Travel Insurance FAQ

Travel health insurance works similar to car insurance – if you find yourself in an unexpected situation, you can file a claim to use the benefits in your package. Your insurance provider will have 24/7 emergency medical assistance specialists who will help you navigate health care services outside of Canada and guide you in seeking and receiving proper treatment. In some cases, you may be required to pay upfront, and then seek reimbursement through the claims process. 

The Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA) is the national organization that represents travel insurers, brokers, underwriters, re-insurers, emergency assistance companies, air ambulance companies and allied services in the travel insurance field. We do not provide insurance products.

Unlike insurance companies that issue policies and promises to pay benefits for incidents covered in their policies, THIA establishes standards of excellence for insurance providers so consumers can receive the best service when searching and purchasing travel health insurance. THIA also provides education on travel health insurance for consumers through videos, social media and other means. Our annual Smart Traveller survey identifies and shares information on trends in travel and consumer insurance understanding so that our industry is able to address them.

A broker is a licensed professional that can legally sell insurance. They can also be called an agent or an advisor. Brokers are regulated by provincial and territorial legislations and can provide you information on individual insurance policies.

There are many things to consider when it comes to travelling during a pandemic and your coverage. THIA has produced a separate FAQ with the answers to common questions our members have received regarding travelling through COVID. See our COVID Travel FAQ here: https://www.thiaonline.com/COVID19_FAQ.html

Travel health insurance pays for your emergency medical expenses while travelling. It keeps you protected from unexpected medical emergencies and related expenses that may arise while travelling domestically or internationally. If you are travelling and have an unexpected illness, injury, or need immediate medical attention, your travel health insurance will cover you up to your plan limit.

Some benefits may include:

• Trip interruption

• Ambulance and air ambulance costs
• Emergency hospital and medical costs
• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Trip cancellation for non-refundable monetary losses
• Baggage loss, rental car damage, out-of-pocket expenses

All travel health insurance plans are customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs and travel plans. There are numerous travel health insurance options to choose from, and several THIA member organizations can help you find the right one for you.

Travel health insurance is meant to cover emergency medical expenses while travelling. It does not provide coverage for routine expenses or illness that could be foreseen. Although some policies may cover claims relating to pre-existing conditions that are stable and controlled, in general, travel insurance does not cover conditions or symptoms that have happened within a certain time frame prior to your policy activation. In addition, if you have a medical emergency that is addressed through your insurance and that emergency ends, then the same issue or related issues recur, no further benefits are payable because it is now deemed a pre-existing condition. We recommend always reviewing your policy to understand how it defines pre-existing conditions and terms such as “treatment” and “stable” as they relate to your personal medical history. You may also wish to contact your insurer to clearly understand your coverage.

Travel health insurance plans offer a variety of coverages, price ranges, and benefit options for travellers. Based on your selected insurance plan, you will be covered for a variety of unexpected medical expenses. Common coverages include:

• Prescription drugs
• Outpatient services
• Physician and laboratory costs
• Air ambulance or commercial repatriation home
• Hospital care; related drug and diagnostic services
• Assistance with bringing a family member to your bedside
• Direct payment to the hospitals and doctors caring for you
• Return of your vehicle if you are ill and have to come home

There are many travel health insurance providers to choose from. You can purchase your insurance from financial institutions, insurance brokers, travel agents or your local automobile association. Several THIA member organizations can help you. See what they have to offer in coverage based on your travel plans, policy needs, and health status. An insurance provider who is TRIP certified has taken a comprehensive course developed by THIA to ensure their knowledge of all aspects of travel health insurance.

Whether you’re a cross-border shopper, business traveller, backpacker, snowbird or family on vacation, unforeseen incidents can happen at any time. Costs for medical care in the US and many places around the world can be very costly, and most provincial health plans only have a small allowance for medical expenses that can be incurred outside of your home province and outside of Canada.

