Long-stay travel insurance in 4 questions

What is a long-term trip? 

We usually divide trips into 2 categories: 

• Short-term: 1 to 90 days

• Long-term: 3 to 12 months

However, when it comes to travel insurance, any stay outside Quebec lasting more than 30 days is considered a long-term trip. This can even extend to several months if you are working remotely, studying, snowbirding, or are retired.

Why should one take out travel insurance for a long stay? 

There are several reasons to take out travel insurance if you’re going to be away for a long time:

• To safeguard your health;

• To protect your budget;

• To get help in an emergency (24/7 travel assistance)

• To secure coverage for riskier activities such as scuba diving, skiing, or parachuting.

The longer you stay abroad, the greater the risk of experiencing a health problem or accident. In countries where medical costs can reach staggering levels, such as the United States, travelling without coverage is a risky gamble. You could end up having to pay the full cost in the event of illness or accident.

Emergency medical insurance covers you for incidents that are not related to pre-existing conditions. These conditions may still be included in your coverage if they are stable at the time of your departure, according to your insurer’s stability criteria. Otherwise, additional options are available to extend your coverage to pre-existing conditions that are not covered by default.

Good to know: Insurance policies available from credit card companies no longer provide emergency medical coverage for cardholders aged 65 and over, or limit it to just a few days. Before you leave, take the time to check your coverage, its warranties, restrictions, and exclusions. 

Which coverage options are best to choose? 

Don’t travel without emergency medical coverage. It’s the most important. Have you paid in advance for travel (train, coach, boat or plane), accommodations or excursions that are non-refundable or subject to cancellation conditions? If so, take out trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

If your baggage includes essential items, it may be a good idea to take out baggage loss or theft insurance.

Depending on the insurer chosen, you may also benefit from coverage for:

• repatriation and living expenses;

• the presence of an accompanying person in the event of hospitalization;

• the return of the car or RV to your home;

• telemedicine;

• pet care.

The civil liability portion of your home insurance covers you against bodily injury or property damage that you may unintentionally cause to others, anywhere in the world, and which could result in legal action.

Tip: Carefully check the exclusions, particularly those relating to your age or state of health (not forgetting pre-existing conditions such as cancer). It’s also possible to add a deductible, which can lower your premium.  

Long-term travel insurance is not without its limits 

Many insurers cap emergency medical coverage outside Quebec at 183 days, in compliance with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) conditions. However, some offer extension options of up to 365 days. You can also request a waiver from the RAMQ.

What is the price of long-term travel insurance? 

Long-term travel insurance is more expensive than regular travel insurance. Its cost is subject to a number of criteria:

• your age; 

• your medical condition and the presence of pre-existing medical conditions (assessed by a medical questionnaire); 

• the duration of your trip;

• your destination;  

• whether or not a deductible is added

An advanced age, a long duration of travel, or pre-existing health conditions all constitute an increased risk for an insurer, which is reflected in the amount of the insurance premium.   

Comparing the coverage offered by different insurers will allow you to find the best travel insurance for you at the right price. If your long-term trip involves a brief return home (to spend the holiday season with loved ones, for instance), an annual insurance plan with specific tiers, plus one or two extensions, could be more cost-effective than two separate plans.  

Tip: Avoid the annual premium increase or the one associated with your change of age by taking out your travel insurance a few months before your departure.