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Pacific Blue Cross travel insurance is the worst travel insurance company I've ever dealt with. They do not communicate at all during claim processing, nor do they give you any information regarding how they came up with the claim amount. I regret ever having purchased travel insurance with them as my hospital bill was far less than the insurance I paid for.

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Wow, save your money and don’t deal with blue cross/canassistance.

Submitted all necessary documentation totalling $775.50 for an acute gastrointestinal infection while on vacation likely bacterial or parasite. They do not ask you for everything when they make their initial contact with you. Every week or so they will request additional information and I am assuming that is a delay tactic. I have always acquired travel insurance and have travelled frequently over the years. This is the first time I have had to make a claim and did not realize what an agonizing task this is. Hopefully I will eventually get reimbursed but will be researching more reputable insurance coverage in future.

Don’t get Blue Cross travel Insurance

Do not get this insurance

It took me 5 hours in PAIN to get an ok for treatment. Got a confirmation that my arm was broken Got meds to get back to Canada Long story short. I had surgery in Canada 15 screws and a titanium plate. They oked the treatment but as of today Feb 14,2024 They will not pay the bill of $1922.00. Do not get this insurance. They don’t pay out. They lie on the phone and don’t keep proper records. Shop else where. Run from Blue Cross.

Taking them to court. 😡

International emergency medical case refused by blue cross quebec

I had a very bad experience with this company. They only seem to care about money. It's difficult to contact them, especially when you're outside Canada, particularly in the Middle East. I purchased an annual medical insurance that was supposed to cover any emergency medical issue during my trip. However, when I had an urgent medical condition and I tried to reach out them through my contact in canada to ease the communication they decided to refuse the claim without providing any explanation.

J'ai eu une très mauvaise expérience avec cette entreprise. Ils semblent seulement se soucier de l'argent. Il est difficile de les contacter, surtout lorsque vous êtes à l'extérieur du Canada, particulièrement au Moyen-Orient. J'ai souscrit une assurance médicale annuelle censée couvrir tout problème médical d'urgence pendant mon voyage. Cependant, lorsque j'ai eu une condition médicale urgente et que j'ai essayé de les joindre via mes contacts au Canada pour faciliter la communication, ils ont décidé de refuser la demande sans fournir aucune explication.

I was a member of blue cross for several years, and I purchased certificates from them yearly as I am a frequent flyer. I got sick on my trips, nothing serious but I needed to see a dr. Contacted blue cross, they said they didn’t have my certificate number because I had told them I don’t have it, clearly they saw this as a chance to save money. I had to pay out of pocket for my visit at that time. They were clearly trying to save money cuz I had the certificate at home, just not on me. They didn’t know that. Matter of principle. If you with blue cross, take pics and have several copies of your certificate.

I would never get another insurance with them again. Congratulations blue cross you lost a loyal member.

Don't Pay out for Legitimate Claims

My daughter was sick on the way back from NYC. We called BlueCross who informed us any big emergency hospitals will accept Canadian BlueCross. The hospital thinking it was US fortunately accepted the number (initially) as we would have been charged $2600 US dollars. I filed a claim when I received the hospital's invoice in September 2023 after all the documentation was sent. It is now late January 2024. They informed me the adjuster recommended it would be paid. I have since received numerous collection agency phone calls and bills. I have emailed the adjuster numerous times to gain information on the status - dead air. I am calling now. My estimated wait time is 45 minutes. I have since bought new travel insurance and never again with Blue Cross. People are now asking, who was the provider you had issues with BLUE CROSS. I know a lot of people and am about to email my ombudsman.

My husband had a mountain biking accident and the company was excellent.

They started claim right away. Sent us and the hospital paperwork by email right away. Service was excellent. Thanks!

I made a claim and blue cross wouldn’t pay. They said there was an advisory when I bought the insurance. How would I know that? They should have told me. They sold me something I could not use. Other insurances paid other people in my group. Go with a real travel insurance company, not a health insurance company for travel insurance. Shame!!!

Avoid if you don’t want your family be left in distress

Avoid if you don’t want your family be left in distress. I purchased travel insurance for a newborn 15 days past our travel day because we had some coverage that comes with a regular travel Visa card that every Canadian has. This somehow rendered our policy with blue cross void (!) since they treated it as “extension” of existing “policy”. Does it make sense? Please avoid this organization. Just go with reputable company or you may find yourself in a dire situation.

Avoid at all cost…run

We’ve been with Blue Cross for many years and just renewed for the year starting October 1, 2023. Due to our age (70’s) and waiting for surgery, 1-2 year wait, we called to cancel. Over the years we were led to believe the coverage could be cancelled and money paid back pro-rated. Which is fine being this started October 1, 2023. Here it is November and they refuse to do what is not only the right thing to do but we were misled right from day one. So Never ever deal with this company. This is not the only negative review on this pathetic scam.

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Is Blue Cross Travel Insurance in Canada worth it? 2024 Review

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Our articles are written by experts in their fields (finance, trading, insurance etc.) whose signatures you will see at the beginning and at the end of each article. They are also systematically reviewed and corrected before each publication, and updated regularly.

Blue Cross Travel Insurance is a well-established insurance provider that offers coverage for Canadian travellers. With a reputation for reliability, Blue Cross is a trusted choice for those seeking reliable travel insurance solutions.

But how much does Blue Cross travel offer cost? What does it cover? What are its pros and cons? And most importantly, is it the best choice for you? Find all this and more in our complete review of Blue Cross Travel Insurance Canada.

5 Key Takeaways on Blue Cross Travel Insurance

• Provides comprehensive coverage for Canadian travellers
• Offers various plans to suit different travel needs, including single-trip and multi-trip policies
• Covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage and other travel-related incidents
• May have limitations depending on specific situations and individual health conditions
• Compare Blue Cross with other providers using HelloSafe comparator and get free quotes

Our 2024 review on Blue Cross travel insurance

Blue Cross is a reputable provider in Canada, catering to travellers' needs by offering travel insurance plans. The company's policies cover a wide range of travel-related incidents, including medical emergencies, trip interruptions and baggage loss.

The company aims to provide peace of mind to travellers by protecting them from unexpected expenses while abroad. Its extensive coverage options and reputation in the insurance industry make it a good option for Canadian travellers seeking reliable travel insurance.

Let’s take a look at its pros and cons to further understand Blue Cross insurance Canada:

• Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies during travel
• Options for trip cancellation and interruption coverage
• Provides coverage for lost or delayed baggage
• Multi-trip policies for frequent travellers
• Access to a vast network of healthcare providers
• Blue Cross Travel Insurance reviews show good customer service
• Pre-existing conditions coverage may not be all-inclusive
• Some plans may have limited coverage for extreme sports or adventure activities
• High deductibles on certain policies
• Policy costs may be higher for older travellers

Before choosing Blue Cross, be sure to compare its offer with its competitors:

Compare the best travel insurance plans on the market!

What is Blue Cross travel coverage in Canada?

What does blue cross travel insurance cover.

Blue Cross Travel Insurance Canada typically covers a range of incidents, such as:

• Emergency medical expenses during travel
• Trip interruption or cancellation under some unforeseen circumstances
• Baggage loss, delay, or theft
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage
• Travel assistance services, including emergency evacuation
• Optional: Covid coverage

Below, we have outlined the features of each coverage option offered for the single-trip plan when traveling outside of Canada to assist you in selecting the most suitable option:

What is not covered by Blue Cross travel plans?

The specific exclusions may vary depending on the policy, but typical exclusions might include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions (unless specifically covered)
• Injuries or accidents related to extreme sports or risky activities
• Travel to countries or regions under travel advisories or warnings

In some cases, Blue Cross might provide coverage for stable pre-existing conditions , which are medical conditions that have been stable and controlled for a certain period before the trip. The definition of "stable" and the required stability period can vary from one policy to another. It's important for travelers with pre-existing conditions to be upfront and honest when providing their medical history during the application process. Failure to disclose pre-existing conditions accurately can lead to claims being denied later on.

Good to know

Medical or trip cancellation/interruption coverage is mandatory, while dismemberment and baggage coverage or accidental death are optional.

Is Blue Cross travel insurance available in all provinces?

Blue Cross offers coverage to travellers from all Canadian provinces, including but not limited to:

• British Columbia (Pacific blue cross travel insurance)
• Saskatchewan
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador

For example

Blue Cross offers almost the same coverage for all provinces. For instance, Alberta Blue Cross travel coverage is similar to that of blue cross travel insurance Ontario — emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation, and assistance services. The main difference lies in the specific plans and pricing available to residents of each province.

Does Blue cross have travel insurance for seniors?

Yes, Blue Cross offers travel insurance to seniors in Canada. Its offer is designed to cater to the unique needs of older travelers. These insurance plans typically offer comprehensive coverage, including the following:

• emergency medical expenses,
• trip cancellations,
• baggage loss.

They may also provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions , as well as extended trip durations suitable for seniors traveling abroad

There are eligibility criterias for travellers aged 55, we discuss these further down on this page. Policies are tailored to accommodate the potential health risks associated with age.

How to contact Blue Cross travel insurance?

For inquiries or assistance, individuals can contact Blue Cross through their customer service channels, which may include phone numbers, email, or online chat support available on their official website.

The Blue Cross travel insurance phone number numbers may vary based on your province. In Ontario, you can call Blue Cross at: 

• 416-640-3444
• 1-866-732-2583

Another easy and quick way to contact Blue Cross is to log in to your Blue Cross account and get in touch with the insurer through its private online channels.

Blue Cross travel insurance for visitors to Canada

Blue Cross offers insurance for visitors to Canada to provide health travel coverage and financial protection for individuals who are visiting Canada from other countries. This type of visitor travel insurance is essential for international visitors as it helps cover medical expenses in case of unexpected illnesses or accidents while in Canada.

How much does Blue Cross travel insurance cost?

The cost of Blue Cross's travel insurance is determined by several factors, including:

• the total trip cost,
• the trip destination (whether you need travel insurance for the USA or Europe, your premium will not be the same),
• the age of the traveller,
• the chosen coverage level.

Below are some examples of the costs for Blue Cross single-trip plans available to travellers based in Ontario . All travellers have provincial healthcare plans.

To know the exact coverage and exclusions, you must get a personalized quote from Blue Cross.

To see what suits you best, you could use our comparator below to compare Blue Cross prices with other travel insurances . Get quotes and pricing information in no time and it's completely free to use.

Are you eligible for Blue Cross travel insurance?

To qualify for insurance coverage with Blue Cross, you must meet the following criteria:

• You are a Canadian resident who is covered under a health insurance plan from the government.
• You are at least 30 days old on the departure date of your trip.

Moreover, for travellers aged 55 and over, the following conditions must not apply:

• You have received medical advice not to travel.
• You are suffering from a medical condition in a terminal stage.
• You are suffering from kidney failure and treated with dialysis.
• You have been diagnosed with or treated for metastatic cancer in the last five years.
• You have been prescribed or treated with home oxygen in the past 12 months.

Blue Cross Medical Travel Insurance refers to travel insurance policies that emphasize medical coverage, ensuring that travellers have financial protection in case of unexpected medical emergencies while travelling.

How to make a Blue Cross travel insurance claim?

