Travelance Visitors to Canada Insurance Review
Travelance is a newer insurance brand (available since 2013) underwritten through Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada — one of the oldest underwriting teams in Canada. Travelance offers two different Visitors to Canada plans: their Essential Plan does not cover pre-existing medical conditions and offers fewer secondary benefits than their Premier Plan — which does cover stable pre-existing medical conditions (180-day stability period).
Travelance is popular with Visitors to Canada aged between 50 and 75, and Super Visa applicants aged under 59.
Travelance Standout Features
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Coverage for up to the plan limit selected to a maximum of $100,000. (Premier Plan)
Air Flight Accident
Coverage for up to the plan limit selected to a maximum of $100,000. (Premier Plan)
Travel to Other Countries
Coverage on travel outside of Canada for a maximum of 45 days. The time you spend in Canada must be greater than the duration of any side trips. (Essential & Premier Plan)
Travelance Advantages & Disadvantages
Having two plans, Travelance aims to be 'competitively priced' with the Essential Plan, and sometimes, depending on the policyholder's age, can be one of the lower cost options available. Their Premier Plan aims for 'higher quality coverage' (which can be a good choice for travellers 69 and under needing coverage for stable pre-existing medical conditions).
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Both plans are available for up to 558 days, longer than most other companies. | The Essential Plan has limited benefits compared with the Premier Plan. It does not cover expenses related to paramedical services (chiropractor, etc.), meals & accommodation, transportation of relative or friend, or accidental death and dismemberment; the Premier Plan does offer benefit limits for those type of expenses. |
Travelance offers a 'waived deductible' on both plans, which is unique.
- Essential Plan: the first $250 of the deductible is waived when hospitalized for 72 consecutive hours.
- Premier Plan: the first $1,000 of the deductible is waived when hospitalized for 72 consecutive hours. | The Premier Plan will not cover stable pre-existing medical conditions for the ages 70-79 if the conditions are related to cerebrovascular (brain), cardiovascular (heart), or lung conditions. |
Some Premier Plan benefit limits are high compared to other visitor plans, such as:
- Travel to Other Countries
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment
- Return of Deceased | Both plans come with certain administration fees. $50 refund fee for all refunds. $250 fee for 'cancellation without visa denial letter'. These are on the higher side of industry averages. |
