Travel & Visitor

Travel insurance is emergency coverage for when something goes wrong while you are away from home. The main component is emergency medical, which pays for a hospital stay, a doctor, an ambulance, or a flight home if you get sick or injured on a trip. Some plans add trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost baggage, and flight delay coverage on top. For most Canadians travelling abroad, the emergency medical portion is the part that matters most. Read the full guide →

No, travel insurance is not legally required for Canadians travelling abroad. The Government of Canada does strongly recommend it for any trip outside the country, even a day trip to the United States. The reason is that your provincial health plan covers almost nothing overseas, and a hospital bill in another country can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Going without coverage is a significant financial risk.

Provincial health plans cover very little outside Canada. Plans like OHIP or MSP may reimburse a small, capped amount for emergency care abroad, often only a few hundred dollars a day, which is a fraction of what a foreign hospital charges. They generally do not cover an air ambulance home, which alone can be extremely expensive. Travel medical insurance fills that gap so you are not left with a bill your provincial plan was never built to pay.

Credit card travel insurance is often not enough, so it is important to check before relying on it. Credit card coverage usually has a short trip limit, commonly around fifteen to thirty-one days, and the limit often drops or disappears once you turn 65. It may also have gaps around pre-existing conditions and lower coverage limits than a standalone plan. Read the card's terms carefully, because it is easy to assume you are covered for an entire snowbird winter when the card only covers the first three weeks. Read the full guide →

These three coverages solve three different problems. Travel medical pays for emergency health care while you are away, such as a hospital visit or an ambulance. Trip cancellation reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable costs if you have to cancel before departure for a covered reason. Trip interruption applies once your trip has started and something forces you to cut it short or change plans. You can buy the medical coverage on its own, or bundle all three in an all-inclusive plan. Read the full guide →

The right choice depends on how often you travel. A single-trip plan covers one journey and makes sense if you take the occasional vacation each year. An annual multi-trip plan covers unlimited trips over twelve months, up to a maximum length per trip such as 30 or 60 days, and it usually works out cheaper if you travel a few times a year. Frequent travellers and cross-border shoppers tend to save with the annual option. Read the full guide →

Travel insurance costs depend on your age, your health, the trip length, the coverage amount, and the deductible you choose. A short trip for a young, healthy traveller can be just a few dollars a day, while a long trip for an older traveller with health conditions costs more. Choosing a higher deductible lowers the premium. The only way to see your exact price is to run a quick quote on PolicyAdvisor, since these factors vary so much from person to person.

Emergency medical travel insurance covers sudden, unexpected health costs: hospital stays, emergency doctor and surgeon fees, ambulance rides, diagnostic tests such as X-rays and scans, prescriptions tied to an emergency, and emergency dental for an accident. Most plans also cover repatriation, which is getting you home safely if a doctor determines you need it. The focus is on emergencies, not the routine care you would schedule at home.

Travel insurance does not cover situations that are not sudden emergencies. Common exclusions include routine checkups and elective procedures, care for an unstable pre-existing condition, most pregnancy and childbirth costs, injuries from high-risk activities the plan lists, and anything tied to alcohol or drug use. Travelling against a government advisory or a doctor's advice can also void a claim. Reading the exclusions carefully before you buy is always worthwhile.

Most advisors suggest at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, and many plans go up to a million dollars or more. The right amount depends on your destination, since a hospital stay in the United States can be far more expensive than one elsewhere. Higher limits cost a little more but provide real protection in a serious emergency. An advisor can help you match the limit to your destination and trip.

A deductible is the portion of a claim you agree to pay yourself before the insurance pays the rest. Many plans start at a $0 deductible, but you can choose a higher one to lower your premium. Basically, you pay a bit more if you ever claim, in exchange for a cheaper policy year-round. If you rarely expect to claim, a higher deductible can be a sensible way to save.

Call your insurer's emergency assistance line first, before you get treatment if at all possible. The phone number is mentioned on your policy card, the line is open around the clock, and calling it lets them direct you to the right facility and approve costs. If it is a life-threatening emergency, get help immediately, then have someone call as soon as they can. Keep every receipt and record, because you will need them for the claim.