To make a claim with Blue Cross travel coverage, travellers typically need to follow these steps:

• Contact Blue Cross as soon as possible to initiate the claim process.
• Provide all necessary documentation and details related to the incident.
• Complete any claim forms required by the company.
• Cooperate with the claims adjuster, if needed, to provide additional information.

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Blue Cross Travel Insurance Review 2022

By Arthur Dubois | Published on 21 Aug 2023

Purchasing travel insurance ensures that you have a stress-free holiday, and many travellers turn to Blue Cross travel insurance when shopping around for policies. The Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, or Blue Cross Canada, is one of the world’s largest and most recognized insurance companies.

Founded in 1938, it has been around for a long time. It has earned its reputation as one of the best travel insurance companies in Canada, offering some of the most comprehensive and affordable plans. Blue Cross consists of 5 insurance providers, divided regionally with slight variations. They are:

• Alberta Blue Cross
• Pacific Blue Cross (for residents of British Columbia)
• Manitoba Blue Cross
• Quebec Blue Cross
• Medavie Blue Cross (for residents of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia)

Blue Cross offers individual and group benefits to its customers, as well as travel insurance. In fact, Blue Cross offers a wide range of diverse travel insurance options to suit travellers of all kinds, from snowbirds to short-stay holidaymakers, solo travellers and families.

Blue Cross travel offers insurance plans for emergency medical coverage, trip interruption or cancellation, and coverage plans for visitors to Canada. Moreover, members that have health or dental benefits , either purchased or provided through their employer, can receive a discount on their plan. 

What Does Blue Cross Travel Insurance Cover?

Blue Cross travel insurance has a wide range of plans available. You can purchase emergency medical insurance and trip interruption individually or combine both coverages into one policy. 

Emergency medical

Emergency medical travel insurance protects you from accruing massive medical bills in the event of sickness or injury on your trip. The emergency medical coverage from Blue Cross travel insurance covers the cost of a hospital stay, ambulance fees, repatriation and any cost associated with a medical follow-up in Canada for up to $5,000,000 . This coverage is affordable, and you can add your children to your plan at no additional cost.

Unlike other travel insurance providers that won’t cover you if you have any pre-existing conditions, you can still get coverage with Blue Cross travel insurance, depending on the severity of the situation. 

Trip cancellation/trip interruption

There are a few options regarding trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance. Suppose your trip is cancelled before departure (for example, due to extreme weather).

In that case, trip cancellation insurance will reimburse you for non-refundable travel fees. Some plans even offer trip cancellation for personal reasons, like if there is a death in the family or unexpected pregnancy that prevents you from flying.  

Trip interruption insurance does the same if your trip is derailed once it has begun, so any extra costs are covered if your trip is cut short, even by a few days. You will be reimbursed for costs like non-refundable hotel booking fees. 

For an added cost, you can also purchase coverage for lost or delayed baggage. You can buy one of these plans separately or bundle them along with your emergency medical travel insurance. 

Single and multi-trip plans

Blue Cross travel insurance offers single and multi-trip comprehensive plans. If you only take one vacation annually, you can choose which dates you want for coverage.

On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to take a few holidays every year, you can purchase one of Blue Cross’s multi-trip plans. 

If you travel extensively throughout the year, you can even buy a year’s worth of travel insurance, meaning that the plan covers you for any trips. 

Blue Cross travel insurance plans are comprehensive enough for travellers to pick and choose what they want to have covered. Keep in mind, however, that policies vary slightly from province to province. 

How much does Blue Cross travel insurance cost?

This depends on how thorough you want your insurance coverage to be. A plan that includes emergency medical and trip cancellation or interruption will be more expensive.  

There are also a few factors that Blue Cross takes into consideration when pricing its policies. For instance, the number of people on the plan will affect the cost of travel insurance.

Your premium is higher if your partner is part of the plan. The age of the insured is also a factor to consider. Children can receive insurance for free, but anyone over 65 typically pays more for travel insurance. 

Additionally, Blue Cross will consider where and how long you plan to travel and adjust accordingly. Travel insurance is charged daily, so the longer your trip is, the more you will pay.

Suppose you’re travelling to areas with travel advisories from the Canadian government. In that case, you can still purchase travel insurance, but you will undoubtedly pay more. 

Finally, any pre-existing medical condition will affect the cost of travel insurance. Depending on the severity and medical care needed, you can still purchase travel insurance if you have any pre-existing conditions. Still, your insurance policy will be more expensive, and Blue Cross may require you to sign a waiver.

Because of all the factors that go into determining the price of travel insurance, it’s difficult to estimate the average cost. Still, typically, Blue Cross travel insurance is very affordable.

There are cheaper plans, and some  credit cards  will automatically insure you when you use them to book your travel arrangements. In fact, the Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card has $2,000,000 in emergency medical coverage. You get that plus other travel insurances.

Still, they might lack the global recognition that Blue Cross has. You might not get the same standard of coverage as you would with a Blue Cross travel insurance policy. 

Blue Cross for travellers to Canada

Blue Cross also offers insurance plans for foreign visitors to Canada at an affordable rate. This includes tourists, international students, immigrants and foreign workers who don’t have benefits from their employers. 

The plans are more expensive than the travel insurance policies offered to Canadians who travel abroad. Still, they are equally comprehensive and will cover medical fees, including hospital stays and emergency treatment, ambulance transportation costs and even emergency dental treatment. 

How to buy Blue Cross travel insurance

Remember that you need to purchase travel insurance before you leave for your trip. To purchase Blue Cross travel insurance, begin at the Blue Cross website.

Choose your province of residence and scroll to the bottom of the page. Choose what kind of coverage you would like to purchase: emergency medical, trip interruption/cancellation or coverage for visitors to Canada. 

From here, you will need to fill in the online application. You will need to provide your trip details like where you’re going, how long and how many travellers are included in the plan.

All travellers who need coverage will need to provide personal information such as their name, residence, email address, age, and any pertinent medical information. If you have any other health insurance, say, from your employer, you will be required to disclose that information.

Of course, if you already have a health insurance plan with Blue Cross, as you may qualify for a discount on your travel insurance if that’s the case. Once you’ve completed your application, Blue Cross will provide you with a quote and allow you to review your policy details before you buy.

Be sure to go over it in detail and contact a customer service representative if you have any questions. You can reach a Blue Cross at any time by calling the customer service hotline or sending an email. 

Once your plan has been confirmed, note your group and policy number. Keep it with you and easily accessible while you travel to avoid any unnecessary expenses. 

How to file a Blue Cross travel insurance claim 

Travel is full of surprises. If something requires you to use your travel insurance, filing a claim online is easy. Travel insurance claims need to be made within 1 year of services provided. 

Begin at the homepage of your province’s Blue Cross website. Select ‘file a claim’ and download the travel claim form you would like to submit. For example, select’ baggage claim form’ if you’re filing a claim for lost baggage and have purchased that protection. 

Fill in the claim form and include any receipts and other pertinent medical information. Depending on where you received medical care and the type of treatment, the healthcare provider may bill your Blue Cross travel insurance provider directly.

If not, you will be required to pay upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Once an agent receives your claim, they will be in contact with you and with your medical doctor.

The settlement of your claim is as fast as possible. Sometimes, you might only take a few hours, but this is usually only if you claim coverage for something simple like a broken bone or a doctor’s appointment.

More complicated claims can take longer, and Blue Cross might ask you for more information. Hence, keeping any and all forms of documentation related to your medical care is vital until the settlement of the claim.

You or your health care provider has received payment. The settlement of most travel insurance claims is between 20 and 90 days. 

Does Blue Cross travel insurance cover Covid? 

Fully vaccinated travellers can cover Covid-19-related expenses for up to $10,000,000. Blue Cross travel insurance covers medical care, including hospitalization, due to Covid-19 regardless of your vaccination status, but there are some limitations. Circumstances such as whether you tested positive for Covid-19 90 days before your trip may affect your coverage. 

However, the specifics of Covid coverage vary slightly from province to province, so you must go over your policy with your broker in detail before your trip. For example, with Pacific Blue Cross, available to residents of British Columbia, Covid-19-related expenses might still be covered, even if you have had a recent diagnosis of Covid, if you purchase their pre-existing condition waiver.

Additionally, there is a monetary cap on how much you can claim back if you had any medical expenses related to Covid-19 during your trip. 

Blue Cross travel insurance does not cover the cost of testing or any costs you might accrue if you need to quarantine. 

Frequently asked questions about Blue Cross travel insurance

You can cancel your travel insurance and receive a full refund if you cancel your plan before the effective date. Any unused portions of your medical plan are non-refundable, regardless of the circumstances.  To cancel your plan, you must send in a request by email to your province’s Blue Cross insurance provider. The email must be sent before the plan’s effective date. Include your full name and the certificate number you provided when you bought your plan. 

Blue Cross travel insurance is an excellent option for any type of traveller. Blue Cross travel insurance provides travellers with excellent emergency medical care for up to $5,000,000, and its global network makes them a recognizable partner worldwide. Their plans are varied, comprehensive and affordable. They can even cover you for pre-existing conditions, something other travel insurance providers are reluctant to do.  You can reach a member of their customer service staff 24/7. If you already have a health or dental plan with Blue Cross, you may be eligible for a discount on your travel insurance. 

Blue Cross travel insurance policies can cover you for Trip cancellation Trip interruption Emergency medical assistance Emergency medical transportation Medications Transportation home if your medical emergency ends your trip.

Blue Cross’ Trip Protection plan will reimburse you if your trip is cancelled due to a travel ban, an illness that requires you to cancel your trip for medical reasons, unexpected death in the family, jury duty, loss of employment, pregnancy, or if your trip is cancelled due to adverse weather. 

Arthur Dubois

Canadian travel insurance reviews

Reviews and recommendations from fellow travelers are always a great source of information when shopping for insurance. If you're looking for a travel insurance quote today find out more by clicking the link.

If you’re on vacation, visiting family or travelling for work, travel insurance exists to protect you. Travel insurance provides coverage against financial losses arising from unexpected illness, injury, or the need to seek other medical treatment - both in Canada and overseas.

Emergency medical travel insurance is the main focus of most policies, but additional coverage may also be available for trip delay or cancellation, baggage loss or delay, and rental car damage or collision. Below are five travel insurance reviews from the largest providers in Canada, along with an overview of their plans.

Top 5 Canadian Travel Insurers

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Travel insurance - what you need to know

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The earlier your travel insurance policy is in place, the better. In fact, the best time to buy travel insurance is as soon as you book your tickets. 

Just like every trip and traveller, each insurance policy is unique - and you'll want to verify coverage maximums and read the fine print on your travel insurance certificate and policy. It’s important to know that a plan provides the right coverage for your particular needs.

The cost of travel insurance depends on the provider, the type of package, the destination, the duration and cost of the trip, as well as the traveller’s age. Coverage may differ for travellers ages 60-65+, and completing a medical questionnaire may be required. Most plans will also require you to have valid government health insurance coverage in your province or territory of residence, or else travel insurance coverage will be limited.

Travel insurance generally offers the most coverage for emergency medical expenses, which covers the cost of things like hospital stays, doctors’ fees, lab tests, ambulance services, prescription drugs, emergency air transportation or medical evacuation, and, if necessary, repatriation of remains in the case of death from a covered medical condition. All coverage categories are subject to maximums, as well as certain exclusions and conditions.

