Travel Insurance Products for Canadian Travellers
Updated: Oct 13
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway to the U.S., an extended snowbird stay, a family vacation or multiple trips throughout the year, choosing the right travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected medical expenses, trip disruptions and other travel-related risks.
At Travel Insurance Office Inc. (TIO), we offer a variety of travel insurance products for Canadian travellers of all ages and travel styles. With two exclusive products not available from any other broker and two trusted partner products, we offer options for single-trip travel insurance, annual multi-trip coverage, emergency medical travel insurance and comprehensive travel protection.
The right plan depends on your trip, destination, health, age and travel needs. Understanding the different types of travel insurance available can help you choose coverage that fits your circumstances.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Travel insurance is a broad term that can include several different types of coverage. The benefits available to you depend on the plan and policy you purchase.
Common types of travel insurance include:
Emergency Medical Insurance — Generally provides coverage for eligible unexpected illnesses, injuries and medical emergencies that occur during your trip, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance — These optional benefits can help protect eligible prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses when a covered unforeseen and unknown circumstance or event causes you to cancel your trip before departure or interrupt it after departure.
Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance — May provide reimbursement for eligible expenses resulting from covered loss, theft or damage to baggage and personal belongings.
Flight Delay Coverage or Services — May provide eligible benefits or services when a covered flight delay occurs, such as assistance with meals, accommodations or other delay-related expenses, depending on the plan.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) — Provides a benefit in the event of certain covered accidental injuries resulting in death or specified loss of use or function, subject to the policy terms.
Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all. Some travellers primarily need emergency medical protection, while others may also want coverage for their prepaid trip expenses, baggage or other travel risks.
Which Travel Insurance Plan Is Right for You?
The best travel insurance plan depends on several factors, including your destination, trip length, age, health history, travel frequency and the type of protection you need.
At TIO, we offer four main product options. Let's take a closer look.
Travellers Choice
Our exclusive Travellers Choice product is designed to provide comprehensive emergency medical protection and offers competitive options for eligible Canadian travellers, including travellers age 76 and older.
Depending on the plan selected, benefits may include:
Up to $5 million USD in emergency medical coverage
Coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions meeting the applicable 90-day stability period
Single-trip, annual multi-trip and family plan options
24/7 emergency assistance
Additional emergency benefits and services
Eligibility, coverage limits and benefits are subject to the applicable policy wording.
Travel Insurance Made Easy (TIME)
Our exclusive Travel Insurance Made Easy (TIME) product offers emergency medical protection and may be particularly suitable for eligible travellers with certain pre-existing medical conditions.
Depending on the plan selected, benefits may include:
Up to $5 million CAD in emergency medical coverage
Single-trip, annual multi-trip and family plan options
Coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions based on the applicable stability requirements
Top-up options for eligible retiree plans
24/7 emergency assistance
TuGo
TuGo offers flexible travel insurance options for Canadian travellers looking for emergency medical coverage and additional travel benefits.
Depending on the plan selected, benefits may include:
Up to $10 million CAD in emergency medical coverage
Coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions, including options with shorter stability periods on qualifying plans
Baggage coverage
Sports and activities coverage
Single-trip, annual multi-trip, family, and student plan options
24/7 emergency assistance
Blue Cross
Blue Cross offers travel insurance options for Canadians with a range of travel and medical needs, including travellers looking for additional travel benefits.
Depending on the plan selected, benefits may include:
Up to $5 million CAD in emergency medical coverage
Coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions based on the applicable stability period
Single-trip and annual multi-trip plan options
Flight Delay Service, which may provide lounge access, hotel accommodations or cash benefits for eligible delays
24/7 emergency assistance
Additional emergency benefits
Benefits and eligibility can vary by plan, so it is always important to review the applicable policy wording before purchasing.
Types of Travel Insurance for Canadians
Sometimes you need more than just emergency medical coverage. The right travel insurance depends on the type of trip you're taking and the financial and medical risks you want to protect against.
Travel Medical Insurance
Emergency medical travel insurance is one of the most important types of protection for Canadians travelling outside their province or country.
Provincial health insurance generally provides limited coverage outside your home province or Canada, and it may not cover the full cost of emergency medical treatment received elsewhere.
Without private emergency medical travel insurance, even a brief hospital stay outside Canada could result in significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Depending on the policy, emergency medical travel insurance may include benefits for:
Emergency hospital care
Physician and specialist services
Diagnostic testing and medical treatment
Prescription medications related to a covered emergency
Air ambulance and emergency medical evacuation
Emergency dental treatment
Emergency transportation and repatriation
24/7 emergency assistance services
Always review your policy to understand the applicable coverage limits, exclusions, stability requirements and conditions.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
Single-trip travel insurance is designed for Canadians taking one specific trip.
Coverage generally applies for the selected travel dates, subject to the policy terms. It can be a good fit for travellers taking one longer or specific trip, including:
Snowbird stays
Family vacations
Cruises
Extended vacations
International trips
One-time business or leisure travel
If you are taking one significant trip during the year, a single-trip policy may be all the travel insurance you need.
Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
If you travel several times during a 12-month period, annual multi-trip travel insurance can provide the convenience of having coverage for multiple eligible trips under one annual plan rather than purchasing a separate policy for every trip.
Multi-trip travel insurance may be particularly useful for frequent travellers, including:
Business travellers
Border shoppers
Sports enthusiasts
Retirees
Canadians who take several vacations each year
Travellers who regularly visit family outside Canada
Whether an annual multi-trip plan provides better value than purchasing individual single-trip policies depends on your travel frequency, trip lengths, destinations and the applicable premium.
How to Compare Travel Insurance Products
When shopping for travel insurance, price is important, but it should not be the only factor you consider. The right plan should provide the protection you need, meet your medical and eligibility requirements and offer benefits that make sense for your particular trip.
Coverage Limits
Look at the maximum amount available for emergency medical expenses and other covered benefits. Higher coverage limits can provide greater financial protection if a serious illness or injury results in significant medical expenses.
Eligibility Requirements
Check age limits, trip-length restrictions, destination requirements and any medical eligibility criteria that may apply. Not every plan is designed for every traveller, so understanding eligibility before purchasing is important.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, understand the plan's stability period requirements and how the policy defines and treats pre-existing conditions. Stability periods can vary significantly between plans, so don't assume that a condition covered under one policy will automatically be covered under another.
Additional Benefits
Consider whether you need protection beyond emergency medical coverage.
Depending on the plan, additional benefits may include:
Trip cancellation
Trip interruption
Baggage protection
Flight delay benefits or services
Sports and activities coverage
Family plan options
Emergency transportation and evacuation
Fees and Flexibility
Travel plans can change. Before purchasing, find out whether the insurer or broker charges administration or service fees for changes such as adjusting travel dates, extending coverage, returning home early or requesting a refund.
At Travel Insurance Office Inc., there are no administration fees or service charges for eligible policy changes and services we provide, subject to the applicable policy terms and conditions.
We understand that travel plans can change, which is why we prioritize flexibility, payment convenience and a competitive refund policy.
The Bottom Line
Don't choose a travel insurance plan based on price alone. Compare the coverage limits, medical eligibility requirements, stability periods, benefits, exclusions, deductibles and flexibility to make sure you're purchasing protection that's appropriate for your trip.
The cheapest plan may not provide the coverage you need when you need it most.
Travel the World with Peace of Mind
Finding the right travel insurance coverage can give you greater peace of mind while you're outside your home province or Canada.
At Travel Insurance Office Inc., we're proud to provide Canadians with a variety of travel insurance products designed to protect against eligible emergency medical expenses and other covered travel risks.
With our two exclusive products, Travellers Choice and Travel Insurance Made Easy (TIME), along with our partner products TuGo and Blue Cross, we can help you compare options based on your age, health, destination, trip length and travel needs.
Contact TIO today to learn more about our travel insurance products for Canadians.
FAQs About Travel Insurance in Canada
Why Do Canadians Need Travel Insurance?
Canadian provincial and territorial health plans generally provide limited coverage when you travel outside your home province or outside Canada.
International medical care can be significantly more expensive than what your provincial health plan may reimburse. Emergency medical travel insurance can help protect you from eligible expenses that are not covered by your provincial health plan.
Before travelling, check your provincial or territorial health plan to understand what coverage, if any, applies outside your home province or Canada.
What's the Difference Between Travel Medical Insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance?
Travel medical insurance is designed to cover eligible emergency medical expenses that occur during your trip.
Trip cancellation insurance is designed to help protect eligible prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel before departure because of a covered unforeseen and unknown circumstance or event.
Trip interruption insurance applies after your trip has begun and can help cover eligible additional expenses and unused prepaid travel costs when a covered event causes you to interrupt your trip.
These are different types of protection and one does not automatically replace the other.
Can I Get Travel Insurance If I Have a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?
Yes. Many travel insurance plans offer coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions when specific eligibility and stability requirements are met. However, the rules vary between insurers and products. A condition that qualifies under one plan may not qualify under another.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, carefully review the applicable stability period, exclusions and definitions before purchasing.
Should I Choose a Single-Trip or Multi-Trip Plan?
If you travel multiple times during a year, an annual multi-trip travel insurance plan may provide greater convenience and could offer value compared with purchasing separate policies for each trip.
If you're taking one primary trip, particularly an extended vacation or snowbird stay, a single-trip travel insurance plan may be a better fit.
The right choice depends on your travel frequency, trip lengths, destinations and coverage needs.
When Should I Buy Travel Insurance?
The sooner the better, but the timing can depend on the type of insurance you're purchasing.
For emergency medical travel insurance, TIO's Risk-Free Guarantee may provide a full refund when you cancel before travel, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
For trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, purchasing early is particularly important. These benefits are designed to respond to unforeseen and unknown circumstances. Once a circumstance or event becomes known, it may no longer qualify as unforeseen or unknown and may not be covered.
For this reason, we generally recommend considering trip insurance as soon as you book your trip rather than waiting until your departure date.
If you're unsure which coverage you need or when you should purchase it, our licensed TIO insurance specialists can help you understand your options.
