Travel Insurance for Visitors to Canada

For more information about the Visitor to Canada process, visit our Visitor to Canada insurance blog page.

Insurance Coverage for Visitors to Canada: What’s New?

Visitors to Canada insurance protects you against a sudden emergency illness or accidental injury. No matter which company you purchase visitors to Canada insurance from (also known as VTC insurance or just visitors insurance) - it will not cover non-emergency expenses such as the costs for regular doctor appointments to refill a prescription or check one's pre-existing medical condition(s).

This form of insurance is used for people coming to Canada on work permits (i.e., International Experience Canada visas (working holiday or young professional); temporary foreign worker (TFW) visas; visitors with super visa status; or returning Canadians and newly landed permanent residents that need some form of emergency health insurance before qualifying for their province's health insurance plan benefits. So whether a person is buying 'super visa insurance', IEC insurance, or VTC insurance, it’s all the same type of (emergency only) coverage. For more info on Visitors insurance, check out our Visitors to Canada blog.

There can be significant differences in costs or coverage details from one company to the next. The best policy for one person may not be the best for somebody else the same age. BestQuote's quote engine database hosts Canada's largest selection of VTC plans (including our own BestQuote VTC 'health and repatriation' policy issued as a Lloyd's of London coverholder) - so that we can help find the best option at the best price, no matter what your travel/health circumstances are.

To find out more about how to prepare for your trip to Canada, visit our Visitors to Canada blog page.

Planning to visit Canada, or you've already arrived?

Do you have parents, family or visitors arriving that you'll be responsible for while they're here in Canada? Then you are on the right page. You need visitors to Canada insurance. Medical costs in Canada can be financially damaging if you or a visiting family member are not insured.

Play it safe. Get protected. Get an instant quote by filling in our quote form to see all the top VTC insurance brands available in Canada. You can easily compare prices and coverage and purchase online to save yourself time & money.

Do you need private emergency health insurance for the Super Visa application requirements? Or perhaps International Experience Canada (IEC) visa requirements? Then VTC insurance is right for you, but check out the linked pages for more information about those immigration requirements. We here at BestQuote don't just offer online service — if you have any questions about the coverage options or policy details

Phone and ask for assistance 1-604-259-2544 (Vancouver), 1-647-799-2032 (Toronto), 1-403-800-1582 (Calgary), 0808-1693710 (from the United Kingdom),1-800-717-487 (from Australia), 0800-441219 (from New Zealand), or 1-888-888-0510 (toll-free in North America).

A skiier laying in snow being assisted by medical personnel

Visitors to Canada insurance provides emergency medical coverage in the event of injury or illness. While medical costs in Canada are not as high as in the U.S., health care in Canada is not 'free' for visitors - it's dramatically higher for non-Canadians visiting. Being uninsured can subject you to unaffordable medical bills - causing you to cancel other travel plans.

Visitors insurance protects the policyholder from suffering any major financial setbacks that could accompany a major illness or accidental injury. Of course, there is extra coverage too — like sending a family member to visit you in the hospital, emergency evacuation to your home country or out-of-pocket expenses for attending to a hospitalized travel companion.

Visitors to Canada Contract Language:

All visitors to Canada insurance plans vary according to the language they use in the insurance contract. As an example of the valuable coverage you can have, here is the contract language concerning benefits offered by Allianz Global Assistance visitors to Canada insurance:

Emergency Hospital: The insurer agrees to pay for hospital accommodation, including semi-private room, and for reasonable and customary services and supplies necessary for your emergency care during confnement as a resident in-patient.

Emergency Medical: The insurer agrees to pay for the following services, supplies or treatment, resulting from a covered sickness or injury, when provided by a health practitioner who is not related to you by blood or marriage:

Prescription Drugs: When not hospitalized as an in-patient, drugs or medications that require a physician’s written prescription, not exceeding a 30-day supply, to a maximum of $1,000.

Ambulance: The use of a licensed local air, land, or sea ambulance (including mountain or sea evacuation), to the nearest hospital, when reasonable and necessary.