Travel insurance may be offered by a licensed insurance broker, a bank, a travel credit card or a workplace benefits plan. While it’s tempting to go for the cheapest travel insurance or forgo it all together, it really is essential and should be factored in as a necessary cost of any trip.

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Find a plan, advice center, common questions, travel insurance for bc families and individuals.

Affordable travel starts with flexible protection from unexpected travel costs like medical emergencies, trip cancellation fees, baggage issues and more.

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Why British Columbians choose our Travel Insurance

Free for kids.

Only Pacific Blue Cross covers kids of all families for free when you buy Emergency Medical coverage.

Pre-Existing Coverage

Only Pacific Blue Cross offers $10 Million in travel insurance with just 7 days stability of your pre-existing conditions.

COVID-19 Coverage

Pacific Blue Cross Emergency Medical Insurance includes coverage for COVID-19 when you’re fully vaccinated.

You Save as a Member

Members always save an extra 10% and our family plans cover your children for free.

Always on Call

Our emergency assistance team doesn't take a day off.  They're available 24/7 should an emergency occur while you are travelling.

Recognized around the world

One of the most recognized symbols of health care in the world.  So you’ll be covered from Toronto to Thailand.

First Payer

If your employer provides you with benefits from Pacific Blue Cross, our plans protect your lifetime maximum.

A Proud Partner

We are the travel insurance partner of Make-A-Wish, helping make dream trips come true.

Choose one of our Travel Insurance plans below to get started

Emergency Medical

Comprehensive, flexible emergency medical care coverage for British Columbians while travelling outside of BC.

Why do I need this?

Trip Protection

Peace of mind coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, airline delays and baggage loss, damage or delay.

Visitors to Canada

Emergency health coverage for tourists, workers, new immigrants and students visiting BC.

— Pacific Blue Cross — Travel Health Check

Select the destination(s) you’ll be travelling to below

Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Advisories and Vaccinations

Travel Insurance and COVID-19

Travelling is a little different right now, so we’ve put together some helpful information to help you enjoy healthy travels.

Why Do I Need Travel Insurance

Know before you go — testing, entry, borders, covid-19 coverage how it works, more questions our travel faq, a few frequently asked questions about travel insurance.

You should be aware that your provincial coverage may not pay for all health care costs you may incur while outside of the province, and the difference can be substantial. For example, B.C. pays $75 (CAD) a day for emergency in-patient hospital care, while the average cost in the U.S. often exceeds $1000 (US) a day, and can be as high as $10,000 (US) a day in intensive care. For this reason, you are strongly advised to purchase additional health insurance from a private insurer before you leave the province, whether you are going to another part of Canada or outside the country. You are advised to purchase additional coverage even if you plan to be away for only a day.

When you purchase Travel Medical insurance for one or two parents, each dependent child 21 years of age or younger who is subsequently added to your travel policy will receive free emergency medical coverage for up to $10,000,000.

An Annual plan provides the best value if you're taking two or more trips per year.

For example, at the 0-34 age group: Two 15-day Single trip plans: $86 One 15-day Annual plan: $52 Total savings with an Annual plan: $34

Plus, with an Annual plan, all of your trips under 15 days are covered within the year-- for even more savings.

Yes - Regardless of any existing conditions, we always advise members to still purchase coverage, as it will protect against all other accidents not related to that condition.

Travel insurance policies are designed to provide protection against unexpected emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation or interruption.

Depending on your age and the condition pre-existing medical conditions are covered if they are stable for a certain time period (as specified in your policy) before your policy's effective date.

It is important you review and understand any clauses or definitions in your chosen policy. Each travel insurance policy will uniquely define a pre-existing condition and there are many variations in wording. For example, policies may not cover conditions arising prior to the trip departure date:

• that are unstable
• where symptoms of an illness appeared
• that have been diagnosed or treated
• where medications have been changed

Travel policies will also specify a time frame, based on your age that relates to the evaluation of your pre-existing conditions. This time frame could be as short as 3 months but could be 1 year, 5 years or longer.

Some policies may provide coverage for your pre-existing conditions if you complete a more detailed medical questionnaire.

When purchasing our travel policy, we will evaluate pre-existing conditions for people 60 years and younger based on their health within the previous 3 months prior to the day their coverage begins. For people age 61 and over, we evaluate based on their health within 6 months prior.

It depends on the illness, its seriousness and its stability. Some illnesses are easily covered. Others require a three or six month stability period, depending on your age. Blue Cross offers the possibility of covering your illness with a medical questionnaire (available for persons aged 61 and over) filled out by your treating physician; Blue Cross’ medical team will then evaluate your condition. If authorized, you can travel worry-free: your chronic illness will also be covered.

When travelling internationally, you may be at risk for a number of diseases which are common in other parts of the world. You can learn more about Travel Vaccines on our Vaccination page .

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Our Personal Health Insurance plans providers coverage for people who are not covered by an employer group plan

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Our Critical Illness Insurance can help manage your ongoing financial obligations in the unfortunate scenario of recovering from a serious disease

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Plan Details

All of our plans include:

• Up to $10 million of emergency medical care
• 24/7 access to a team of professionals to contact you with local resources
• Direct Pay — We will pay any providers directly.
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions — As long as your pre-existing condition meets a minimum stability period, you can receive full protection.

Plan Highlights

• Emergency medical expenses
• Ambulance and taxi fees
• Repatriation costs
• Transportation to visit the covered person
• Medical Follow-up in Canada
• Subsistence allowance

Add-on Options

You can add the following individual benefits to your plan or choose a package and save:

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption
• Emergency Return
• Air-Flight Accicent
• Baggage loss, delay or damage
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Call us if an emergency strikes

If you do experience an unexpected emergency while travelling, we are here to help.

During your trip, you can call our   Medi-Assist   service to determine your level of coverage and receive help:

• In Canada or the U.S., call toll-free:   1-888-699-9333
• Outside of Canada or the U.S. or where toll-free is unavailable, please call collect to   1-604-419-4487   and we will pay for the call.

Claims Process

Out-of-Province Emergency Medical Claims  — Four simple steps

Trip Cancellation / Baggage Claim Form — Form for claiming Trip Cancellations or Lost Baggage [pdf]

Visitors to Canada Travel Plan Claim Form — Form for claiming against a Visitors to Canada Travel Plan contract [pdf]

Pacific Blue Cross Travel Medical Insurance provides $10,000,000 in coverage for costs related to emergency medical care resulting from an accident or sudden illness while travelling outside British Columbia. An Annual plan provides the best value for snowbirds, frequent travellers and cross-border hoppers who make multiple trips outside BC each year. Plan coverage includes:

In addition to paying for you to return to your province or residence to receive immediate medical attention*, we will arrange to have your vehicle returned, your pet returned and your baggage returned. Should an insured person pass away, we cover the cost of repatriating the deceased.

*Requires the authorization of the attending physician and CanAssistance.

Trip Protection Options

You can add the following individual benefits to your plan, buy them separately, or choose a package and save:

Pacific Blue Cross Visitors to Canada Insurance provides coverage for costs related to emergency medical care resulting from an accident or sudden illness while visiting British Columbia. Plan coverage includes:

Hospitalization, Medical and Paramedical Expenses

Transportation expenses.

The following services must be approved and planned by Medi-Assist.

We’ve got you covered, even when travel advisories change

Pacific Blue Cross Travel Medical plans contain $10M in COVID-19 coverage for fully vaccinated travellers, no matter the travel advisory. So rest assured, your plan will continue to provide the protection you need in emergency medical situations, even if and when Canadian government advisories change. If you aren’t fully vaccinated, you can learn more about how changing travel advisories may impact your coverage in our Frequently Asked Questions .

Speak to someone to learn more about one of our TRAVEL insurance products

Contact us about your existing Pacific Blue Cross coverage or products

I’d like more information on your Travel Plans

The content on this website includes links to our partners and we may receive compensation when you sign up, at no cost to you. This may impact which products or services we write about and where and how they appear on the site. It does not affect the objectivity of our evaluations or reviews. Read our disclosure .

Best Travel Insurance in Canada in 2024 and What They Cover

Written by Brianna Harrison

Updated: February 14, 2024

Savvy New Canadians content is vigorously reviewed for accuracy by our team of qualified fact checkers.

If you’re planning a trip across the country or abroad, you’ve probably considered purchasing travel insurance. It can provide you with peace of mind, and financial assistance should anything happen during your vacation.

Travel insurance is deemed necessary by some and too expensive by others. But do you really need it? In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about travel insurance in Canada, including how it works, the cost, and the top 8 providers.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance covers unforeseen losses or damages while travelling, either domestically or internationally. Most travel insurance companies provide packages that cover several things.

Coverage can include:

• Medical expenses
• Injury or sickness
• Flight accident coverage
• Baggage and personal items insurance
• Trip cancellation or interruption coverage
• Accidental death

In addition to the extensive coverage with travel insurance, you get access to assistance services no matter where you are in the world. Many insurance providers can arrange medical treatment, get you help in an emergency, be interpreters, and more.

How Travel Insurance Works in Canada

Depending on your provider, travel insurance can cover the following areas:

Medical Coverage

There are generally two types of medical coverage: short-term and major medical coverage . Short-term policies cover you for anywhere between five days to a year, while long-term policies cover you for six months to a year or even longer.

Both types of medical coverage can help with unexpected expenses, help obtain service in your language, and assist in finding doctors or healthcare facilities. Some policies also include a medical evaluation, airlift travel, and extended hospital stays, if necessary.

Baggage and Personal Items Coverage

Baggage and personal items being lost, damaged or stolen is a common problem for travellers. Airlines and other carriers may cover the cost and reimburse you, but you cannot rely on them to do so. Thus, getting coverage for your baggage and personal items is a good idea.

This policy will pay for the cost of your lost, stolen, or damaged items up to a certain amount if your airline does not reimburse you.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage

If your trip is interrupted or cancelled due to an unforeseen event covered in your policy, this insurance covers you for non-refundable travel expenses that you’ve already paid for.

Events most commonly covered with insurance include the death of a family member, illness, and unforeseen weather events.

If you are booking a trip with a large portion or all of it being non-refundable, you should look out for this coverage in your travel insurance package.

Flight Accident and Accidental Death Coverage

If there is an accident on your flight or common carrier, accidental death and flight accident coverage gives your beneficiaries a lump sum payment.

If you’re already sick, have an accidental overdose, or something similar, this coverage may not apply. You should also check if your life insurance policy already covers this.

The Cost of Travel Insurance in Canada

The cost of travel insurance will vary based on your provider and package, but the average travel insurance costs about $248 per trip . Generally, it costs around 4% to 8% of the total cost of your trip .

Also, keep in mind that your age, trip duration, smoker status, pre-existing conditions, policy type, and the deductible amount will be all factor into the final cost.

Best Travel Insurance in Canada

Below are eight of the best travel insurance providers in Canada. As they each differ in some way, be sure to take a look at all of them and decide which is best for you.

1. Blue Cross

Blue Cross is one of the most popular travel insurance providers in Canada. They provide slightly different plans and coverage depending on which province you reside in.

For this provider and the others on this list, we are looking at coverage for those in Ontario.

