Six Common Super Visa Insurance Questions

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Over the past year and a half, I’ve spoken to several hundred Canadians interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents under the new Super Visa program which came into effect on December 1, 2011.  Many have never purchased visitors insurance before, and are unclear about what it is and how it works.  As a result, BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency has assembled a list of the top six questions asked by Super Visa applicants:

1. Q:  What is Super Visa Insurance? A:  Technically, it is called Visitors-to-Canada insurance, and is designed to provide emergency medical coverage to visitors for short-term issues such as an ear infection, or to stabilize more serious problems such as a heart attack so that visitors can travel home to receive further medical attention.
2. Q:  My mother/father has pre-existing conditions.  How does this affect their insurance coverage? A:  There are two basic types of Visitors-to-Canada insurance: those that cover illnesses related to pre-existing conditions, and those that do not.  Generally, pre-existing conditions must have been stable for at least four or six months in order to be covered.  It is always best to try to find a policy that will cover illnesses and accidents related to or caused by pre-existing medical conditions, so it pays to shop around.
3. Q:  Will this policy cover my mother/father’s current medicine?  A:  No, these are emergency medical policies, designed to cover unforeseen expenses.  They do not cover medicine that a traveler is already taking.  However, expatriate insurance, available from some insurance companies, may cover certain ongoing conditions.  This type of insurance is not as common as visitors insurance, and is much more expensive.
4. Q:  Is the policy refundable? A:  Most policies are 100% refundable prior to the start of the trip, and partially refundable if a traveler returns home early and has not made a claim on the policy.  However, this varies by insurance company, and some companies charge a refund fee.
5. Q:  Do I have to pay for the policy now?  A:  Yes.  Citizenship & Immigration Canada requires that you have a prepaid one year insurance policy in place before applying for a super visa.  Generally, we suggest that the policy start at least three months after your super visa application date to allow sufficient time for visa processing.
6. Q:  Why should I use a broker?  A:  Brokers are there to assist customers when dealing with insurance companies, and act as an advocate for customers if necessary.  There is no difference in the cost of purchasing through a broker or directly from an insurance company.

Of course, you may have other questions, so please call to discuss your own situation - our recommendations vary depending on travel plans, health conditions, age, etc. We specialize in travel insurance, have the widest selection of policies to choose from anywhere in Canada, and enable you to research and purchase online - often saving hundreds of dollars compared to other broker services. Choose the Best. Choose us to help you make the right choice - it's not always about lowest prices, but we have those too. Guaranteed. If you have any comments or questions that can inform and become part of this blog topic, please send an email to [email protected] with the topic in the subject line. We'll respond directly, and collect a few comments/questions for our next post on the topic. Regards,