Travel Insurance: 5 Coverage Options for Canadians Travelling Abroad

Did you know there are at least five different travel insurance coverage options for Canadians to consider when travelling abroad? Depending on where you’re travelling to and for how long, it’s worth getting acquainted with the options available to you.

Having the correct travel policy can provide you with peace of mind and reassurance while you’re travelling. For instance, if you happen to be travelling by boat, you can check out boat insurance in Alberta and boat insurance Red Deer options. Here are five coverage options to think about before your next trip.

Emergency Medical

Emergency medical provides coverage in case of injury or sickness that requires an emergency hospital stay or emergency medical treatment while travelling abroad.

Benefits include emergency medical transport (including licensed ambulance use), prescription drug reimbursement and emergency dental expense. If you’re travelling as a family or with your spouse, coverage can extend to include family transportation expenses, board and lodging while confined to a hospital, and escort home of insureds.

Again, if travelling with family, it’s essential to make sure every member of your family is included on your emergency medical plan, not just the parent(s).

There are exclusions that can prevent someone from being granted emergency medical coverage. Some reasons for exclusion include travelling against the advice of a physician, having been diagnosed with a terminal condition and having certain pre-existing conditions.

If you’re concerned as to whether you’d be granted emergency medical coverage while travelling abroad, spend some time going over the ‘’Eligibility’’ and ‘’Exclusions’’ tabs when you’re applying for your travel insurance coverage online. Note that relying on your credit card for emergency medical coverage is not a good idea. Check out this post to learn more.

Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption

Things may arise, that you have no control over, that can force you to not go on a trip at the time you were hoping. An unexpected death in the family, illness or an injury could prevent travel. Furthermore, complications getting a travel visa, natural disaster or job loss can affect plans.

Trip cancellation & trip interruption coverage can reimburse the costs of the travel plans both prior to departure and after the trip has begun, depending on circumstances.

Trip Interruption

Trip interruption coverage kicks in after your trip has begun. Trip interruption coverage must be purchased prior to leaving for your trip, not while you are on your trip.

Trip interruption – similar to the above ‘Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption’ section – provides coverage for death in the family, injury, sickness, disaster, missed connecting flights, hospitalization and more. Read also this post about travel insurance options for seniors.

Baggage Coverage

Many people think baggage coverage only applies while in transport – usually by flight. It is true, your baggage is covered while flying, but it also includes all forms of transit (train, bus, boat, etc.) as well as while in a hotel or any other building.

Baggage coverage applies to loss (including theft) and damage.

Typically, the maximum baggage benefit limit is $1,500 per person or $3,000 per family.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment

Obviously, death & dismemberment are topics no one wants to think about as possible outcomes during travelling.

Accidental death & dismemberment coverage provides protection in case you suffer injury while riding as a fare-paying passenger on an airplane, helicopter, bus, train or boat, or any other situation.

Due to the life-threatening risk of some extreme sports, there are quite a few exclusions to receiving accidental death & dismemberment coverage. If you’re a participant in any sport deemed extreme (backcountry skiing/snowboarding/snowshoeing, base jumping, rodeo sports, X Game sports or scuba diving, to name a few) you may want to check what options are available to you through a different insurance medium. Check also this post about traveling in the post-pandemic world.