Blue Cross travel insurance provides $5 million in coverage with the Emergency Medical Care benefit, 24/7 travel assistance, and free coverage for children.

The assistance services include:

• Access to an airport lounge and hotel room in the event of a delayed flight
• Assistance in the United States
• Help with travel documents, vaccinations, and more

Blue Cross has comprehensive coverage, where you choose the benefits you want, including emergency medical care, baggage, accidental death or dismemberment, and trip cancellation or interruption.

If you take more than two trips per year, you can take advantage of the Annual plan and save some money.

Allianz travel insurance is the official worldwide Olympic and Paralympic insurance partner. It’s also popular among everyday travellers, as they have many plans to choose from, plus a rental car protector add-on.

Their plans are divided into two categories: OneTrip and AllTrips. If you plan on taking more than one trip, you should go with one of the plans under the AllTrips category.

Single trip plans include:

• OneTrip Basic – trip cancellation and interruption benefits, emergency medical and baggage loss or delay coverage. 
• OneTrip Prime – expanded Basic coverage plus free coverage for children under 17.
• OneTrip Premier – all benefits of Prime with doubled post-departure benefits.
• OneTrip Emergency Medical – coverage for emergency medical expenses without trip cancellation/interruption benefits.
• OneTrip Cancellation Plus – coverage for trip cancellation or interruptions without emergency medical coverage.

Multi-trip plans include:

• AllTrips Basic – emergency medical and baggage loss or delay coverage without trip cancellation or interruption benefits. 
• AllTrips Prime – expanded Basic coverage plus trip cancellation or interruption benefits.
• AllTrips Premier – all benefits of Prime plus concierge service, with one plan per household.
• AllTrips Executive – business equipment rental benefits, plus higher trip cancellation/interruption limits and lost/stolen or delayed baggage benefits. 

CAA offers slightly different travel insurance plans per province. They offer four plans to choose from, with either Canada-wide or international travel:

Emergency Medical

This plan includes protection against the cost of unexpected medical expenses, including Covid protection, hospital accommodation, emergency dental expenses, and more, up to $5 million.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

You are protected against various reasons for cancellation or interruption, such as an unexpected illness, business conflicts, and a missed departure.

Vacation Package

This includes all benefits from both packages above (medical + trip). You get full coverage for medical expenses and are covered for trip cancellation/interruption, along with baggage delay or loss.

Visitors to Canada Plan

This plan is for those just visiting Canada. It includes emergency medical treatment for certain conditions, emergency dental expenses, medical repatriation, and more.

Anyone can purchase their insurance, but CAA members save 10% off travel insurance plans.

4. World Nomads

World Nomads offers flexible trip insurance for domestic and international vacations . They are often used by independent travellers and adventurous families, as they cover over 250 outdoor activities, including scuba diving, mountain biking, and bungee jumping.

If extending your trip, you can purchase more coverage while travelling, making this one of the most flexible travel insurance companies out there.

Coverage includes trip cancellation, emergency medical insurance, gear protection, and emergency evacuation and repatriation, along with 24/7 emergency assistance.

5. Co-operators

Co-operators’ travel insurance covers both Canadian residents when government health insurance doesn’t, and it covers visitors to Canada for unforeseen events.

Canadian residents are covered for trip cancellation and interruptions, as well as emergency medical and hospital bills.

Insurance for visitors includes up to $300,000 in emergency hospital and medical care along with 24/7 emergency assistance. This insurance plan has four (4) deductible options and is for all ages up to 89 years old.

6. Desjardins

Desjardins offers travel insurance for all kinds of travellers, from students to snowbirds to business travellers. You can get coverage for short trips, extended stays longer than 30 days, or choose a frequent travel option for flexible yearly coverage.

All insurance packages cover emergency health care, an emergency return trip, accidents, baggage, and trip interruption or cancellations.

If you’re a Desjardins member, you can get discounts and exclusive advantages when applying.

More benefits include an affordable family premium, 24/7 assistance, and flexible multi-trip annual insurance.

7. Manulife (Costco)

Costco members can purchase Manulife travel insurance at discounted rates. If you’re an Executive member, you’ll save up to 5% on most premiums.

Three plans are available to choose from – Travelling Canadians, Students, and Visitors to Canada. Each plan is slightly different, but all include an emergency medical concierge service called StandByMD, which helps locate a nearby clinic, connect you with a physician, and more.

Manulife Costco travel insurance in Canada also includes a 10-Day Free Look, where you can receive a refund within ten (10) days if you are not satisfied with your policy.

Endorsed by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Snowbird Association, Medipac travel insurance provides comprehensive coverage for up to $5 million USD.

Medipac Assist has 24/7 dedicated emergency assistance lines with in-house medical professionals to help whenever needed.

Medipac claims to have lower rates than most other insurance companies, saving clients almost 28% each year.

Related: Best Places for Canadian Snowbirds

How to Get a Travel Insurance Quote

Getting a quote from any travel insurance provider is relatively the same process. For this example, we’ll get a quote for Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance.

First, click on Get a Quote or Get Started Now.

Input your basic personal information like name, email address, and phone number.

Then, select if you are a Canadian resident or a visitor to the country.

If you are a resident, select Yes or No if you are covered by the public healthcare plan.

Select your age range. This will vary for each provider.

Then, enter your trip details. In this example, we are travelling to Spain for 2 weeks.

Enter the details for yourself plus any other travellers being insured.

After entering all personal info, you will get optional coverage to add to your plan, like emergency medical care and trip interruption or cancellation.

Finally, you will get your personalized quote. For a 24-year-old female travelling to Spain for two weeks, Blue Cross travel insurance costs $121.45 for one trip or $195.63 for unlimited trips over a year.

Coverage includes emergency medical care, trip cancellation or interruption, accidental death or dismemberment, and baggage. You can personalize this coverage by selecting a deductible and changing the cost per traveller of travel expenses.

From there, you will enter more details and complete the payment.

How to Save on Travel Insurance

Before going ahead and purchasing travel insurance, check if you are already covered. Many credit cards offer some form of travel insurance, including emergency medical coverage, baggage loss or delay coverage, and flight delay or cancellation insurance.

But, if you are not already covered, take a look at these quick tips on how to save money on travel insurance.

First, if you travel often, consider buying multi-trip or annual insurance coverage. This will cover you for multiple trips during a year and will be cheaper than purchasing insurance each time you travel.

If you’re travelling with your family or a group of people, buy travel insurance together. Most travel insurance providers cover dependent children under a certain age for free, and some offer group discounts.

Keep in mind that travel insurance premiums generally increase based on your age. If you’re about to turn a certain age, say 55, 60, or 65, purchase the insurance before your birthday for a cheaper price.

What is Not Covered by Travel Insurance? 

In general, travel insurance will not cover non-emergency care, routine check-ups, cosmetic surgery, or pre-existing conditions. Most companies will not cover extreme sports or mental health disorders, either.

For example, Allianz travel insurance does not cover high-risk pregnancy, routine natal care, or anything to do with pregnancy after 31 weeks. They also do not cover stunts or high-risk activities like rock climbing or mountain climbing.

Pros and Cons of Travel Insurance

While travel insurance may not be necessary for some, the advantages of getting it include the following:

Coverage for unexpected medical expenses. Getting injured or sick in a foreign country can be scary, not to mention expensive if you don’t have travel insurance. Insurance provides coverage for almost all medical expenses during your trip.

Peace of mind. If anything were to happen to you on your trip, travel insurance has you covered, from compensation for lost items to assistance when you need it.

Savings over time. Although premiums can be expensive, travel insurance is an investment. Rather than shelling out money from your pocket if anything happens, travel insurance will pay most of your bills.

Disadvantages

A few cons to purchasing travel insurance include:

The cost. It’s unlikely that something will happen to you during your trip, and many people find themselves paying unnecessary amounts for insurance they never use.

Exclusions apply. Travel insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, so if something related to that condition were to make you injured or ill on your trip, you wouldn’t be covered.

It comes with loopholes. When submitting a claim, certain expenses may get rejected, even though they are not specifically excluded from the policy.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

If you’re shelling out a lot of money for a vacation and want protection for your valuables, delayed or cancelled flights, and emergency medical expenses, then travel insurance might be worth it. 

Keep in mind that Canadian health insurance is not valid outside the country, so if anything were to happen to you without insurance, you’d need to pay out of pocket for any medical expenses. If you have travel insurance, you’ll be covered.

Most travel insurance providers also give you the option to insure your baggage and protect you against delayed or cancelled trips. If you are taking more than one trip a year, travel insurance can be more than worth it, depending on the price and coverage.

However, you should weigh the pros and cons and check multiple providers before purchasing travel insurance.

The cost of travel insurance varies based on the provider, your personal details, the length of your trip, where you’re going, and more. However, Medipac claims to have cheaper travel insurance plans than other companies, saving customers upwards of 28%.

The best travel insurance provider will be different for each person. For example, if you’re a thrill seeker who likes extreme activities, World Nomads is a top choice, while Co-operators is for those who reside and travel in Canada.

Some travel insurance providers include Covid insurance in their packages, while others have it as an optional add-on. A few companies, including Manulife, also have a separate Covid-19 pandemic travel package.

Some credit cards, especially the more expensive points rewards cards, do include travel insurance. It’s recommended to check your credit card details before applying for travel insurance separately.

No, it is not necessary to buy traveller’s insurance. However, it can give you peace of mind and financial protection in the event that you need it.

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Brianna Harrison

Brianna is a writer from Toronto, Canada, specializing in the personal finance and tech niche. She has been writing, editing, and proofreading for over 5 years as a freelancer, and her writing has been featured in The Globe and Mail. She loves to travel, meet new people, and discover new places. When she’s not writing or travelling, Brianna likes to bake, decorate cakes, and even ran her own custom cake business.

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1 thought on “Best Travel Insurance in Canada in 2024 and What They Cover”

Are you sure provincial health insurance does not cover out-of-country emergencies? I think OHIP (Ontario) does with certain limits. The Ford government tried to get rid of it, but the courts said otherwise. I do not know whether that has changed recently.

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33 years of working and this is my payback...

33 years of working and my union sets up Blue Cross for my extended health plan. Which I pay dearly for every month. So I get a pair of orthotics and send in my paperwork and claim. 2 weeks later I get an email that states 'My claim has been processed. I can go online and check. Make sure all info is correct. Payment can take up to 3 days." So I go online and check. "Amount $0. Eligible $0." OMGOSH. What's going on? I check all the required documents. Yes they are there. I phone Blue Cross. I wait on hold. I am agitated. I am stressed. Its money I require. Finally I speak to a person (who works from home). Tells me my claim has gone to another department to determine if its covered but it should be because everything is there. So why the email I ask? Why does it say it has been processed? He says that he doesn't know why but it is probably just automated. But they are behind and it now takes up to 36 working days to process claims. "Are you kidding me? So i get an email that says it has been done, I get stressed because I do not know why it is not eligible, and I phone and you tell me this? 36 WORKING days? Is this because you work remotely and can put in the laundry? Take your dog for a walk? take your kids to school? Go to the corner store? This is ridiculous!! I pay for your service. You are behind because we just wasted half an hour of my time and your time! Because the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing?!" So now my anger is at the top. No supervisor to talk to because its not like they can walk down the hall and speak to someone to ask to calm down a customer. Nope. I am on a call back list. What is wrong with this picture?