Emergency Dental: The insurer agrees to reimburse:

a) up to $4,000 for emergency treatment or services to whole or sound natural teeth (including capped or crowned teeth) which are damaged as a result of an accidental blow to the face; and

b) up to $500 for the immediate relief of acute dental pain caused by other than a direct blow to the face and for which you have not previously received treatment or advice.

Reimbursement will not exceed the minimum fee specifed in the Canadian Dental Association schedule of fees of the province or territory where treatment was received.

Treatment relating to any dental claim must begin within 48 hours after the onset of the emergency and must be completed within the period of coverage and prior to your return to your country of origin.

Treatment must be performed by a legally qualifed dentist or oral surgeon.

Return of Deceased (Repatriation): In the event of your death due to a covered sickness or injury, the insurer agrees to reimburse:

a) up to $10,000 for costs incurred to prepare and return your remains in a standard transportation container to your country of origin; or

b) up to $4,000 for cremation or burial of your remains at the place of death.

The cost of a cofn or urn is not covered.

Transportation of Family or Friend: The insurer agrees to pay up to a maximum of $3,000 for the cost to transport one family member or close friend to your bedside by round-trip economy class (using the most direct route) if:

a) you are hospitalized due to a covered sickness or injury, and the attending physician advises that your family member or close friend’s attendance is necessary; or

b) the local authorities legally require the attendance of your family member or close friend to identify your remains in the event of your death due to a covered sickness or injury.

Benefts are payable only when approved in advance by Allianz Global Assistance.

In addition, the insurer agrees to reimburse up to a maximum of $1,000 for the following expenses incurred by your family member or close friend after arrival:

a) commercial accommodation and meals; and

b) essential telephone calls; and

c) taxi fares.

Expenses must be supported by original receipts from commercial organizations.

There are significant differences between VTC policies, and prices can vary considerably. Depending on your travel circumstances or your health situation, which includes pre-existing medical conditions or particular entry visa requirements — we may need to guide your decision-making and use our expertise to ensure you find the best policy at the best price. That's what BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency is all about - and we take pride in being good at what we do.

We offer more travel insurance companies than you'll find on any other price comparison website (PCW) — we've made sure to include all the same companies that other sites have and more. We even have one company that provides a discount visitors insurance policy with a rate that'll be much lower for travellers 40-59 not needing coverage for pre-existing conditions. The new Super Visa insurance requirements have forced some companies to change their policy terms, and we now have more visitors to Canada insurance policies available than ever before.

Canadian Visitor Insurance Tips:

Ensure that the travellers have their visitors to Canada insurance before they arrive in Canada, so there are no gaps (waiting period) in coverage.
If two travellers need insurance, it's not always best to have both names on the same policy; two policies might be better (if no companion discount applies, it may be better at claim/refund time that one traveller doesn't have a claim on their policy).
Use a small deductible to lower the cost — it's the major financial setbacks you want insurance for, not the minor ones.
Get a quote, and then call us, and we'll show you all the differences between the available policies in a few 'clicks.'

Your insurance quote options:

The amount of protection that is offered under visitors to Canada plans will depend on the amount chosen by the person applying for it. Coverage amounts can range from as little as $10,000 to as much as $1,000,000. When you request a quote for visitors to Canada insurance, we'll ask all the questions we need and provide an accurate quote across all companies.

You can easily change the coverage amount (drop-down menu on the quote presentation) to see how that would affect the final premium. We recommend having a plan for at least $100,000 for peace of mind. Medical bills and related costs (diagnostic tests, air ambulance, bringing a family member to bedside) can easily push the costs of an accident or major illness past $50,000. You can also choose to move the deductible amount higher to lower the final premium.

Common Questions for Visitors to Canada:

Q : Why should visitors buy insurance from a Canadian company instead of a company in their home country?

A: Canadian medical providers (hospitals, dentists, medical clinics, etc.) prefer to work with Canadian insurance companies. There is direct billing between hospitals and Canadian insurance companies. If you have to pay for expenses and then file a claim, Canadian insurance companies will have a faster claim procedure as they can verify Canadian medical expenses faster than providers in foreign countries (so you get reimbursed faster).