Consider these costs for services in the US if, while on your trip, you suddenly experienced serious unexplained abdominal pain*: You would need an MRI to assess what the source of the pain is ($1,200). You would be kept in hospital for 24 hours of observation ($5,000+). If the MRI reveals that your appendix is inflamed, you will need to have it removed ($16,000). Suddenly, you are looking more than $22,000 for a common procedure.

Travel health insurance is essential to ensuring you, your family, and your finances are protected if met with a medical emergency. You will have access to 24/7 emergency medical assistance by specialists that can help you navigate health care services outside of Canada and guide you in seeking and receiving proper treatment.

Travel health insurance provides peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying your trip. If something unexpected happens, you will have someone to turn to for help if you’re sick or stranded. Travel insurance is a necessity that you should not leave the country without.

*These are approximations. There is no standard system for determining the cost of hospital care in the US. No two hospitals are likely to be the same. Source: https://www.internationalinsurance.com/resources/healthcare-costs-in-the-usa.php

Remember THIA’s Four Golden Rules when purchasing travel health insurance:

Know your trip – Your trip details and medical history will determine your eligibility for travel health insurance. Are you going to be mountain climbing, skiing, drinking heavily or taking part in other activities? Let your insurer know about any high-risk activities that you may have planned for your trips so that you can get the right plan for your needs.

Know your health -- It’s important to know your medical history and declare any pre-existing medical conditions. Provide all information to your insurer to get an appropriate policy for you.

Know your policy – Make sure your policy covers your needs. Will you need coverage for you or your whole family. Will you be covered for one trip or many in the year? Will you be able to extend your policy if you have to stay longer than expected? Will you be covered for COVID-19? Understanding your policy is key to peace of mind.

Know your rights and responsibilities – As a travel health insurance consumer, you have rights and responsibilities. THIA's short Bill of Rights and Responsibilities video will help you understand what to expect and what to do when buying or making a claim on your travel health insurance.

Travel insurance policies, including those providing protection for unexpected medical costs, trip cancellation or trip interruption may cover claims relating to pre-existing conditions that are stable and controlled. It is essential to review your policy and understand how it defines pre-existing conditions and terms such as treatment and stable as they relate to your personal medical history. Insurance companies may define this term differently, but generally they will not cover conditions or symptoms that have happened within a certain time frame prior to your departure.

A pre-existing medical condition is usually defined by the following:

• A medical condition you’ve had symptoms for
• A medical condition you’ve received treatment for
• A medica condition that has deteriorated or become more frequent
• A medical condition required change of medication type or dosage
• A medical condition you’ve consulted a medical professional for

If you have any doubts about changes you may have experienced during these time frames, or don’t understand terminology in the policy or your medical application for insurance, check with your doctor and your insurance advisor.

Eligibility, exclusions and  limitations

All travel policies define their requirements for eligibility. They also have limits on benefits and maximum amounts for certain types of claims, such as trip cancellation or interruption. There are exclusions; for example, treatment of certain health conditions including pregnancy-related conditions may not be covered or may be limited. In addition, if you have a medical emergency that is addressed through your insurance and that emergency ends, then the same issue or related issues recur, no further benefits are payable because it is now deemed a pre-existing condition. We recommend always reviewing your policy to understand how it defines pre-existing conditions and terms such as “treatment” and “stable” as they relate to your personal medical history.

Claims generated by activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, alcohol or drug abuse may also not be payable. It’s important you read and understand the exclusions and limitations; as travel insurance covers unexpected emergencies only. It is not a substitute for your provincial health insurance.

A pre-existing condition, broadly defined, is a health condition known to you before you travel. It may be a diagnosis or just symptoms you experienced prior to your trip. For example, if you visit a medical professional and they give you a diagnosis, or even suggest that you have some tests done, that qualifies as a pre-existing condition for most insurance policies.

Most policies do not cover pre-existing health conditions that occurred during a certain time period, such as six months, before your trip. This time frame varies based on your chosen insurance plan.  In addition, if you have a medical emergency that is addressed through your insurance and that emergency ends, then the same issue or issues related to it recur, no further benefits are payable because it is now deemed a pre-existing condition.