Date of experience : April 10, 2024

Irresponsible case handling

Please anyone trying to use this Insurance this Blue Cross or Can Assistance as you Travel Insurance DO NOT book with these. I booked in Sept 2023 travel insurances which included lost baggage and flight delays. I submitted forms online multiple times, sent emails 17th times and even mailed copies of every information they asked of. You will get a chatbot message "Case manager from CanAssistance will be in touch Case manager assigned was Franco" To save time money and stress I suggest not to book with these scam companies

Date of experience : October 09, 2023

I have been trying for over 1 year to…

I have been trying for over 1 year to have my Blue Cross claim reviewed and unfortunatly they wash their hands of dealing with their claimants and use Can Assistance as their claim adjusters. Never have I ever encountered such an inefficient and incompetent organization that is void of any communication abilities and clueless when it comes to processing a claim. All requisite info has been provided and I have been asking for an escalation of my claim. Impossible to speak with an adjuster, just front line phone operators. They deserve a negative star.

Date of experience : October 18, 2023

I subscribed for a private health…

I subscribed for a private health insurance plan tailored for newcomers. The information provided on their website is quite clear. The payment was smooth and I received all the supporting documents very quickly (something like 2 weeks). What made me give 3 stars out of 5 is that they partly ignored obligations and constraints caused by the COVID crisis and did not followup their current client base. Meaning that people paid a plan for a certain date but as they could not make it to Canada on time, they had to pay more for an extension.

Date of experience : August 07, 2020

Scam insurance

I signed up for a foreign insurance since I was going there for a semester abroad. Paid the money i needed to easily. Unfortunatly i hurt My shoulder and was sent to pfysiotherapi. I have now tried for 6 months to get this scam of an insurance company to Even acknowledge the fact that I have sent them claims and emails severel times... And I have recieved nothing back from them.

Date of experience : April 01, 2023

Worst company to dealing waiting 55…

Worst company to dealing waiting 55 minute submitted clame talk so many times with so many people look on web tell it’s in process calling again tell me missing one day overall that is worst insurance company that dealing do not buy any health program for that garbage insurance company it’s not standing for value for custumer word word worst company

Date of experience : December 20, 2023

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Travel insurance coverage

Travel insurance

Courage to fly. Don’t let the hassle and risk of travel keep you from making connections that matter.

Have questions about travel?

Contents: Travel insurance

Emergency Medical Care

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage

Visitors to Canada

• Top-Up insurance
• Cancellations and refunds
• Compare travel coverages

Flight Delay Service

Baggage loss coverage, accidental death and dismemberment, optional protection: pandemic, travel advisories.

• Travel insurance eligibility
• How to choose travel coverage
• Frequently asked questions
• Pre-travel checklist
• Comprehensive
• Travelling in Canada
• Study abroad
• Family vacations
• Weekend getaways
• Backpacking
• Winter escapes
• Romantic retreats

Travel policy

Make the most of your next adventure.

From dream vacations to routine trips, we have plans to get you where you need to go. While no one wants to think about what could go wrong, an illness, accident, lost baggage or a flight delay can happen. But when it does, Alberta Blue Cross ® travel insurance is there for you.

Features for every traveller

24/7 travel assistance.

No matter where you’re headed, Blue Cross Travel Assistance is with you. They can provide support in most major languages and help you find medical care, coordinate payment, get you home in the event of a medical emergency and more.

Savings for frequent flyers

Travelling more than once this year? Save on Emergency Medical Care coverage with a multi-trip plan. You make a premium payment once, and this covers you for all the trips you take within a year.

Enjoy Flight Delay Service with every plan at no extra cost. This exclusive benefit provides you access to an airport lounge for a delay of 3 hours or more and access to a hotel room for a delay of 6 hours or more.

Coverage to get you there

Trip Cancellation or Interruption

Top-Up Insurance

Coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses

When it comes to medical treatment outside of Canada, the costs add up quickly. With Emergency Medical Care, you are covered for unexpected injuries and illnesses up to $5 million.

When trip disruptions or delays happen

Trip Cancellation or Interruption insurance reimburses you for prepaid non-refundable and non-transferable expenses, such as airfare or hotel deposits.

Protect your loved ones during their stay in Canada

Planning a trip to Canada? Whether you need coverage for yourself or for your visiting friends and family, we can help. Visitors to Canada covers you for medical emergencies during your stay.

Extend your existing coverage

Top-Up Insurance helps you stay covered for medical emergencies. It extends the period of coverage you already have through a personal plan, employer coverage or credit card.

Enhance your plan with travel add-ons

When you purchase Emergency Medical Care, Trip Cancellation or Interruption coverage, or Top-Up Insurance, you can enhance your plan with the following add-ons.

You arrived at your destination—but your suitcases didn’t. Baggage loss coverage can help you cover the cost of your items.

The pandemic continues to affect the way we travel. When you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a pandemic, Optional Protection: Pandemic is there to help cover unexpected costs.

Serious, life-changing accidents can happen when you least expect it. Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage can offer peace of mind and added protection.

Travel packages

Get complete coverage in a single package. Whether you’re taking a weekend getaway or flying south for the winter, we have options to suit your needs.

Travel resources

Advice and information to help make sure your trip goes smoothly.

Travel advice

Make your trip memorable for all the right reasons. Here’s what you can do to prepare before you leave.

Cancellation and refunds

We understand travel plans can change. If you need to cancel or change your plans, we're here help.

Travel advisories issued by the Government of Canada are the official source for destination-specific travel information. Get the latest information about entry requirements, weather concerns and travel warnings.

A travel policy contains important information about your plan’s coverage, exclusions that may apply and details about what to do during an emergency. If you already purchased a plan, it’s important to read and understand your travel policy before you leave.

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Blue Cross Canada, or The Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans (CABCP) is comprised of 7 regional not-for-profit health and travel insurance providers, and offers group coverage plans for businesses and supplemental plans for individuals with needs not covered by private or Canadian universal health coverage.

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Blue cross canada, need an insurance quote.

Let Mitch Insurance Brokers do the comparison shopping for you – with quotes from over 40 insurance companies in Ontario. Speak with a broker today: 1-800-731-2228

Blue Cross Insurance offers group benefit plans that include benefit packages for life and accidental death coverage, drug and other health services needs and the establishment of group Health Spending Accounts.

The company also provides individual clients with personal health coverage and a wide range of travel insurance plans, ensuring that everyone in Ontario has access to risk coverage. This has made them a trusted name in the business, as has their commitment to working with the brokers that facilitate transactions between the company and their clients.

Canadians rely on Blue Cross for the following:

• Travel insurance plans with a wide variety of options for individuals
• Group plans for businesses and organizations that are simple to build as well as affordable
• Personal health insurance that allows clients to receive services not covered by the OHIP (Ontario’s public health care provider)

Advantages of Blue Cross Insurance

Blue Cross offers a range of plans for most budgets, making it an accessible company for a wide range of Canadians in Ontario. It also boasts a number of service that position the company as a customer-first insurance provider, like assistance service exclusives for members and a dedicated helpline for customer complaint mediation.

Backing up this mission is Blue Cross’s commitment to providing coverage to areas that clients may not get coverage through Ontario’s public health plans or a person’s insurance through their place of employment. The company’s stated mission is to provide customers the opportunity to get coverage for anything health-related. The advantages of using a plan from Blue Cross include:

• A huge list of available coverage options for travelers : Blue Cross aims to make any type of traveler able to travel with the peace of mind that comes with knowing they’re set if anything unpredictable crops up. This means that travelers can choose from a list that includes coverage for lost baggage, canceled flights and much more without spending too much on insurance.
• Customizable group and individual policy options : Group plans are not always as easy to build and provide risk protection for the services that the group actually needs as they are with Blue Cross Insurance. The pick-and-mix set-up of the company’s available group benefit packages are friendly to employers and employees alike. In addition, while many insurers focus on group insurance or individual coverage, Blue Cross does a great job offering benefits for both.
• The company’s personal insurance plans (travel and health) are budget-friendly : Blue Cross really takes the fact to heart that their personal insurance policies are often used to supplement other plans. They offer affordable choices as to the extent of the additional travel or health insurance coverage that a person wants, without making it cost-prohibitive.

Blue Cross Insurance Products

Blue Cross Insurance provides group plans for businesses, as well as travel and health insurance policies for individuals who need them. Coverage varies by province, so please refer to Blue Cross plans by region for detailed information.

Group Insurance Options

Blue Cross Insurance provide a wide range of ways to build a group plan that works for the members of a business or organization (i.e. “the group”).

Master policies can include:

• Basic life insurance
• Dependent life insurance for families of the group member
• Coverage and financial protection for critical illness
• Coverage for accidental death and dismemberment
• Group disability

Group health is where Blue Cross Insurance shines, offering coverage in the following areas:

• Extended health care benefits specifically for group members with chronic illnesses
• inConfidence , a program that provides direct access to critical health counseling services 24/7 for employees and their families
• My Good Health , a digital portal for group members to compile and access their health information as well as that of their family members
• Second Opinion , a program where group members in need can have their cases reviewed by medical specialists in a given field

All this is in addition to the health coverage you’d expect out of a group health plan, as well as an extensive benefits package for prescription costs.

One area where Blue Cross Insurance proves to be unique is in its options for travelers:

• Snowbirds traveling only during winter
• A single trip
• Short-stay frequent travelers
• Visitors to Canada
• Extended-stay frequent travelers
• Students studying abroad
• Canadians traveling within Canadian territory
• Global Affairs Canada employees

With so many different types of travelers having plans targeted specifically at them, Blue Cross Insurance gives travelers a variety of options to find benefits that fit their needs. Travelers are insured for up to 5 million dollars with Blue Cross Travel Insurance.

Because health insurance for an individual through Blue Cross is meant to target coverage options and populations not covered by standard plans—either through OHIP or through a separate group plan, the company focuses on the following:

• People who are Self-employed
• Small business employees
• People without access to group benefits
• Recent immigrants
• Students and recent graduates
• Retired or planning retirement

Government Plans

Blue Cross also advertises group plans tailored to the needs of government employees and the members of federal organization, as a federal partner since the company was founded in 1943.

Blue Cross Insurance by Province

• Pacific Blue Cross: Vancouver, British Columbia – 1 888-275-4672
• Alberta Blue Cross: Edmonton, Alberta – 1 800 661-6995
• Saskatchewan Blue Cross: Saskatoon, Saskatoon – 1 800 667-6853
• Manitoba Blue Cross: Winnipeg, Manitoba – Toll-free: 1 800 873-2583
• Ontario Blue Cross (Individual Coverage): Etobicoke, Ontario, 1 866 732-2583
• Medavie Blue Cross (Group Coverage – Ontario): Etobicoke, Ontario – 1 800 355-9133
• Quebec Blue Cross (Individual Coverage): Montreal, Quebec – 1 877 909-7686
• Medavie Blue Cross (Group Coverage – Quebec): Montreal, Quebec – 1 888 588-1212
• Medavie Blue Cross (Atlantic Canada): Moncton, New Brunswick – 1 800 667-4511

WORST HEALTH Insurance Company in Canada!!