Many plans now treat COVID-19 like any other illness for emergency medical purposes, but coverage is not automatic across the board. Some plans cover it fully, some have conditions tied to vaccination or destination advisories, and some exclude it. Because this varies by insurer and changes over time, check the specific policy wording or ask an advisor to confirm before you buy.

Travel insurance can cover pre-existing conditions, as long as the condition has been stable for a set period before your trip. This is one of the most important things to understand about travel insurance, so it is worth reading carefully. Many plans will cover a pre-existing condition if it has not changed recently, and some let you buy an add-on that shortens the required stable period. The key is being honest and stable, not being perfectly healthy.

A stability period is the window of time, right before your coverage starts, during which a pre-existing condition must have stayed unchanged for it to be covered. Common lengths are 90, 180, or 365 days, and older travellers often face a longer window. If the condition was steady through that period, it is generally covered. If it changes, it usually is not.

A medical condition is only considered "stable" if absolutely nothing about it has changed during your required stability period. That includes no new symptoms, no hospitalization, no new tests or treatment, and no change to your medication, not even a dose adjustment. So if your doctor adjusted your blood pressure medication last month, that clock may reset for that condition. The definition is stricter than most people expect, which is exactly why it is worth reading closely before you travel.

Failing to declare a health condition can cost you the entire claim, which is the last thing you want in a real emergency. Insurers review your medical history when a claim comes in, and if something was left off or answered incorrectly, they can deny the claim and even void the policy. The safe approach is to answer every health question fully and honestly, and to let an advisor help you find a plan that fits your situation.

Yes, and this is a very common situation, so do not assume you are uninsurable. Many travellers manage conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes and still get solid coverage. What matters is stability: if your condition and your medication have held steady through the required window, that condition can usually be covered. At PolicyAdvisor, our advisors can point you to the plans that handle controlled conditions well.

Visitor insurance is not legally required for most visitors to Canada, but going without it is a real risk. Visitors are not eligible for provincial health plans like OHIP, so a single day in a Canadian hospital can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. Visitor insurance covers emergency medical care during the stay, which protects both the visitor and the family hosting them. For parents and grandparents coming on a Super Visa, coverage is required. Read the full guide →

No. OHIP and the other provincial plans cover residents, not visitors, tourists, or people here on a visitor visa. Even new permanent residents often face a waiting period of up to three months before provincial coverage begins in some provinces. Visitor insurance is designed to fill that gap, so nobody is left uncovered while they settle in or come for a visit. Read the full guide →

Visitor to Canada insurance covers emergency medical needs during a visit: hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance, diagnostic tests, emergency prescriptions, and emergency dental. Many plans also include getting the person home if a doctor requires it, and some cover a return trip for accompanying family. Like travel insurance, it is built for emergencies, not routine or planned care. Read the full guide →

Visitor to Canada insurance cost depends mostly on the visitor's age, the coverage amount, the deductible, and whether pre-existing conditions are included. A younger visitor pays much less than an older one for the same $100,000 of coverage, and choosing a higher deductible brings the price down. Since age is the biggest factor, the best way to see a real figure is to run a quote on PolicyAdvisor for the specific person and trip. Read the full guide →

Yes, you can buy visitor insurance after arrival, though buying before arrival is better. If you buy after someone has already landed, most insurers apply a waiting period before illness coverage starts, often somewhere between 48 hours and about a week, and any illness that appears during that window may not be covered. Buying before the flight avoids the waiting period and covers the journey itself, so earlier is almost always the smarter move. Read the full guide →

Yes, visitor insurance can usually be extended if the visit runs longer than planned, as long as you arrange it before the current policy ends and no claim is open. The added cost depends on the extra time, the age, and the coverage. Extending an existing policy is much easier than scrambling for new coverage once the first one lapses, so plan ahead if the stay might stretch. Read the full guide →

Some visitor to Canada plans do cover pre-existing conditions, if the condition has been stable for a required period before coverage starts, similar to regular travel insurance. The stable window and the maximum age for this coverage vary by insurer, and older visitors often face a longer stability requirement. If the visitor manages an ongoing condition, tell the advisor up front so they can find a plan that includes it properly. Read the full guide →