It’s important to know your policy limitations and your insurer’s criteria for pre-existing medical conditions. Make sure you confirm these details, disclose all of your health conditions to your insurer, and advise them of any changes to your health prior to your trip.

If you currently have a condition, check your policy to see if you would be covered were an emergency to arise.

There are four levels of travel advisory. The two highest levels – “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” and “Avoid All Travel” – may be mentioned in a travel insurance policy and, if mentioned, can impact your coverage. While many travel insurance companies offer trip cancellation coverage for travel advisories, the requirements that determine if a claim is eligible differ by provider. One of THIA's "golden rules of travel health insurance" is to Know Your Policy. It’s best for you to speak to your provider directly to understand your coverage in this situation, as there are many factors that can impact your claim, such as the level of the travel advisory and whether it took effect after your trip purchase date or before.

Some credit cards and companies offer travel insurance, but there may be limitations and restrictions to your coverage. It’s important you know the details of your policy and be aware of any specific restrictions your credit card company may have. Read through the details of your policy and keep THIA’s four golden rules in mind, then ask your insurance provider questions specific to your health and travel activities. The Golden Rules:

Know your trip – Your trip details and medical history will determine your eligibility for travel health insurance. Are you going to be mountain climbing, skiing, drinking heavily or taking part in other activities? Let your insurer know about any high-risk activities that you may have planned for your trips so that you can get the right plan for your needs.

Know your health -- It’s important to know your medical history and declare any pre-existing medical conditions. Provide all information to your insurer to get an appropriate policy for you.

Know your policy – Make sure your policy covers your needs. For example, will you need coverage for you or your whole family? Will it cover any pre-existing conditions you/your family member(s) have? Will you be covered for one trip or many in the year? Will you be able to extend your policy if you have to stay longer than expected? What are the steps to extending? Will you be covered for COVID-19? Understanding your policy is key to peace of mind.

Know your rights and responsibilities – As a travel health insurance consumer, you have rights and responsibilities. THIA's short Bill of Rights and Responsibilities video will help you understand what to expect and what to do when buying or making a claim on your travel health insurance.

All travel policies have their own requirements for eligibility with limitations and maximum amounts for certain types of claims and benefits. There are exclusions that may not be covered or may be limited.

Some policies will require you to declare all of your medical conditions and medications. Others will define the eligibility criteria required for coverage. It’s important that you understand your medical status and report it correctly to the insurance company as that information is used to determine your coverage and your premium.

Be aware that if there are any changes in your medical status between the time you buy the policy and leave on your trip, you need to notify the insurance company as this may affect your eligibility and your rate. Remember, if you provide inaccurate or incomplete answers to the questions, your claim can be denied; even if the question that is answered incorrectly is not related to the cause of the claim.

Claims generated by activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, alcohol or drug abuse may also not be payable. It’s important you read and understand the exclusions and limitations; as travel insurance covers unexpected emergencies only. It is not a substitute for your provincial health insurance.

TRIP is THIA’s Travel Insurance Program that offers an online curriculum about travel health insurance. This 12-part program was developed in 2019 by industry experts and provides a comprehensive training program specifically designed for the Canadian Travel Insurance Industry.

TRIP gives industry professionals and individuals interested in working in travel and travel insurance a foundation of knowledge for their careers. It is the first program of its kind and equips users with the technical expertise and professional competence required to excel in the Canadian Travel Insurance Industry.

Look for TRIP Certified Travel Professionals

When you purchase your travel insurance from a TRIP certified salesperson you know you are dealing with an individual who is committed to the Canadian Travel Insurance Industry and has invested the time to distinguish themselves.

A TRIP certified salesperson is equipped the knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Canadian Travel Insurance industry. This helps them to be able to better support you as the customer and clearly explain all the details of the product including coverage and exclusions so you know what you are buying.

TRIP certified agents understand the coverage options available and can help you make the right choice for your travel insurance needs and those of others travelling with you. They are also fully trained on claims handling and will be able to help you navigate that process should it be necessary.