I’ve been with Four Health Insurance Companies over my lifetime, depending on who I worked for. unfortunately being self employed I needed to save money, my fifth choice was BLUE CROSS because they were the lowest priced in the insurance company. There is a reason they’re cheaper, they’re HORRIBLE!! Claims are “Always” Denied, you have to phone to find out why, then they try to blame you the client for their errors. Management gives you nothing but lip service, if they even call you back! 10-15 Business Days for a Claim, the Answer which is always No after waiting that long and until you call them back asking why after they said yes. They (Blue Cross) downright LIES to you. They tell you you’re 100% covered (In Writing No Less) only to deny your claim, without any real; given reason. ALWAYS, not once, not twice, not three times, but ALWAYS! Health Insurance Companies aren’t perfect, but BLUE CROSS is the WORST of the WORST!! I honestly don’t know how they’re still in business??

This is company is FRAUD

This is company is FRAUD AND SCAM! THEY WILL NOT COVER YOUR BILLS

Do not get this insurance

biggest mistake of my life. NOT EVEN A 1 STAR

Amazing client service from Stephen P. and Blue Cross

I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Stephen P. from Blue Cross: amazingly helpful, proactive, thorough, and compassionate. He went over and above in offering advice and providing help. He made sure the the issue was resolved and took the time to make certain that those issues were completely addressed. Amazing client service. Well done, Stephen and Blue Cross.

Worst Experience

Just a fraud.

Truly the worst experience ever

Waited on hold for over 3 hours to make a claim and still didn’t get through. They won’t do anything over email. Pathetic.

worst insurance company

No contact numbers email. When you do finally get anyone on the line there not interested in talking to you any way. I work for Sofina foods and they switched from Sunlife insurance to Blue Cross because it’s cheaper for them. Sunlife was professional and accountable. Blue cross is low budget crap company.

Customer service (or lack thereof) is horrendous. I wanted some help dealing with stress and sought out help, but Bluecross doesn’t cover counseling and you are left in the lurch. I will never seek out mental health care again and I WISH MY UNION would ditch Bluecross and find another insurer.

I receive health insurance through my B.C. municipal pension plan. Customer service is appalling as is their app. They go out of their way to make the claims process as difficult as possible. If you have the option of choosing a different insurance you would be well advised to avoid Pacific Blue Cross. They are the WORST.

Good service. Negative reviews are because people dont read their contracts lol Read the contract before filing a stupid claim. Dont get shocked when you get denied. Be smart

Travel Insurance Rate Sky Rockets !!

No changes in medical condition, 66 now, as opposed to 65, and rates have more than doubled over last year !!! Online quote with full medical disclosure. Unable to speak to a Rep as “all lines are busy” all day long, starting at 8am. Do they still have Reps that actually answer the phone? Going to another provider.

Pacific Blue Cross: Not for Diabetics, get to know if they cover ur meds first

#PacificBlueCross do not support #Diabetic lifesaving meds like #Insulin [ #Novarpid #Basalgar ] 2. Their app and #LondonDrugs informs you to submit doctor note for #FreeStyleLibre sensor – but when you contact frontdesk after 2- 3 weeks , they inform you to get another document signed by doctor- thus you need to have another appointment with ur doc and request him to sign one more – then send doc by mail only.

Above all – if you want to get out of plan and exclusive services they offer – you can not. You are informed that you are trapped for 3 months locking period – you have to pay for nothing for 3 months.

DO NOT BUY HEALTH POLICY – They looks sweet sound sweet but u are getting trapped.

Blue cross is not worth it

We apparently have one of Blue Cross best plans and they don’t even cover 50% of a basic eye exam ! They also do not cover ANY counselling fees which in 2022 that seems awful !

So difficult to get any information about your policy and terrible if you have any questions or problems. Would not recommend this company to anyone. I only had it because that it is what we had through work.

The worst … dont buy blue cross at all

DO NOT USE BLUECROSS

Their strategy is to simply wear you out, they will almost never take your claim unless they ask for a bunch of overly technical stuff. Once you get it then good luck because they take forever to answer, process and reimburse. If you don’t follow up nothing gets done, they’re obviously playing the odds that you will give up. Shame on you blue cross !

Useless health insurance plan

Stay away if you have the choice. Almost ZERO coverage. Do not waste your hard earned money.

Pacific Blue Cross Travel Insurance is a scam

I was trying to find out the details of the trip interruption/travel insurance they offer only to find bullet point highlights of what they offer. Nowhere on their website can you find what’s included and what’s excluded until after you buy the policy. I stupidly bought the policy, received the booklet and found out that if your airlines, hotel, condo or where ever you stay offers a credit then they don’t pay out. Tried to cancel it after phoning. First time no answer, second time, let me check with may manager and phone you back. No return call. Finally on the third attempt they guy says the manager says no refund. Apparently you check a box that says no refund before buying it.

Total scam. We won’t tell you what we exclude until after you buy the product which by the way has no refund. F off!

Do their best to not cover anything

They will find a reason to not cover everything. Doctors note required for them to pay less than 50% of services like massage therapy, Physio, Acupuncture, etc. Complete joke. With all the terrible reviews on here it is sad that they don’t make any changes to their piss poor policies.

What a nightmare

I needed to make a change my policy which hadn’t been activated yet The customer service agent was lovely but totally incompetent .After 1 1/2 hours she sent me the same thing as I had before. Back on the phone on hold for another 20 minutes The new agent sorted it out quickly but will never use them again horrendous

Buy another insurance

They’re useless, it’s a scam-like operation. I plan on getting something else as my main medical insurance.

Don’t buy from BlueCross

I am a customer not by choice but by group plan. Their customer service is 0 – NOBODY answers the calls (for over the week calling at different times).There is NOBODY! If you have a problem with insurance – too bad because nobody will help you.

Won’t cover prescribed medication

Why the hell do I pay premiums if you can’t even cover my prescriptions when I need them. An absolute joke and a scam. Shame on you.

WORST Insurance Company ever…DONT USE!

I went to Florida last November and during, had a minor accident while riding a scooter. Had sprains, cuts and abrasions requiring stitches and emergency treatment. I refused an ambulance, x-rays and crutches as I didn’t feel they were necessary and my total hospital bill was $1800 USD which i paid. I submitted the claim in January of 2021 and its now the end of June where the claims people contradict themselves and continue to stall. Totally ridiculous and horrible treatment from this company who are notorious for claims payment avoidance (I wish I read these reviews before!). DO NOT USE THESE AbSOLUTE AWFUL insurance provider who hides behind a relatively good reputation US division.

Don’t buy Blue Cross the worst insurance

I am an international student. Most international students are compelled to pay the insurance because it’s tied to tuition fees. When you really need to use the coverage, you will find it hardly cover the things you need. The list of coverage says it covers fees related to COVID-19, but it even don’t cover serum test for COVID-19. The most disgusting thing is, when international students leave Canada due to COVID-19, this insurance release some regulations which prevent you to opt out of this insurance. They require you to provide some documents you can’t easily get. It’s ridiculous that you are not in Canada, but you have to pay the insurance in Canada. They force you to buy a useless insurance policy. They are robbers

Worst insurance provider out there

They put my March claim ‘on hold’ for no reason. While on hold they transferred my health care spending money to a place where I can’t access it for said claim. Theiving buggers. I pay for these benefits yet they make them impossible to use. Saved up 2 yrs of health care spending for my glasses only to have them sneakily transfer it elsewhere so I can’t access it now. Even my employer didn’t know they backdated claims 3 months to sneak in this change. They even admitted it but refused to correct their error. Now I have to pay the cost out of pocket on benefits I was covered for. Horrendous company dishonest and shady and sneaky. Do not give them your money. You will never be able to use your own benefits.

I cannot say enough bad things about this company. They refuse to be accountable for their mistakes and when they finally realize they made the error, they refuse to fix the problem……oops sorry you’re screwed!! (not really soory

This is the absolute worst insurance company I have dealt with in my entire life. Their customer service is lousy and it takes them almost a month to process a claim for glasses that has all paperwork and has been submitted electronically. Run don’t walk away from them!!!

Do not use Vancouver bluecross

This place is a joke. I have been dealing with them since October and it has been a nightmare! From lost paperwork to no one answering their phones and then it take 2 weeks to get a call back. Tried emails telephone it does matter they just don’t give a shit. I get better customer service from a 12 year old working at McDonald’s. Please do yourself a favor and spend your money where people actually care about you. Shame on them for being so ignorant to the people who pay the it wage.

Absolute Garbage.

I am thoroughly appalled at Bluecross customer services. This horrifically disorganized company is honestly garbage and a complete waste of anyones investment. If you can find benefits with any other provider, anything is better then Bluecross. Any time you have an issue and need to speak with someone, you’ll have 5 different reps replying in one email chain, all of which just read off of a script to disuade you from getting any touch with anyone who has actual authority to help you with your situation. I’m been trying for years to get more information about my dental coverage, why it’s so bad and what else can I do, and just get so frustrated I end up giving up half way through the process because nobody has an interest in actually helping you with your issue, they just want your money and for you to fuck off. The same thing goes for some RMT claims I’ve been trying to deal with – just this morning I was transferred to 6 different representatives, passing me back and forth between customer services and account managers and not one person would take a proper second to help me with my issue. I ended up finally breaking one of them into emailing a higher up authority figure for assistance, only after a 10 minute push and pull conversation and me having to continuously calm them down from losing their temper. What kind of customer service does this insurance provider honestly care to give? Onviously they have a high turn over and a lot of angry customers because their whole call centre cannot make any important changes and no one actually knows what to do when someone stands strong in their desires to fix their plan. Bluecross is trash, go to literally any other provider if you have the option.

Doesn’t seem to care.

I called customer service to confirm my claim cheques were sent asap, after Blue Cross sent them to the incorrect previous address. I was asking questions trying to get to the bottom of it, and the rep was not having it. She told me she couldn’t tell me why and then hung up on me.

The year is 2021 and Blue Cross doesn’t do direct deposit. Get with the times and stop destroying the planet in order to send your cheques in the mail.

Worst customer service

Me and my family are on a portability plan with AB Bluecross and I called them to see if I could open an individual policy for my son. The female staff kept asking questions and doubtful about my son and asked “What is the problem with your son?”. I was shocked to hear that question & felt like I am trying to coverup something about my son from Bluecross. I will never ever go to AB Blue cross, instead will go to other insurers if I have to as there is nothing to hide anything from them. I am thinking of cancelling my portability plan with AB Blue cross.

Stay away from Medavie Bluecross!

My company moved from Greatwest life (Canada Life) to Medavie Blue cross last year.. and it was a huge mistake!! Medavie is soooooo super complicated and confusing you cant even imagine.. i was with Canada life for 6 years and never had any issue either its dental, vision, massage or drugs.. but these Medavie guys are only there to eat our money every month but they literally cry if we claim anything.. they make thing sooo difficult that you cant even say anything, it takes you weeks to understand what they actually meant.. They make sure you get ripped really good for whatever you claim… they are crooks.. stay away from them!!

