BestQuote MedEC Insurance for Visitors to Canada
The BestQuote MedEC policy is a visitors-to-Canada emergency medical plan available through our quote comparison tool for longer trips (generally 300+ days). It is designed to cover new urgent and emergency medical situations while in Canada, including medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation — and it meets all IRCC mandated insurance requirements for both IEC visa holders and Super Visa applicants.
MedEC is also suitable for other long-stay visitors to Canada including tourists, family visitors, and returning Canadians waiting for provincial health coverage to activate.
What Makes MedEC Different for Visitors to Canada?
The BestQuote MedEC policy is one of the most unique visitors-to-Canada plans on the market because it includes benefits you typically will not find in any other policy.
If you become eligible for a provincial government health insurance plan (GHIP) during your stay, MedEC allows a 25% refund of the remaining premium (minus a $25 administrative fee) while your policy stays active and in force - covering you during the transition period while putting money back in your pocket.
If your plans change and you return home earlier than expected with no claim submitted, MedEC may also allow an early return refund based on the remaining days on the policy. And if you want to travel beyond Canada during your stay, MedEC includes side trips outside Canada of up to 35 days per trip.
For everyday health concerns, eligible MedEC policies also include access to Maple, a virtual doctor service, with three prepaid doctor consultations per year at no additional cost which is ideal for prescriptions, minor infections, and general medical advice without needing to visit a clinic.
There are two MedEC versions available: a standard MedEC option, and a MedEC with Winter Sports option for those planning to ski or snowboard during their stay.
To see whether MedEC is available for your trip, generate a quote on this page. If it is an option for your profile and trip length, it will appear in your results so you can compare price, deductibles, and key benefits side-by-side before you buy.
BestQuote MedEC: Key Features
GHIP Refund
Enroll in a provincial government health insurance plan (GHIP) and receive 25% of your remaining premium back, as long as no claim has been initiated. Policy stays active throughout. (For IEC Visa holders)
Maple Virtual Access Care
MedEC policies include 3 prepaid virtual doctor visits per year through Maple. Great for quick advice, prescriptions, and common health concerns - available 24/7.
Early Return Refund
If you return home before your policy expires with no claim submitted, MedEC may allow a pro-rated refund on unused premium. (For IEC Visa holders)
Who is the MedEC Policy For?
The BestQuote MedEC policy is available for longer trips to Canada (generally 300+ days) and is suitable for the following visitor types:
IEC (Working Holiday) visa holders: MedEC meets all three IRCC-mandated insurance requirements for IEC participants - medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation - for the full duration of your stay. It is available for all three IEC streams: Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op. Learn more about IEC insurance.
Super Visa holders: MedEC meets the IRCC minimum coverage requirement of $100,000 CAD and is valid for up to 365 days per policy year for Super Visa applicants. Learn more about Super Visa insurance.
Other long-stay visitors: Tourists, family visitors, and returning Canadians waiting for their provincial health plan to activate are also eligible for MedEC coverage on trips of 300+ days.
Note: The standard MedEC policy (Plan A) does not cover pre-existing medical conditions. Plan B does cover stable pre-existing conditions. Other policies covering pre-existing conditions are also available through BestQuote's quote comparison tool.
How Much Does BestQuote MedEC Cost? (2026)
The cost of the MedEC policy depends on your age, the length of your stay, your deductible, and whether you want to include Winter Sports coverage. Below are actual prices for a MedEC policy with $100,000 in coverage, $0 deductible, and no winter sports coverage.
For IEC participants (up to 24 months)
| Duration | Age 18–35 (No Winter Sports) | Age 36–40 (No Winter Sports) | Age 18–35 (With Winter Sports) | Age 36–40 (With Winter Sports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
12 months | $594.95 | $813.95 | $868.70 | $1,087.70 |
18 months | $894.87 | $1,224.27 | $1,306.62 | $1,636.02 |
24 months | $1,191.53 | $1,630.13 | $1,739.78 | $2,178.38 |
For Super Visa holders (up to 12 months)
| Age | No Pre-Existing Conditions | With Pre-Existing Conditions |
|---|---|---|
40-49 | ~$1,000 | ~$1,400 |
50-59 | ~$1,000 | ~$1,500 |
60-69 | ~$1,500 | ~$2,000 |
70-79 | ~$2,400 | ~$3,300 |
80+ | ~$3,400+ | ~$4,700+ |
Prices vary based on the sum insured selected ($100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $300,000, or $500,000), the deductible chosen ($0, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000), and your age at the date of purchase. To see your exact price, generate a quote on this page - the BestQuote MedEC Policy will appear in your results if it is available for your trip length and profile.
What is the GHIP Refund for IEC Participants?
A GHIP refund is a partial premium refund available exclusively to IEC participants who enrol in a Canadian provincial health plan and BestQuote MedEC is the only travel insurance policy in the world that offers it. Once enrolled, 25% of the remaining premium is refunded (less a $25 admin fee), which can help lower your effective insurance cost by several hundred dollars.
What is GHIP? GHIP stands for Government Health Insurance Plan - the umbrella term for provincial health insurance across Canada. Each province has its own plan:
British Columbia: Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Alberta: Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
Ontario: Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Quebec: Régime d'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)
Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI)
New Brunswick: New Brunswick Medicare
Manitoba: Manitoba Health
Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Health Benefits Coverage
Prince Edward Island: Health PEI
Newfoundland & Labrador: Medical Care Plan (MCP)
Yukon: Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan (YHCIP)
Nunavut: Nunavut Health Care Plan
IEC participants become eligible for GHIP when they have a valid work permit and a letter of employment (typically 20+ hours/week, 6+ months). It normally takes up to 3 months to enrol after becoming eligible. Important: even after enrolling in GHIP, IEC participants must keep their MedEC policy active as GHIP does not cover repatriation which is an IRCC requirement.
Maple Virtual Care
Your BestQuote MedEC policy gives your parents or grandparents and their eligible dependents 24/7 access to trusted Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners through Maple - at no extra cost. They can consult a provider from their smartphone, tablet, or computer from anywhere in Canada, any time of day or night.
This is especially valuable during the early months of a Super Visa stay, when your parents or grandparents may still be waiting for provincial health coverage to activate, or when visiting a family doctor in an unfamiliar city is inconvenient.
What is included with the Maple benefit:
3 covered visits annually for the policyholder and eligible dependents
Prescriptions issued at the discretion of the provider - pick up at any pharmacy or have them delivered to the door
Add up to 4 eligible dependents including spouses
Frequently Asked Questions About Maple
How to purchase the MedEC policy for your trip
The quote tool on this page allows you to get a free instant quote and view the MedEC policy alongside other available policies for your trip. You can compare price, deductible options, coverage details, and key benefits side by side before you buy.
We will also email you a link to your quote for future reference. If you have any questions about the MedEC policy, eligibility, or refund rules, call us at 1-888-888-0510.
How to Buy MedEC:
Get a Quote: Enter your trip details into the quote tool on this page. MedEC will appear in your results if it is available for your profile and trip length.
Compare Plans: Review the MedEC policy alongside other available options. Pay attention to the sum insured, deductible options, refund conditions, and Maple virtual care benefits.
Purchase and Receive Documents: Complete your purchase online and receive your proof of insurance documents by email. Print a copy and carry it with your travel documents as proof of insurance when you arrive in Canada.
