Out-of-province and out-of-country medical services aren’t always covered by personal health insurance. With travel insurance, you can rest easy and focus on making memories during your next adventure.
You’ve packed your passport. Wallet. Sunscreen.
But what about travel insurance?
Travel insurance protects you and your loved ones should unexpected medical emergencies or travel interruptions occur. Seeing a doctor while on vacation is stressful enough; having to pay out of pocket can be overwhelming. The same goes for other unexpected costs associated with flight cancellations and baggage loss.
Out-of-province and out-of-country medical services aren’t always covered by personal health insurance. With travel insurance, you can rest easy and focus on making memories during your next adventure.
Travel Insurance Options
There are various coverage options to consider when it comes to purchasing travel insurance.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Medical coverage is important whether you’re travelling within Canada or Internationally. Most provincial health plans don’t provide coverage outside your home province. Hospitals in many countries may also want payment up front or won’t treat patients without proof of insurance.
A medical emergency is any sudden or unforeseen medical condition that needs urgent medical attention. Our third-party Travel Insurance partner GMS provides Emergency Medical Insurance with coverage up to $5 million for essentials like ambulance, emergency dental, and hospital care.
Single-trip travel insurance covers one trip up to one year (365 days) long. A multi-trip annual plan covers unlimited trips (per policy year), where you can choose between 15 and 30 days of coverage.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If your trip is cancelled before your scheduled departure date, you’ll be covered for non-refundable airfare, pre-paid travel arrangements, and cancellation penalties.
For interruptions during a trip, this insurance will cover things like transportation to rejoin tour groups, or out-of-pocket expenses during longer delays (meals, accommodations, transportation fees).
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance also has a built-in baggage benefit in case your belongings are delayed, lost, or damaged. With baggage protection, you’ll be reimbursed if your luggage gets delayed, lost, or stolen so you can replace your necessities.
Trip Delay Insurance
Adding Trip Delay to your Trip Cancellation and Interruption plan helps you make the best of a bad situation. For travel delays 12 hours or longer, your Trip Delay coverage includes:
- Out-of-pocket expenses for accommodations, meals, necessary telephone calls, Wi-Fi, and taxi or ridesharing costs.
- Event tickets up to $200 for you to attend a ticketed event like a movie, sporting event, or concert.
- Extra costs to reunite you with your tour, group, or trip if you haven’t already been returned to your province of residence in Canada because of a change in plans.
Out-of-province and out-of-country medical services aren’t always covered by personal health insurance. With travel insurance, you can rest easy and focus on making memories during your next adventure.
Relying on Credit Card Insurance
Credit card coverage has its limits. It usually offers lower coverage for trip cancellations and medical expenses. Unlike complete policies, credit card insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. It might only protect trips you pay for with that specific card.
It’s also important to know that direct pay is not an option with most credit card travel insurance. You would be required to pay expenses upfront and submit a claim afterward for reimbursement.
Reading the Fine Print
Always make sure to read the fine print in your policy so you know if you’re covered for high-risk activities like scuba diving or skiing. It’s essential to understand all terms, limits, and exclusions before you leave.
Certain scenarios aren’t covered, for example, such as:
- Cancellations and interruptions caused by pre-existing conditions
- Cancellations and interruptions caused by global travel advisories
- Costs paid for with travel credits and vouchers.
It’s also best to purchase travel insurance right after you complete your travel arrangements. If you wait too long, you may not be eligible. For pre-existing medical conditions, you need to purchase coverage within 14 days of your first trip payment.
Have questions? Need help? Contact our Travel Insurance partner GMS at 1-800-667-3699 or visit them online.