Blue Cross (Canada – ONT) routinely rips-off health service providers by not paying pre-approved claims

I have provided health services to the local Military and Veteran community for years. These services were all pre-approved including the number of treatments and cost, and were directly billed to Blue Cross. Over the years, many claims remained unpaid despite extreme efforts to follow-up with them, sort out THEIR administrative issues, and get paid. More recently they decided to send an auditor out. I spent the day with them proving treatments had occurred via file audit. In the end, they claimed that there was no evidence treatment had occurred and therefore I owed them back thousands of dollars. I spent many hours following up with this bogus audit. They has taken photocopies of the charts – proving the treatments and yet still said they did not exist. They claimed “over charging” with no evidence. Despite me re-sending all necessary documents including offering client and local CFB statements that the treatments had occurred, they still did not consider any of the facts. Fast forward over 2 years without resolution, they are now refusing to pay my private paying (civilian) clients’ reimbursements and what’s worse is they tell the client I am not a registered therapist. I am a legally licensed and registered therapist in good standing with my college! What they are not telling people is that they are not allowing me to be registered with THEM as a provider on their list. They are like the mob! Trying to bully and blackmail me into paying them thousands of dollars just for the privilege of seeing clients that pay for extended health benefits through Blue Cross. I know I am not the only provider to experience this issue and behaviour with Blue Cross. I have spoken to several, but they are afraid to say anything publicly for fear of going up against a shady insurance giant. Sadly, there is little to no recourse for our industry with respect to dealing with their inappropriate practices.

Please do not buy your insurance with Blue Cross and support this type of company. If you work for a large company that uses Blue Cross as its provider of extended health benefits, encourage them to change providers. If your claim has been denied, take it to the Ontario Ombudsmen at www.olhi.ca and have them investigate the practices of Blue Cross. This needs to change!

get any other insurance

it doesn’t mater what claim you submit they come up with a reason even after talking to them about it. to not cover it.

Terrible Service in Quebec

Denied my drug claim, stating it was a “duplicate service that was paid on a previous submission”. I got the pharmacy to call and let the company know that I paid and not them, but all they said was they’ll “look into it”. I haven’t seen any money and it’s been weeks. Would never recommend this company, I had to pay $65 out of pocket for their mistake and they won’t reimburse me.

Won’t cover medications i need to get better

Terrible insurance company, they still work from snail mail and haven’t been able to cover half of the prescriptions I need to stop being sick.

No Blue Cross Travel Insurance

Blue Cross partner CanAssist denied my claim for Air Canada fare cancelled due to Covid arguing that the airline company offer of a 1-year credit is full compensation. I haven’t even accept the credit fro airline.If I do,the chances a being able to use the credit is zero given the current situation. They also provided misleading information on the claim process when first contacted that resulted in a delay of the claim processing by several months.

Blue Cross/CanAssist weaseled out of paying trip cancellation costs

Blue Cross partner CanAssist denied our claim for air fares cancelled due to Covid arguing that the airline company offer of a 1-year credit is full compensation. The chances a being able to use the credit are approaching zero given the current situation. They also provided misleading information on the claim process when first contacted that resulted in a delay of the claim processing by several months.

Claim took 6 weeks to get processed

Bad customer service Claim took 6 weeks to get processed I had to open two online cases and call 4 times I dont recommend

Gave me coverage I did not want for drugs. Incredibly complicated website and horrible customer service !

You have to jump through hoops, plead and cry to get reimbursed money owed.

One star is too generous for this company, I have had so much trouble getting reimbursements owed to me. I feel like I am criminal trying to defraud the company each time I have a claim outside of the routine claims. Claims that are rejected are extremely difficult to resolve, common sense is not something this company uses. I imagine most people simply give up trying to resolve contested claims as the company wears you down until you are so frustrated, you don’t have the energy or will to pursue the money owed to you. I have no choice in medical insurance as this is the company my employer uses, if it was my decision I would NOT use Bluecross,

Inaccessible

Of course the app and the online portal are both inaccessible. I never have any issue registering on any sites other than for an insurance company. My thought is that it is in hopes that you will give up and they won’t have to pay, despite that I have already paid the premium.

Terrible coverage

I had to see a psychologist to assist my daughter with a disability claim. I provided a receipt to Blue Cross for $ 1000.00 and my plan only reimbursed $ 60.00. This has left my unable to pay my credit card and now paying high interest rate! They insist on yearly prescription for a lousy $ 15.00 month massage coverage. I pay $ 25.00 for the prescription. Ridiculous. Go with anyone else for coverage!!

They ripped me off!

These guys ripped me off!

Long story short is by the Canadian laws, if you had travel insurance then you’ve got provincial insurance covering you, these insurance companies must refund you the rest of the time you have bought from them!

I was literally broken then, and finally had our OHIP but these guys refused to refund us even though I extended our insurance with them 1 or 2 weeks before that!

Their claim for not refunding us was that we made a claim one time for my daughter when she got sick and took her to the emergency! However, that was in the old contract, not the new one!

So when I spoke to a manager on the phone and explained to her that I just extended my insurance to technically it’s a new one, she replied that ‘you’re right, but this is a trick in our policy and I can’t help you!’

Well, the amount that they were supposed to refund me was about $300. It’s not much! But back then, I was literally broken! I used to work 14 hours a day at two jobs to feed my daughter and wife and that $300 made lots of difference to me!

Anyway, I’m happy to say that I know more than 25 people from family and friends who came to Canada for long and short visits and the first thing I’d advise them not to do is getting their insurance from the blue cross!

It’ll always be one of the first things I’d tell anyone coming to Canada not to get their insurance from this company!

Great Company for Travel Insurance

Had a short stay hospital claim for my wife a few years back and paid by Blue Cross with no hassle what so ever. Very professional and would highly recommend.

Moved to another province

After 18 years with Alberta Blue Cross I moved to BC. They will not waive waiting periods for dental.

Submitted a claim in September and were told 5-10 business days to deposit it into our account- nothing. Called and advised it was not deposited and confirmed banking info and they said it was processed and deposited on September 19. Said they would trace it and advise- no return call. Made multiple calls and were told they “were still tracing it”. Called today (Tuesday, October 30) and was told it it was being processed and would be sent out by cheque on Thursday (November 1).

Requested interest for two months that the bank or Blue Cross had earned on our money and was told “No”. Supervisor in Contact Centre would only identify herself as “Laura L.”

I have NEVER refused to provide my name to a client.

Blue Cross has provided the worst customer service I have ever experienced!

terrible service

This is the third time we have had issues getting reimbursed promptly. Twice they have lost the paperwork and than denied getting it even though we had a confirmation from our dentist. This las time we have been waiting 3 weeks for a simple reimbursement for glasses. When we called they said they were working on mid June billings this is now early August. We will be cancelling our policy very poor customer service.

scam, fraud

My wife has a travel insurance and is taking medications in the hospital and will not be able to get back from her visit ontime, as per all the hospital reports, she has to be under monitoring and she had a kidney attack and her doctor strongly recommended that she needs more time to be recovered and she will not able to travel (travel duration is 20 hours). we submitted all the reports from the hospital and labs to the blue cross travel insurance and they have denied the claim knowing that we are not asking for medical benefits but only cancellation or delay the reservation. since many days I am discussing with them with no use. They sent me email only saying that their medical team found that she is fit to travel. she is now in the hospital and she is supposed to get back tomorrow and they say that she is fit. I asked them to send me documents on what basis they took their decision but they refused.

Someone tells me how a person in the hospital and he is fit to travel !!

I don’t recommend them as honest travel insurance,

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By Lisa Jackson

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Best travel insurance in Canada

Day Of Victory Studio / Shutterstock

You’ve packed your bags, mapped your itinerary, and set your “out of office” message – it’s vacation time! But what about travel insurance?

According to a 2019 study by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, 13% of Canadians aren’t sure if they have travel insurance before they go on vacation. Of those who have bought insurance, 17% don’t know what their policy covers.

As a professional travel writer, I find this rather alarming. Canadian health insurance is not valid outside Canada, and your provincial or territorial health plan may not cover all the costs even if you’re travelling domestically. If you suffer an accident or get sick abroad, unexpected medical bills can bankrupt you. It’s why the Canadian government  advises all travellers to buy travel insurance , and I never leave the country without it. Whether you’re taking a two-week trip or a gap year abroad, every one needs the best travel insurance in Canada, regardless of age, health status, destination, or length of vacation.

Best for thrill seekers: World Nomads

Designed for adrenaline lovers with wanderlust, World Nomads insures a long list of adventure sports, activities and volunteer/work experiences, as well as sporting equipment delay/loss/theft. You also get access to a 24/7 hotline that provides information that adventure travellers may need: weather reports and travel advisories, assistance locating the nearest trail, and finding a gear shop.

The standard policy covers emergency medical expenses up to $5 million, emergency dental, trip cancellation/interruption/delay, baggage delays/theft/damage, and more. The downside: you must be under 66 years of age to qualify.

Best for families: CAA Travel Insurance

A long-trusted Canadian institution, CAA travel Insurance offers flexible travel plans to suit every type of traveller and vacation, but their policies are particularly great for families. Their stand-alone emergency medical policy of up to $5 million in health coverage is extremely comprehensive, even including medical repatriation, emergency dental, and reimbursements for pet care and kenneling.

The Vacation Package Plan provides full cancellation/interruption insurance – ideal for prepaid, all-inclusive vacation packages – as well as family transportation and escort of children during emergencies. Anyone can buy CAA travel insurance, but members get a 10% discount.

CAA’s emergency medical plans also now include coverage for COVID-19-related illnesses for vaccinated customers. Coverage is up to $2.5 million if partially vaccinated and up to $5 million if fully vaccinated.

Best for seniors and retirees: Blue Cross

Blue Cross has been around for more than 70 years, and 1 in 4 Canadians utilize its travel insurance. Blue Cross’s emergency medical covers up to $5 million. It has special “snowbird” travel insurance packages designed for Canadians who head to warmer climates each year, making Blue Cross ideal for retirees.

Part of the package is the recently launched Serenity Service. This free perk provides a range of benefits if your flight is delayed, including access to an airport lounge or even a hotel room (depending on the length of the delay). Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered.

Best for budget travellers: Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance

Starting at only $1.36 a day, Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance offers very affordable travel insurance packages, and it’s personally been my “go-to” travel policy for years. Yes, it’s geared toward students (e.g., you can swap your travel dates at no charge due to an exam schedule conflict), but anyone between 15 and 50 years of age can purchase a policy.

The standard package includes hospital and medical up to $1 million, dental care, air ambulance evacuation, flight accident, accidental death or dismemberment, and trip interruption/cancellation insurance. Adventure and extreme sports are also covered.

Best for Canadians with pre-existing medical conditions: Manulife CoverMe

Manulife CoverMe offers highly comprehensive Canadian travel insurance packages for those travelling as a family, a visitor to Canada, or a student. You also get access to the TravelAid mobile app, which provides directions to the nearest medical facility and local emergency telephone numbers.

However, the stand-out feature is arguably TravelEase – a special policy designed to cover fully disclosed medical conditions. For travellers with pre-existing conditions, it insures a bunch of expenses for health services and transportation. It provides up to $10 million in emergency medical benefits – a unicorn in the travel insurance world.

Best for emergency medical assistance: Medipac Travel Insurance

Medipac is one of the only travel insurance companies out there that is staffed by their own team of trained medical professionals, via their Medipac Assistance hotline. Medipac’s medical professionals are your first point of contact in an emergency medical situation. This service is also helpful for dealing with foreign medical systems and helping to prevent unnecessary expenses when dealing with a large deductible.

