Travel Insurance While Out of Country

Winter is here and nearly 40 percent of Canadians take a trip outside of Canada’s borders annually. There’s nothing like an escape to warmer climates during the chilly Canadian winter months. Alongside the usual trip planning are booking flights, hotel reservations, and packing the usual travel essentials. However, many Canadian travelers forget to pack one important thing – travel and out-of-country medical insurance.

Why Do I Need Travel Insurance? Aren’t I Already Covered in an Emergency?

Despite our best efforts and planning, life just happens sometimes. Aside from the usual inconveniences of delayed flights and lost luggage, one of the primary reasons Canadians should prioritize travel & medical insurance is for the crucial health coverage it provides when venturing beyond our borders. While traveling inside of Canada ensures seamless healthcare coverage for all Canadians, this is simply not the case outside the country.

For Ontarians, the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) covers a very limited amount of the costs you might incur if you receive emergency health services while you’re traveling outside Canada.

Travel insurance ensures that unexpected illnesses or accidents are met with financial support, covering medical bills, hospital stays, and emergency evacuation if necessary. This becomes especially vital when traveling to countries with high healthcare costs, where uninsured medical expenses can be exorbitant.

Travellers and medical insurance should always be purchased before your trip. Speak with your insurance broker to understand your options and to take advantage of the best pricing available to you considering your specific travel needs.

Travel & Medical Insurance Products

Trip Cancellation

Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance when making reservations involving significant pre-payments or deposits. This becomes particularly valuable when planning well in advance, as circumstances may undergo substantial changes in just a few months. This insurance safeguards you in the event that you’ve secured non-refundable travel arrangements but find yourself unable to embark on your trip.

Trip Interruption

Much like trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption insurance provides coverage for non-refundable deposits or pre-payments in the event that you have to abruptly end your journey. These two insurance types share significant similarities, with one typically applicable before embarking on your trip, and the other coming into play once you’ve already departed from home.

Baggage Insurance

Picture this scenario: you’re traveling, and the airline misplaces your checked luggage. Navigating an entire trip solely with your carry-on becomes challenging. Without knowledge of where to purchase necessities and no time for strategic, cost-effective shopping, you might quickly accumulate significant expenses to replace the contents of your lost bag. Baggage insurance addresses reasonable expenses resulting from luggage delays. In cases of loss, damage, or theft, this insurance typically covers the replacement cost of both your suitcase and its contents.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance functions precisely as its name implies – serving as a substitute for your provincial health insurance when you venture beyond the province or country. The specific medical insurance options accessible to you depend on factors such as your insurance company, policy, destination, and age. To explore the diverse choices, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions, it’s advisable to engage in a discussion with your insurance broker.

All-Inclusive Insurance

All-inclusive insurance can be envisioned as a comprehensive blend of various travel insurance types. Given its extensive coverage, all-inclusive insurance generally stands out as the priciest option among travel insurance choices. Nevertheless, its broad protection ensures that there are few situations not covered by this comprehensive insurance.

Canadians should view insurance not as an additional expense but as a fundamental aspect of trip planning. It acts as a safety net, ensuring that unforeseen circumstances do not turn a dream vacation into a financial nightmare.

Speak to one of Haas Insurance’s representatives for the best coverage to know that you are safeguarded so you focus on creating lasting memories.