Yes. International students who are not yet eligible for a provincial health plan, or who have a gap before it starts, can buy visitor or student travel insurance to stay covered. Many schools also offer their own plans, so it is worth comparing. The goal is straightforward: no student should be on a Canadian campus with no medical coverage. Read the full guide →

The Super Visa is a special Canadian visa for the parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents. It lets them visit for long stretches at a time and stays valid for up to ten years, which is why many families use it to bring loved ones over for extended visits. One condition of the visa is that the applicant must hold qualifying medical insurance. That insurance requirement is what most families come to PolicyAdvisor for. Read the full guide →

Super Visa insurance must meet a minimum emergency medical coverage amount set by the Government of Canada, and it must cover healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation. The exact minimum is set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and has changed over the years, so confirm the current figure before you apply rather than relying on an old number. An advisor can point you to the amount that meets today's requirement.

Yes. Super Visa insurance must be valid for at least one year from the date the person plans to enter Canada, and that is a firm requirement regardless of how long they actually intend to stay. It is a defining feature of Super Visa insurance and sets it apart from a short vacation plan. The coverage has to be in place and shown at the time of application.

Yes, many insurers now offer monthly payment plans for Super Visa policies, which eases the cost of paying for a full year at once. Note that spreading it out can cost a little more overall than paying up front. For the visa application, the coverage needs to be genuinely in force, so the plan has to be a real, active policy and not just a quote. An advisor can set up a monthly option that still satisfies the requirement. Read the full guide →

In most cases, yes. The major Canadian insurers offer a full refund on Super Visa insurance if the visa application is refused, as long as you provide proof of the refusal and no claim has been made. This matters to families, since you are asked to buy a year of coverage before you even know the visa is approved. Keep your refusal letter, because that is what the insurer will ask for. Read the full guide →

Usually not. Most Super Visa policies are issued based on a health questionnaire rather than a physical exam, so there are no needles or clinics to book. Older applicants or those with health conditions may face more detailed questions, and answering them accurately is what keeps the coverage valid. An advisor can walk through the questions with you so nothing is missed.

No, Super Visa insurance does not cover routine care, and this is a common point of confusion for families. Super Visa insurance is emergency medical coverage, so it is there for sudden illness or injury, not for a routine checkup, a planned procedure, or regular dental cleanings. Emergency dental after an accident is often included, but everyday dental work is not. If a parent needs routine care while visiting, plan to pay for that separately.

Snowbirds need a plan that covers the entire time away, which is where many get caught out. Credit card and short trip plans often cap out at a few weeks, which does not stretch across a four or five month winter. A long single-trip plan or an annual multi-trip plan built for extended stays is usually the right fit. Keep an eye on your province's residency rules too, since staying away too long can affect your provincial health coverage.

Buying travel insurance after leaving Canada is much harder, and some insurers will not do it at all. A handful of plans can be arranged after departure, but they often come with a waiting period before coverage begins and stricter rules, and anything that happens before you buy will not be covered. The clear recommendation is to buy before you leave. If you forgot, call an advisor quickly, because your options narrow the longer you wait.

Yes, you often can, depending on the plan and the timing. Many single-trip medical policies can be refunded if you cancel before the coverage start date and have not made a claim, and some offer partial refunds if a trip is cut short. The rules vary by insurer, so check the cancellation terms when you buy. If your plans change, reach out sooner rather than later to see what you can recover.

Start by calling your insurer's assistance line, ideally at the time of the emergency, and follow their instructions. Gather everything you will need: itemized bills, receipts, medical reports, and any police or incident reports. Submit the claim within the deadline in your policy, and keep copies of everything. Claims go far more smoothly when you have documented the emergency as it happened rather than reconstructing it later.

The most common reasons travel insurance claims get denied are an undisclosed or unstable pre-existing condition, an excluded activity, or a delay in contacting the insurer during the emergency. Buying too late, missing a claim deadline, or travelling against a government advisory can also cause problems. The way to avoid most of these is straightforward: answer health questions honestly, read the exclusions, and call the assistance line before you get treatment.