Also, Canadian insurance companies are regulated by Canadian regulators at some of the highest standards worldwide. They are also re-insured by Assuris — a Canadian government agency that will cover up to $60,000 of medical expenses if a Canadian insurance company becomes insolvent. Not that that is likely, but knowing you are insured is nicer no matter what happens. And, of course, if you are already in Canada when shopping for visitors insurance, companies in your home country may not insure you because you have already left your home (province).

Q : What amount of visitors travel medical insurance should I purchase?

A: Hospital costs for visitors to Canada can amount to over $4,000 per day, and air ambulance charges to return you home could easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars. We recommend at least $100,000 of medical insurance coverage if peace of mind is what you are after.

Q : Do I purchase visitors to Canada insurance before leaving my home country or after arriving in Canada?

A: We recommend purchasing your visitors to Canada travel insurance before you arrive in Canada. If you are buying after you arrive in Canada, most insurance companies will have a waiting period of anywhere between 1 and 8 days after your purchase, during which time there will be only limited coverage. If you are a landed immigrant or coming to Canada on a working holiday visa, visitors insurance allows you to be covered for sickness and injury before being eligible (3-month waiting period) for provincial health coverage. Don't take any chances by waiting to buy visitors to Canada insurance after you arrive. Buy it before you get here and avoid having any gaps in coverage.

Q : Can I purchase a policy for my family members who are planning to come for a visit?

A: Yes. Anyone can purchase a visitors insurance policy for someone coming to Canada. You should know that if a person is coming to Canada and you have sponsored their stay, you will be responsible for their medical bills if they cannot pay for them. So even if they don't want the coverage, you should buy it for them anyway. For people employing a live-in caregiver, visitors insurance is what you buy for 'nanny insurance' before your caregiver becomes eligible for provincial healthcare.

Q : If I have a pre-existing condition, can I get coverage for that with visitors insurance?

A: Maybe. It depends on the pre-existing condition and the terms and conditions of the policy. Some insurance companies offer plans that cover pre-existing conditions as long as they have been stable for a certain period of time (3 to 6 months) before departure from your home country. Sometimes, pre-existing conditions will not be covered. It is important to read your entire policy to make sure you are aware of the definitions affecting coverage and the possible exclusions that may apply.

Only some available plans will cover pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions, etc. Other policies, while they do cover stable pre-existing medical conditions, use strict eligibility questions to screen out applicants (for example, no coverage is available if you use an ICD (pacemaker), oral steroids for lung conditions, diagnosis of stroke, blood clots, congestive heart failure or heart murmur in past 12 months, etc.). For a direct comparison of the exclusions concerning pre-existing medical conditions, you can compare policy wording and stable periods here. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about your pre-existing conditions and obtaining coverage.

Q : Can my visitors to Canada medical insurance be extended if I want to stay longer?

A: Most policies can be extended up to one year, provided you are still in good health and do not have any prior or pending claims on the policy. You need to call your insurance company before your policy ends (please look up exact extension details in your policy wording, and they can extend the coverage for you.

Q : Am I covered for trips outside Canada?

A: Your medical emergency coverage begins after you arrive in Canada. After that time, as long as the majority of your coverage period is spent in Canada, you may be covered during travel outside Canada. However, expenses incurred in your own country will usually not be covered. Please read your policy for details.

Q : Why should I buy visitors to Canada insurance if it won't cover my pre-existing condition?

A: Even though the emergency medical coverage might not apply to an existing condition, your travel insurance will cover any new illnesses or accidental injuries. There are also visitors to Canada plans that include trip interruption coverage, which can protect you from financial losses from having to cancel your trip after you come to Canada (i.e., for a family emergency back home) or for delays and other surprises that occur while travelling.

For more specific policy-by-policy information:

Visitors to Canada Insurance Reviews

Visitors to Canada or their Canadian friends or family can get a travel insurance quote, compare policies and purchase online, or if you have any further questions, please call toll-free for assistance at 1-604-259-2544 (Vancouver), 1-647-799-2032 (Toronto), 1-403-800-1582 (Calgary), 0808-1693710 (from the United Kingdom),1-800-717-487 (from Australia), 0800-441219 (from New Zealand), or 1-888-888-0510 (toll-free in North America).

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