Medipac offers several competitive features for their travel insurance plans, including no age limits, a claim-free discount, and a 90-day stability period for most pre-existing conditions. If your pre-existing medical condition isn’t covered by a standard Medipac insurance plan, Medipac also offers personalized, underwritten insurance policies to help you meet your needs.

Medipac is offering a 5% Vaccine Discount to clients who have received a minimum of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the new MedipacMAX option. This COVID insurance option provides maximum coverage of up to $5 million USD for COVID-19, in addition to its other benefits.

Best for frequent travellers: Allianz Travel Insurance

Touted as a world leader in the Canadian travel insurance and assistance industry, Allianz Travel Insurance is a major provider of travel insurance, corporate assistance, and concierge services. It seeks to help its customers find solutions to various travel-related problems. Allianz Travel has partnered with many reputable companies, including travel agencies, airlines, resorts, websites, event ticket brokers, corporations, universities and credit card companies.

Allianz Travel Insurance is a great choice for anyone looking for travel insurance. Its single-trip plans are perfect for those leaving home and visiting another destination (or destinations) before going back home. Its parent company, Allianz Global Assistance, has five plans to choose from, all offering different levels of protection and coverage.

Allianz Travel Insurance’s annual/multi-trip plans are perfect for both personal and professional travelers who take multiple trips in a year. It offers four distinct options to choose from.

Will my provincial insurance be valid overseas?

No! If you get sick or injured overseas, the Canadian government will not cough up a dime to cover your medical costs. Here are the sobering facts:

• Canadian public health insurance is not valid outside of Canada.
• Foreign hospitals can be extremely expensive and may demand payment before treating you.
• The Canadian government will not pay a Canadian’s medical bills for an illness or accident suffered abroad. You’re on the hook for footing the bill!

Will my provincial insurance work in another province/territory?

Flash your valid provincial health card in another part of Canada, and you’ll likely be covered for some of the same services insured by your home provincial plan. This is because the provinces and territories (except Quebec) signed an agreement whereby the host province foots the bill for any medically necessary health care services and gets reimbursed by the home province later.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of the woods. Depending on your destination, a slew of other services may not be covered, such as an ambulance, hospital transfer, prescription drugs, transportation back to your home province, and procedures not currently approved by your home plan.

Plus, since Quebec wasn’t a signatory to the interprovincial billing agreement, you’ll likely be charged for any medical bills incurred there. For this reason, it’s recommended that you buy extra travel insurance (or verify your  credit card’s travel insurance coverage ) to cover any uninsured health care services that may crop up during your trip.

What does the best travel insurance in Canada cover?

Every travel insurance policy is different and what’s covered depends on how much you’re willing to pay for coverage. Typical medical services that you can expect to be covered include:

• Emergency hospital and medical costs
• Ambulance and air ambulance costs
• Outpatient services
• Physician and laboratory costs
• Prescription drugs
• Direct payment to the hospitals and doctors caring for you
• Assistance with bringing a family member to your bedside
• Air ambulance or commercial repatriation home
• Return of your vehicle if you are ill and have to come home

Additional benefits may include:

• Trip cancellation for non-refundable monetary losses
• Trip interruption
• Baggage loss, rental car damage, out-of-pocket expenses
• Accidental death and dismemberment

How much coverage do I need?

Securing a policy with a minimum of $1M maximum payable is a safe bet. But don’t just look at the numbers when choosing a policy – read the fine print. Every insurer has a list of situations in which coverage is not provided, otherwise known as “exclusions.” Check whether your provider includes coverage or has provisions for the following:

• Pre-existing medical conditions: According to the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a pre-existing condition is “something that happened (or started to happen) before you were insured.” Some policies may cover claims relating to pre-existing conditions that are “stable and controlled,” but read the definitions carefully. If you don’t declare a condition, the entire policy could be invalidated!
• Medical evacuation: Ensure the policy covers medical evacuation to the nearest hospital and/or to Canada and the costs of a medical escort to accompany you to your final destination.
• Repatriation in case of death: On the grim side, ensure that your plan covers the preparation and return of your remains to Canada.
• Adventurous Activities: If you plan on engaging in “high-risk” activities on your trip, you may need to shell out extra dough for a more comprehensive plan. Many policies don’t cover “risky” activities, such as skiing or snowboarding “out of bounds,” skydiving, scuba diving, white-water rafting, mountaineering, or participation in any rodeo activity. To cover your bases, ask questions and get specifics before purchasing a policy.

You may have to pay more to have these things included, but a few extra bucks may be worth it for peace of mind.

Should I buy “a la carte” travel insurance or get a travel credit card with free insurance?

A credit card with travel insurance is always a good thing to carry in your wallet. The  best travel credit cards in Canada  usually cover everything from emergency medical costs to trip cancellation/interruption to flight delay to rental car insurance, which could save you a wad of cash.

The  Scotiabank Gold American Express ® Card  has saved my butt a few times, and I’ve filed several travel-related claims through my card. I cancelled my trip to Portugal a few years ago due to a death in the family, and I got a full refund on my hotel deposit and flights for myself, my husband, and my baby. It totally justified the $120 annual fee.

That being said, don’t rely on your credit card to take care of all your travel insurance needs. It usually includes a basic policy, meaning it offers low (or no!) travel medical insurance as part of the package. Like any travel insurance company policy, you’ve really got to read the fine print and understand the conditions of your policy to avoid sticky situations.

For instance, the Scotiabank Gold American Express ® Card requires a cardholder to have charged at least 75% of trip expenses to make a trip cancellation/interruption insurance claim. So if you book an all-inclusive vacation for $5,000 and then cancel due to illness, at least $3,750 must have been charged onto your AMEX to qualify for a claim. If you didn’t do that, you’re out of luck.

Can I still purchase insurance if i’ve already started my vacation?

The short answer: most insurance providers won’t cover you after your departure date. However, a handful of insurers (such as World Nomads) will allow you to purchase a policy while already overseas. Just know that it can come with sky-high costs and/or conditions: World Nomads has a 48-hour waiting period before coverage kicks in. The bottom line? It’s always best to buy travel insurance before leaving the country.

Can I get travel insurance for part of a trip?

Some plans offer insurance coverage options that will allow you to customize your coverage, but you’ll have to research to find one that works for your unique circumstances. Alternatively, you could take out an insurance policy for each destination and/or segment of your trip.

For instance, you could get a World Nomads policy for the two weeks you’re scuba diving in Australia, followed by a basic Travel CUTS Bon Voyage insurance to cover a month-long trip to Europe. However, when you buy Canadian travel insurance, you must select a trip start and end date – meaning you must know the exact dates for travelling to those places.

Should I carry a printout of my policy with me at all times?

I recommend carrying the travel insurance card in your wallet and locking it up in the hotel safe with other important travel documents like my passport. But don’t rely totally on paper: Wallets get lost or stolen, luggage can be delayed or M.I.A., and papers are easy to misplace when you’re on the road. My advice is to send a copy of the policy to your email and save it on your iCloud or another storage system that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

Recommended reads

• What’s the Added Value of a Credit Card with Travel Insurance?
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Lisa Jackson is a freelance personal finance and travel journalist, editor, and blogger who contributes to various online and print media outlets in Canada and abroad, including The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Islands Magazine, Fodors, BRIDES, Huffington Post Canada, CAA Magazine, The Food Network, West Jet Magazine, NUVO Magazine, and many others. When she's not writing from her home office, she's busy globe-trotting to new destinations in search of her next story.

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Travel Insurance For Canada: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:13pm

Table of Contents

Do you need travel insurance for canada, what type of travel insurance do you need, what does travel insurance for canada cover, what does travel insurance exclude, best travel insurance for canada, frequently asked questions (faqs).

From hiking trails in Ontario to traversing the slopes of the famous ski resort town of Whistler, there is no shortage of places to visit in Canada.

The vast North American country is a popular destination for travel-loving Aussies. In addition to a growing share of business travelers, more than 350,000 Australian tourists typically visit Canada each year.

While visitor numbers faded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the multitude of Australians heading to the Great White North has picked up in the last two years, particularly to experience the country’s stunning landscape.

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended to cover for any lost or stolen baggage, the possibility of your trip getting cancelled due to an emergency, illness such as Covid-19 or bereavement, and to cover medical expenses.

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website recommends that travellers purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip.

As in any foreign country, medical care in Canada can be expensive for visitors, with a visit to a doctor potentially setting you back by hundreds of dollars.

The Australian government won’t cover these costs, and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Canada, so you aren’t covered by Australian Medicare either.

In addition, given the large geography of the country covering a variety of destinations from beaches to mountains to national parks, it is wise to hold insurance cover for a multitude of events and a variety of potential risks including natural disasters, crime or other types of emergencies.

International travel cover for Canada is generally available in the following ways:

Basic travel insurance

This type of policy is broadly focused on cover for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, but also includes insurance for luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those traveling on a budget or for single trips.

Comprehensive travel insurance

This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, and so on. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and more, depending on your policy.

Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips within a 12-month period.

Optional add-on policies

Given the growing number of Australians heading to Canada for cruises, road trips or to the ski slopes, some insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for a variety of adventure sports and transport options available. These include cruise packs, winter sports packs and even higher cover for rental vehicles.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

Most international travel insurance policies will cover medical and hospital expenses, ambulance transportation, repatriation flights, as well as personal liability if you injure someone, or damage property while you’re in the country.

Policies will also cover, within limits, lost or delayed luggage and possessions, the costs of trip delays, interruptions or cancellations, and lost or stolen travel documents.

Comprehensive policies usually offer a broader cover to include personal accident cover in case of an injury during your trip that leads to permanent disability or death, and insurance excess payment if your rental car meets with an accident.

If you are planning to take advantage of Canada’s vast offering of adventure sports and activities, make sure these are covered by your policy—or that there is an option to add it on.

Most comprehensive policies will include popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, snow skiing or snowboarding will generally require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.

Most travel insurance policies to Canada will not provide cover in the following cases:

• Illegal activities: Insurers will reject any claims arising if you knowingly act illegally or dangerously.
• If you are under the influence: Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs.
• Unattended luggage: Insurers will ignore any claim for loss if your luggage is stolen while it was left unattended in public.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
• Extreme sports: International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like extreme sports, snowboarding or surfing. An optional add-on cover is required for these activities.

Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Canada. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and the type of cover.

It will also be determined by your specific needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.

An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our leading picks of travel insurance policies for Australians . However, always consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip, and any pre-existing medical conditions you would require cover for.

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Do I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t mandatory, but is highly recommended.

The Australian Government urges travellers to purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip, especially for medical cover.

Medical costs can be extremely expensive in a foreign country, especially if you have to visit a doctor, dentist or hospital in an emergency, so travel insurance is very handy.

Does my visa card have travel insurance?

Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. In addition, this may not cover all circumstances or emergencies. By comparison, a travel insurance policy will offer more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.

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Prashant Mehra is a freelance journalist based in Sydney. He has more than 20 years of international experience covering financial news, including with Reuters and the Australian Associated Press (AAP). He writes about business, markets, the economy and investing.