Frequently Asked Questions

We can help you compare travel insurance coverage if you're a Canadian resident & covered by a Government Health Insurance Plan in your province or territory of residence for the entire duration of your trip.

You are not travelling against the advice of a physician, been diagnosed with a terminal illness, metastatic cancer, require kidney dialysis or travelling to get medical treatment or advice abroad.

You have not been prescribed or used home oxygen in the last twelve months, undergoing investigative treatment for shortness of breath or chest pain.

You have never had a bone marrow, stem cell or organ transplant and do not require assistance with activities of daily living as a result of a medical condition or state of health.

If you are planning on making several trips a year, then an annual multi-trip plan could save you time and money. It is worth comparing coverage and rates.

Your Government health plan does not provide coverage for medical expenses incurred outside of Canada (some provincial plans provide very limited reimbursement for out-of-province medical bills). Travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected medical emergencies and related expenses incurred outside of Canada (and your home province). Travel insurance needs to be purchased prior to departing your home province.

A deductible is the amount that must be paid by you before the insurer begins to pay. For example, if your plan has a $500 deductible, and you have an accident that incurs medical costs of $2,000, you will have to pay the first $500 and your insurer would cover the additional $1,500 (or up to your coverage limits).

Deductibles can vary by coverage section and by insurer.

Healthcare in other countries can be very expensive, especially in the United States. A simple emergency room visit can cost someone a few thousand dollars without health insurance. More severe reasons for conditions could cost hundreds of thousands. 

Emergency medical coverage is the benefit of the policy related solely to those medical expenses, such as the doctor’s visit, hospital stay, prescriptions, ambulances – essentially any item related to your medical event. Items such as baggage loss or trip cancellation would not be covered under this benefit.

An all-inclusive coverage bundle provides additional coverage on top of emergency medical expenses with benefits such as baggage loss/delay and trip cancellation/interruption.

Some standard policies may provide limited coverage for COVID-19 based on the Government’s travel advisory levels. There are some policies that offer specific coverage for COVID-19 should the Government have a travel advisory in place to limit travel due to COVID-19. It’s always important to review your policy’s terms and conditions.

As COVID-19 is a known event, this may not be a covered reason for cancelling your trip. It is important to check the policy details to understand what is and isn’t covered.

The travel insurance policy becomes valid on its effective date – for a single trip policy, this should be the date that you will be departing your home province on your trip. For an annual multi-trip policy, this would be the date that you choose, but again this needs to be before departing your home province.

This depends on the rules of your home province. Some provinces allow you to be outside for a total of 182 days in a calendar year while others may allow up to 212 days. While you may be able to obtain coverage up to these durations, travel insurance will only be valid as you remain a resident of your home province and have a valid Government health insurance plan.

While a single trip policy will cover you for a specific duration and trip, annual multi-trip travel insurance covers you for multiple trips that you plan to take during the upcoming year. With an annual multi-trip plan you can choose the maximum duration at a time that you may expect coverage for, e.g. 4 days, 8 days, 15 days, 30 days.

This depends on how long on average you expect to be away. If you frequently do cross-border travel for short stays, you may not need more than a 4-day annual plan, but perhaps if you take a few vacations per year that don’t exceed two weeks, then you might look at a 15-day annual plan or greater.

If you have purchased a single trip policy and have returned earlier than planned from your trip, you may be eligible for a partial refund depending on the policy (less any applicable fees or taxes).

Yes. Whether you have driven or flown, you should have travel insurance when visiting the United States.

You should purchase travel insurance as soon as you have made payment arrangements to secure your travel plans.

If you need to make changes to your policy, such as extending it to obtain a top-up, some policies may allow this after you have departed (as long as there is no reason to claim). Always review a policy’s conditions regarding extending coverage and by calling the number on the confirmation of coverage.

Before leaving on your trip, you should purchase travel insurance. It is recommended to purchase travel insurance right after you have arranged and booked your travel. You'll find that most insurance providers will not be able to offer you coverage once you have departed.

There are many costs that might not be covered by your provincial plan or there may be different limits - so if you are planning to travel outside of your home province it is worth considering travel insurance.

You'll typically find that baggage cover forms part of most all-inclusive plans. All providers have different levels of coverage and terms, so be sure to fully review the plan carefully when you compare quotes on our site.

Currently, we do not have plans that cover only luggage and baggage insurance. You can compare this coverage by looking at all-inclusive plans.

We do not offer stand-alone baggage insurance plans. You will need to compare all-inclusive coverage, and prices for these plans depend on a number of different factors.

There are numerous factors beyond your control that can disrupt your travel plans. If the non-refundable portion of your trip is costly, are a snowbird or your departure date is some time away, it may be wise to consider purchasing Trip Cancellation insurance.

Although it may come at a cost, this form of Trip Cancellation insurance (often abbreviated as TCAR) offers the most comprehensive coverage. With this type of insurance, you can cancel your trip for any reason - without the need for a specific qualifying event - prior to departure and receive full compensation. It's like no questions asked insurance, providing peace of mind for any unexpected changes in your travel plans.