Travel Insurance Ontario
Travel Insurance: Explore the World With Peace of Mind.
Coverage for emergency medical care, trip cancellations and the unexpected, whether you are travelling for a weekend, a winter season or welcoming family to Canada.
Why It Matters
OHIP Covers Very Little Outside Canada
A medical emergency abroad can cost far more than most people expect, and many hospitals ask for payment up front.
For emergency care outside Canada, OHIP pays only a limited amount, such as up to $400 (CAD) a day for higher levels of inpatient hospital care and up to $50 (CAD) a day for outpatient care. The rest is your responsibility. The Ontario government recommends buying private travel medical insurance, including coverage to bring you home.
The Government of Canada also advises getting travel health insurance for every trip abroad, even a short one, and notes that it will not pay or lend money for medical bills.
Coverage for
- Vacations and business trips
- Snowbirds and long winter stays
- Students studying abroad
- Frequent travellers
- Visitors and Super Visa parents and grandparents coming to Canada
- Trips to other provinces
Coverage Options
Types of Travel Insurance
Emergency medical
Helps pay for emergency hospital stays, doctors, prescriptions and medical transportation home, up to the policy limits.
Trip cancellation and interruption
May reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if you have to cancel or cut a trip short for a covered reason.
Baggage and travel delays
Can help with lost, stolen or delayed baggage and extra costs caused by covered travel delays. Often included in all-inclusive packages or available as an add-on.
Multi-trip annual plans
One plan for the year that covers multiple trips up to a set length each, which can suit frequent travellers.
Visitors to Canada and Super Visa
Emergency medical coverage for family and friends visiting Canada, including policies designed to meet Super Visa requirements. Plans range from basic coverage to enhanced options that may cover stable pre-existing conditions.
Snowbird and long-stay coverage
Coverage for extended stays abroad. Maximum trip length and pre-existing condition rules often depend on your age, so plans can differ a lot for travellers over 60.
Optional add-ons, such as cancel for any reason, sports and activities, or rental car coverage, may also be available. Benefits, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and policy. We will walk you through the terms before you buy.
Before You Buy
What to Know Before You Travel
Pre-existing conditions
Many policies only cover a pre-existing condition if it has been stable for a set period before you leave. A change in medication or symptoms can affect coverage.
Answer medical questions accurately
If a medical questionnaire is required, incomplete or inaccurate answers can lead to a denied claim, even for an unrelated emergency.
Travel advisories
Insurers may deny medical or cancellation claims for destinations under a level 3 or 4 Government of Canada advisory, especially if you travel against that advice.
Existing coverage
Workplace benefits or credit cards may include some travel coverage, but limits, trip lengths and age rules vary. If your trip is longer than your existing coverage allows, a top-up plan can extend it.
Want the full picture before you choose? Read our Complete Guide to Travel Insurance in Canada for a closer look at coverage types, costs and common exclusions.
Questions
Travel Insurance FAQs
Does OHIP cover me when I travel outside Canada?
Only partly. For emergencies, OHIP pays limited daily amounts, such as up to $400 (CAD) a day for higher levels of inpatient care and $50 (CAD) a day for outpatient care. Costs abroad are often much higher, so private travel medical insurance is recommended.
Do I need travel insurance for trips within Canada?
OHIP covers many medically necessary services in other provinces, but not everything. Costs such as ambulance services or prescription drugs may not be fully covered, so some travellers choose coverage for trips outside Ontario too.
I have coverage through work or my credit card. Is that enough?
It may be, but it is important to check the details: the maximum trip length, coverage limits, age limits and whether pre-existing conditions are covered. We can help you review it.
What is a stability period?
It is a period before your departure during which a pre-existing condition must have had no changes in treatment, medication or symptoms for it to be covered. Depending on the insurer, your age and the length of your trip, it can range from about a week to a full year.
Can you help with Super Visa insurance?
Yes. Super Visa applicants need private health insurance that meets IRCC requirements, including being valid for at least one year from the date of entry. It is best to buy before your visitor arrives, since policies bought after arrival may include a waiting period. Basic plans may not cover pre-existing conditions, so we can help you compare eligible options.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Ideally when you book your trip, especially if you want trip cancellation coverage, since cancellation benefits may only cover events that happen after the policy is purchased.
Free Consultation
Travel Confidently. We Will Handle the Details.
A short conversation can help you find coverage that fits your trip, your health and your budget, with no pressure to decide.
Coverage is subject to eligibility, policy terms, limits and exclusions, including for pre-existing conditions. Review your policy before you travel.