With more Canadians opting to vacation in their own backyard this summer, travellers and advisors are being reminded that having insurance protection is just as important as when travelling internationally, particularly when considering that provincial healthcare will not necessarily provide coverage.
Manulife reports that it’s ‘Travel within Canada’ products represent only approximately 10% of the company’s travel insurance sales and the company notes that while Canada has universal public health care, coverage varies by province.
“As Canadians explore our own backyard, it’s important to make travel insurance part of trip planning,” says Pamela Wong, Head of Travel Insurance and General Manager, Affinity at Manulife Canada. “Many people assume they are covered everywhere in Canada, but there are limitations.”
Manulife offers the following tips as Canadians plan their upcoming trips:
- Emergency medical coverage for out-of-province travel is necessary: Even within Canada, your provincial health plan may not cover all costs outside your home province. Travel medical insurance helps with unexpected expenses like emergency transport, prescription medication, and certain hospital bills.
- Credit card coverage may not be enough: Not all credit cards include travel insurance, and coverage is often limited. Check your policy and top up if needed to ensure full protection for your trip. Existing coverage through your credit card or employer may only protect you up to a certain number of days and may not protect your family members.
- Consider non-medical plans or all-inclusive plans: Non-medical plans protect against trip cancellations, interruptions, baggage loss, and even changed plans, so you can travel with confidence. All-inclusive plans cover all that, plus medical emergencies.
- Opt for coverage for unlimited trips: For frequent travellers, multi-trip plans help protect you for unlimited trips within the year. They offer versatile and comprehensive protection that goes with you whenever – and wherever – you travel.
- Fill out forms with care: When purchasing coverage for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to be aware of and clearly communicate everything you know about your health, especially when completing a medical questionnaire, so that you get the right coverage.
“No matter where a Canadian is travelling to, they need to protect themselves, their families and the value of the trip they’ve purchased,” says Jennifer Waver, Head of Travel Distribution at Manulife Canada. “As people gear up to enjoy their summer vacations, it’s an important message to keep in mind.”
A national travel survey conducted for CAA reveals that four in 10 Ontarians (41%) travelled outside their home province without travel insurance during their last trip. Some believed it was unnecessary (43%), others worried about the cost (24%), and 20% took their chances, hoping nothing would go wrong.
And according to Orion Travel Insurance, part of the CAA family, the average medical claim cost has risen by 15% annually since 2019, with everything from ear infections to air ambulance services becoming significantly more expensive.
“Unexpected travel hiccups don’t stop at the border,” says Kaitlynn Furse, Director Corporate Communications, CAA SCO. “Whether it’s a sudden medical emergency or trip disruptions, having the right travel insurance ensures you can focus on making memories.”
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