Are We There Yet?
Most Canadians are aware that their health insurance usually won’t provide coverage when leaving the country but not everyone knows that coverage is also limited when visiting another province within Canada.
Travel to Another Province.
If you’re planning a trip to another province, it’s important to learn your options and to secure coverage with a travel insurance policy before you leave for your trip. If you’re a frequent traveler, you may want to inquire about an annual plan which can be more cost-effective then purchasing multiple short-term travel insurance policies. Many travel insurance plans require that you are a resident of Canada who is covered under a government health insurance plan.
Accidents, health issues, or illnesses can occur anywhere and travel insurance can provide emergency medical coverage for the dates during which you will be traveling to another province. If your trip turns out to be longer than expected, it’s often possible to extend your coverage to match the extended duration of your trip.
Several other coverages are typically offered as well:
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage
• Baggage loss or damage
• Baggage delay
• Flight accident
• Travel accident
The types of additional coverages available can vary by insurer or by the policy options you choose.
If your trip is canceled or postponed, in most cases you’ll be able to cancel your coverage or change your coverage effective dates provided that you contact your broker before the effective date of your travel insurance policy.
Generally, travel insurance benefits for traveling inside the country versus outside the country are similar. However, travel insurance for traveling to another province is typically less expensive than travel insurance for traveling to another country.
Family coverage can also be a cost-effective way to purchase travel insurance because many insurers offer a family discount for families traveling together.
Just reach out to your broker to ask about your options before you leave for that big trip.