Travel Medical Insurance for Canadians | Compare Quotes | BestQuote

Most Canadian travel medical insurance policies offer broad protection against the high cost of emergency care outside your home province. While each policy differs slightly, common benefits include:

• Hospitalization and Medical Services - emergency expenses for inpatient or outpatient services;

• Diagnostic Services - may include MRI, CAT scans, X-ray, or other investigative procedures;

• Prescription Drugs - for new prescriptions and possibly lost ones;

• Ambulance - possibly including air ambulance and remote evacuation benefits;

• Dental - for accidental dental emergencies, possibly for pain;

• Death - the return of remains, or burial/cremation expenses;

• Family to Bedside - expenses to bring family members to your bedside if hospitalized;

• Child Care - perhaps the return home of a dependent child when hospitalized; 

• Return of Vehicle - expenses to return your vehicle to your home province when you can't return it;

• Private Duty Nursing - or perhaps a medical attendant to accompany on airline home.

Every travel medical insurance policy comes with exclusions and limitations. These exist so insurers can keep premiums affordable while covering the most common emergencies. It's important to understand what's not covered before you travel so you're not caught off guard when attempting to file a claim.

Here are some of the most common exclusions you'll see:

• Pregnancy-Related Expenses - usually within nine weeks before or after the expected date;

• Self-Inflicted Injury - including as a result of being intoxicated;

• Expenses Incurred Due to Acts of War;

• Professional Sports-Related Activities - and certain higher-risk sports activities;

• Pre-Existing Conditions that do not meet the definition of 'stable' for the 'stability period' before your trip, or a medical condition that had been detected or showed symptoms before your trip, and it would have been reasonable to expect that you may need to seek medical attention for it;

• Any emergency when, before the purchase date, you had not met all the eligibility requirements or truthfully and accurately answered all the questions in the medical questionnaire (if applicable).

A single trip plan covers you for one journey only. The premium is based on the full trip length, making this option best for Canadians taking an occasional vacation or one extended trip abroad.

Key features include:

• Coverage applies to one trip only

• Premiums based on trip duration

• Ideal for infrequent travellers or snowbirds planning a long stay

With a multi-trip annual plan, you pay once and are covered for unlimited trips throughout the year, up to the maximum trip length you select (4, 10, 18, or 30 days. This is the most cost-effective option for frequent travellers - whether for quick cross-border shopping trips, golf weekends, or business travel.

Key features include:

• Unlimited trips in a 12-month period

• Annual convenience with cost savings

• Top-up coverage available for longer trips