Travel Medical Insurance: Top 5 Travel Insurance Plan in Canada

When travelling abroad or outside your province in Canada, travel medical insurance should always be one of your top concerns in terms of 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 are travelling 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.

What is a Travel Medical Insurance?

Travel medical insurance is a specialized variant of health insurance that covers health care costs related to foreign travel.

It is a type of health insurance designed specifically to cover travellers 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 not aware of the significance of travel medical insurance, then you will know it as soon as you develop an illness or contract an injury while travelling.

What is the Cost of Travel Medical Insurance in Canada?

How much is the travel Medical Insurance rate in Canada? When you are planning your trip and 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’ policies in Canada average between $40 and $80.

Where You Can Get Travel Medical Insurance in Canada

Travel medical insurance can be a massive benefit for your trip. Accidents happen every day, especially when travelling. It doesn’t matter how responsible you are; unexpected things come up. Travel medical insurance will help cover unexpected situations,s and you can get it through:

1. Travel agents
2. Insurance broker
3. Employer’s insurance provider
4. Credit card companies around.

5 Best Travel Medical Insurance Plans in Canada

When weighing your options for travel medical insurance, outside and inside health policy may be a great option; you will receive quality care and lower costs. Why not compare today to find the provider that meets your needs and budget?

1. World Nomads Travel Insurance

• Best for Thrill-Seekers
• Cover: up to $5,000,00
• Age limit: Below 66 years old

They insure 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 

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 traveller and vacation. Their cover includes medical repatriation, emergency dental and reimbursements for pet care and kenneling. 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 travelling 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.

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 a day and offer very affordable travel insurance packages to students. Students can swap their travel dates at no charge due to exam schedule issues. The standard package includes adventure, sports, dental care, air ambulance evacuation, flight accident,  and trip cancellation 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 great comprehensive travel medical insurance packages for those travelling 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. Moreso, they have a particular policy called “TraveEase” 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.

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 their 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

1. A claim-free discount
2. Operates a 90-day stability period for most pre-existing conditions.
3. Medipac also offers personalized and underwritten insurance policies for various customer’s needs
4. Offers a 5% Vaccine Discount to customers who have received a minimum of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
5. Gives the new MedipacMAX option, by providing COVID insurance option and maximum coverage of up to $5 million for COVID-19.

How to Choose Travel Medical Insurance in Canada

How do you choose the suitable travel medical insurance Canada plan? There are plenty of travel health insurance companies out there, how do you compare the plans? Your decision should be based on a few different factors, which are:

1. When choosing travel insurance, it is essential to select a plan that suits your needs and budget. 
2. After identifying what you need, also know why you need it. Go for companies that won’t disappoint your expectations. 
3. Before purchasing an insurance policy, it is essential to understand the terms, conditions, and limitations of each travel medical insurance policy.
4. Travel medical insurance can cover various costs, including hospital and medical fees, prescription drugs, emergency medical transportation, accidental death and dismemberment, primary dental care and more; know the one you want. 
5. The best travel medical insurance will help protect against unexpected expenses such as these listed above, know the costs equally.
6. Do proper research to know why the plans you are purchasing include. Some programs include the COVID-19 vaccine, while some don’t.
7. Meet the terms and conditions and the age limits.
8. Check for travel advice and advisory twice for your destination. The reason that your company may not pay for your claims is if the government of Canada has issued a travel advisory to your location.

What you Need to Know About Travel Medical Insurance

Travel Medical insurance is an essential part of travelling to destinations outside of the country. There are various travel medical insurance plans available in Canada, which can be confusing to sift through. Finding the right coverage for you is easier when you know what you are looking for. It is a type of insurance policy that covers you in case you are injured or become ill while travelling. It provides coverage for expenses incurred during a trip, such as medical expenses. Travel medical insurance typically may cover: 

1. Pre-existing conditions
2. Emergency medical care
3. Transportation to health care facilities
4. Lorong-term.

Why you Should Buy 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:

1. Travel medical insurance can provide travellers with 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 and more.
2. Travel medical insurance provides people with peace of mind while travelling by covering unexpected medical expenses that may occur while they are away from home.
3. It gives you the immediate care you need on the spot without much worry.
4. Your travel medical insurance provider can help facilitate care and also help you bypass the issue in foreign language help.
5. With travel medical insurance, you have financial protections specific to patients travelling overseas. This includes evacuation and repatriation coverage. You also have coverage for injuries sustained while travelling or due to terrorist acts.

Who Needs Travel Medical Travel

Purchasing travel medical insurance for travelling 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 travelling 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 the only thing you can count on is your travel medical insurance coverage.

What Is Covered by Travel Medical Insurance in Canada?

Travel medical insurance covers many emergencies and health care situations. However, it is not used for preventive treatments or regular medical care. It is meant to cover emergencies like:

1. Broken body bones
2. Sudden heart attacks
3. Emergency strokes
4. Emergency dental issues
5. Medical evacuations
6. Emergency transport to clinics
7. Emergency repatriation
8. Ambulance and air ambulance costs
9. Outpatient services
10. Physician and laboratory costs
11. Prescription drugs
12. Direct payment to the hospitals and doctors caring for you
13. Assistance with bringing a family member
14. Air ambulance or commercial home repatriation
15. Return your vehicle if you are ill and have to come home.

Additional benefits may include:

1. Trip cancellation for non-refundable monetary losses
2. Trip cancellation
3. Baggage loss, rental car damage, out-of-pocket expenses
4. 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.

4 Plans in Travel Medical Insurance

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:

1. Emergency medical Plan: it may include physician services, ambulance transportation, hospitalization, prescription drugs and more.
2. COVID-19 Pandemic travel: Available to Canadians travelling abroad, provides emergency medical insurance for COVID-19 complications, e.t.c
3. All-inclusive plan: Includes, emergency Medical coverage, trip Cancellation & Interruption coverage, baggage loss/damage/delays, flight and travel accident, e.t.c
4. Trip cancellation and interruption plan: Covers up to the purchased amount, e.t.c

Note: Have you ever considered what type of insurance plan to get when travelling? It is a proven fact that your health is far more important than anything material. So purchasing Travel Medical Insurance is a must for everybody who enjoys travelling. 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?”

4 List of Situations Where Travel Medical Insurance is Not Covered

1. Pre-existing medical situations
2. Medical evacuation
3. Adventurous trip activities
4. In the case of death.

Do you Need Travel Medical Insurance Within Canada?

The absolute truth is that provincial health insurance plans will only cover some medical expenses, not all. Therefore, I advise you to protect yourself by purchasing medical insurance when travelling within Canada.

Travel Medical Insurance Canada FAQs

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

It is safer to secure a policy with a minimum of $1M.

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 Canada tourist visas?

Visitors are not required to have travel medical insurance. In a few cases, travel visa applicants may need to provide 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 cover for COVID-19. However, it will likely only cover:

1. Medical services
2. Quarantine and 
3. Cancellation costs if you test positive to COVID-19. 

Note: Most times travel insurance providers are unlikely to cover cancellation if you cannot travel to your home due to lockdowns.

Conclusion

Overall, the topic I reviewed offers comprehensive knowledge and all you need to know. Travel Medical Insurance is designed to cover the costs of medical treatment and evacuation that can occur while you are travelling 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.