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Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance covers the cost of emergency medical care wherever you are.
What is emergency travel medical insurance?
Emergency travel medical insurance is designed to cover unforeseen medical expenses while traveling abroad (i.e. outside your home province or territory).
Among various travel insurance options, emergency medical coverage is essential. It's advisable never to travel internationally without it.
Medical emergencies can arise unexpectedly when you're abroad, leading to significant medical expenses. Without travel insurance, these costs fall on you.
Medical treatments outside Canada can be considerably more costly than domestic care. Remember, your Government Health Care coverage is limited once you leave your province or country.
Cover Medical Costs
Ensures financial protection against unexpected medical expenses during travel.
Repatriation Assistance
Provides support for emergency medical transportation back to your home country for treatment.
Around-the-Clock Support
24/7 access to assistance services, ensuring help is always a phone call away.
Types of travel medical insurance
Explore Your Coverage Options.
Single Trip
Provides convenient and comprehensive health coverage for one specific journey, ideal for vacationers or occasional travelers.
Multi-Trip (Annual)
A simple and affordable way for people who travel often, like business travelers or cross-border shoppers, to get health coverage for all their trips in a year.
Multi-Year
Long-term, renewable health coverage for frequent travelers, providing peace of mind and protection over multiple years (typically to age 80) with a single plan.
How does emergency travel medical insurance work?
Pre-Trip Purchase: Secure your emergency travel medical insurance before you embark on your journey. Choose a plan that covers the entire duration of your trip and includes all family members traveling with you. This proactive step ensures that you are covered from the moment you leave until your return.
Immediate Assistance in Emergencies: Should a medical emergency arise while you are traveling, immediately contact the 24/7 toll-free support line provided by your insurer.
Guidance to Appropriate Care: Upon contacting the support line, you'll be connected with a professional who will guide you to the nearest or most suitable medical facility, ensuring that you receive the right care promptly.
- Coverage of Expenses: The insurance covers the costs of medical treatments including hospital stays, medical procedures, and often prescription medications and emergency dental care, depending on your policy's terms.
- Ongoing Support and Monitoring: Beyond just covering costs, the insurance provider's support team often monitors your treatment and recovery process, ensuring that you receive appropriate care. They may also coordinate with medical professionals on your behalf, keeping your family informed about your situation and will work to bring you home at the earliest opportunity that it is safe to do so.
Get help with your travel insurance planning.
Speak with a professional advisor who can help.
How much does emergency travel medical insurance cost?
There are a number of factors that can affect plan pricing, including:
Age
Insurance costs generally increase with age.
Trip duration
Travel medical coverage cost is based on a daily rate.
Health history
Cost can be affected by health history.
Destination
Cost can vary based on your destination. It is always less for travel within Canada.
What is included in my government benefits?
Each province and territory has their own respective health care plans. For this reason, benefits will vary from one province/territory to the next. It is worth checking what is covered under your plan prior to travelling.
Travel outside Canada
Each province and territory has their own respective health care plans. For this reason, benefits will vary from one province/territory to the next. It is worth checking what is covered under your plan prior to travelling.
Travel inside Canada
Provinces and Territories (except Quebec) have an Interprovincial Billing Agreement in which the host province covers medically necessary services and the home province subsequently is billed for reimbursement. Services such as ambulance (air/ground), hospital transfers, or transportation back to your home province are not covered by your government plan.
Other types of travel insurance
Explore Your Coverage Options.
Visitors to Canada
Coverage for emergency medical costs when your friends or family visit Canada from abroad, or to satisfy Super Visa requirements.
Student Travel Insurance
Coverage for emergency medical expenses & checkups when studying away from home.
Trip Cancellation & Interruption
Reimburses non-refundable travel costs if travel plans are cancelled before departure or interrupted after departure.
Get in touch
Talk to an advisor who can understand your situation, answer your questions and help you build an insurance plan appropriate for you and your family.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to key questions about Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
A pre-existing condition typically refers to any illness, injury, or medical condition that existed before your travel insurance policy's start date. This includes conditions that have been diagnosed, as well as those for which you've received treatment or experienced symptoms, regardless of a formal diagnosis. It's crucial to disclose all such conditions when applying for insurance, even if they seem minor, to ensure full coverage and avoid potential issues during claims.
Travel insurance policies generally exclude pre-existing medical conditions, defined as conditions present before your policy's start date. All travel insurance will have a 'stability period' -often requiring stability in the pre-existing condition(s) for a set period (e.g., 3-months, 6-monnths, 9-months) prior to departure. If a condition hasn't been stable within this timeframe and you file a claim related to it, it will typically mean that any medical expenses relating (directly or indirectly) to the condition will not be covered.
Travel insurance policies have specific exclusions and limitations. Key exclusions often include pre-existing medical conditions, complications arising from pregnancy, injuries from high-risk sports and activities, and incidents involving the use of illegal or certain legal substances. Additionally, claims related to war, kidnapping, terrorism, riots, strikes, or civil unrest are typically not covered. It's crucial to thoroughly read the policy's exclusion section to fully understand the scope and limitations of your coverage before your trip.
To extend your travel insurance for a longer journey than initially planned, you must obtain a new policy before your current policy's expiration date, as indicated on your Confirmation of Coverage. Be aware that eligibility for extended coverage may be affected if you, your travel companion, or a family member experienced a medical issue or injury during the initial coverage period. This also applies to pre-existing conditions that required medical assessment. Additionally, age restrictions may apply for certain policy types. It's advisable to contact your advisor promptly upon deciding to extend your trip to discuss the feasibility and terms of purchasing additional coverage for the extended travel period.
A Stability Period Exclusion is a common clause in Emergency Travel Medical Insurance policies. This exclusion refers to a specified period before the start of your trip during which any medical conditions must remain stable for coverage to be provided.
Key Points to Understand:
Definition of Stability:
A condition is considered stable if there have been no new symptoms, no changes in medication or treatment, and no new diagnoses or test results indicating the condition has worsened.
Duration of the Stability Period:
The length of the stability period can vary between insurance providers, typically ranging from 90 to 180 days before the commencement of your trip.
Implications of the Exclusion:
If your medical condition has not been stable for the required stability period, any claims related to that condition may be denied. This includes situations where the condition worsens or requires medical attention while you are traveling.
Examples:
- If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension, it must remain controlled and unchanged for the entire stability period before your travel for it to be covered under your policy.
- If you recently experienced a heart attack or had surgery, you need to ensure that your condition is stable for the specified period to avoid exclusion.
Importance for Travelers:
Understanding and adhering to the stability period exclusion is crucial for ensuring your emergency travel medical insurance is valid. It is advisable to review your medical history and potentially consult with your physician to confirm that your conditions meet the stability requirements of your insurance policy.
Tips for Compliance:
- Pre-Trip Check-Up: Schedule a medical check-up well before your trip to verify the stability of any existing conditions.
- Policy Review: Carefully read the terms and conditions of your travel medical insurance policy, paying close attention to the stability period and any related exclusions.
- Consult Your Insurance Advisor: If you have any questions or concerns about how the stability period exclusion might apply to your situation, consult with your insurance advisor for personalized guidance.
Understanding the Stability Period Exclusion helps ensure that you are fully covered in the event of a medical emergency during your travels.
Still have questions?
Please contact our office and we'll be happy to address any questions you may have.
