travel and medical insurance to people with pre-existing medical conditions. However, depending on your circumstances, you may have to pay more for cover.
Can you get travel insurance after leaving Canada?
Yes, you can, but I advise you to check the insurance company with such a policy. Some may not allow such. But World Nomads policy permits that even when already oversea. However, a 48-hour waiting time relates to coverage of any illness, starting from when the date you set the policy to run.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Canadian tourist visas?
Visitors are not required to have travel medical insurance. In a few cases, travel visa applicants may need proof of medical insurance coverage.
Do Canadians need insurance to travel to other provinces?
Yes, it would be best to have insurance to travel to other provinces. Being conscious of your health situation is a plus because not all provinces in Canada offer the same coverage as your own. This difference means you may be paying out-of-pocket for your medical services. While some expenses may qualify for reimbursement from your province, it’s always the case.
Does travel insurance cover Covid-19?
Some travel insurers now offer limited travel medical coverage for COVID-19. However, it will likely only cover the medical services, quarantine, and cancellation costs if you test positive for COVID-19. Travel insurance providers are usually unlikely to cover cancellation if you cannot travel to your home due to lockdowns.
Hi, I'm Adeola Adegoke. I am a licensed Insurance Broker in Manitoba, and I hold a master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences (with a major in Financial Modeling) from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Tanzania.
Also, I have a second master's degree in Statistics from the University of Regina, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Manitoba.
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