Who It Is For

Travel insurance for Canadians travelling abroad

Your provincial health card does not travel well. Once you leave Canada, OHIP, MSP, AHCIP and the other provincial plans pay only a small, fixed share of emergency medical bills — and a few days in a U.S. hospital can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Out-of-country travel insurance covers the difference.

The Gap

Why your provincial plan is not enough abroad

Limited provincial payment

Provinces pay for emergencies abroad at home-province rates — often a few hundred dollars a day, a fraction of a foreign hospital bill.

No air ambulance

Medical evacuation and return to Canada are generally not covered by your province and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Hospitals want payment

Foreign hospitals often ask for payment or proof of insurance before treating you. A travel policy pays them directly through a 24/7 assistance line.

Refundable if plans change

Cancel before the policy starts and most insurers refund the premium. Come home early and unused days are often refundable if no claim was made.

The Detail

What to know before you leave

Many Canadians assume their health card covers them anywhere. It does not — provincial plans are built for care in your home province, and outside Canada they reimburse only a limited amount, at the rates your province would pay at home. The gap between that and a foreign hospital bill is yours to pay unless you have travel insurance.

Choosing the right type of plan

A single-trip plan covers one trip for a set number of days — right for a vacation, a family visit or a business trip. A multi-trip annual plan covers every trip in a 12-month period up to a maximum length per trip, and is usually cheaper if you travel two or more times a year. Snowbirds spending the winter in the U.S. or abroad can buy cover for the full stay, or top up an annual plan for the extra days.

What a good policy covers

Emergency hospital and physician care, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, emergency dental, ground and air ambulance, and getting you back to Canada for care. Many plans add trip cancellation and interruption, lost baggage and flight delay — bundled or as separate options.

Credit card coverage — read the fine print

Card benefits often stop at a set trip length, cut off at a certain age, or apply only if the trip was charged to the card. Check those limits before relying on them; a top-up policy can extend cover for the days your card does not.

Run a quote with your destination, departure date and return date.

Before You Fly

Five things to sort out

Confirm your provincial health card is valid and will not expire while you are away
Check how long your province lets you stay outside Canada without losing coverage
Buy cover for every day of the trip, from departure to return
Declare medical conditions honestly and note any recent medication changes
Save your insurer’s 24/7 assistance number and call it before seeking treatment

Call the assistance line first. In an emergency, get care — then contact your insurer’s assistance centre as soon as you can. They can direct you to a hospital that bills them directly, guarantee payment and approve treatment. Skipping that call can delay a claim or reduce what is paid.

Away for a long stretch?

Every province limits how long you can be outside Canada and keep your health coverage — around seven months in a twelve-month period is typical. Most travel policies require valid provincial coverage, so an overly long absence can put both at risk. Planning a longer stay? Talk to your province before you leave.

Travelling with family? Spouses and children can usually go on one family plan, which is normally cheaper than separate policies. If it is your parents or relatives coming to visit you in Canada instead, see visitors to Canada insurance or Super Visa insurance.

NOT SURE WHAT YOU NEED

Tell us where you are going.

Give a licensed agent your destination, travel dates and the ages of everyone travelling. We will compare plans from multiple insurers and explain plainly what is and is not covered — including any pre-existing conditions.

Talk to an agent

Questions from Canadians travelling abroad

Only partly. Provincial plans pay a limited amount for emergency care abroad, at home-province rates, and generally do not cover air ambulance or repatriation. Foreign hospitals — especially in the U.S. — charge far more, and you are responsible for the difference.

If you travel once a year, a single-trip plan is usually cheaper. If you take two or more trips a year, an annual multi-trip plan often costs less overall — just make sure its per-trip maximum covers your longest trip.

Sometimes, but check the limits: maximum trip length, age cut-offs, coverage amounts and whether the trip must be paid for with the card. A top-up policy can fill any gap.

Often, if the condition has been stable for the insurer’s stability period before you leave. Declare everything you are asked about on the application — see pre-existing conditions.

Get care first, then call your insurer’s 24/7 assistance line as soon as you can. They can find a suitable hospital, arrange direct payment and help get you home if needed. Keep all receipts and medical reports for your claim.

Cancel before the policy start date and most insurers refund the full premium. If you return early, unused days are often refundable as long as no claim has been made. Terms vary by insurer, so we will confirm before you buy.