Visitors to Canada insurance: Why is it useful?
Foreign visitors don’t have access to Canada’s universal healthcare system. But visiting families, tourists, and foreign workers and students can purchase “visitors to Canada” insurance. It comes in very handy in the event of illness or an accident.
What is visitors to Canada insurance?
This type of travel insurance is available from various Canadian insurance providers for people visiting the country. It covers their medical expenses up to a predetermined amount.
In Quebec, a one-day hospitalization can cost more than $3,200, and that doesn’t include physicians’ fees. In intensive care, the cost for one day Increases to over $11,000! With this insurance, a traveller who is the victim of an accident or illness won’t have to pay these amounts out of pocket to receive care in a Canadian hospital—and they won’t leave the family members or friends they’re staying with their employer, or the Quebec healthcare system on the hook for the costs.
It’s also worth noting that some visitors insurance policies cover side trips—that is, travel by the insured person to another country besides Canada as part of their trip. They would be covered, for example, if the majority of their trip takes place in Quebec and they decide to spend a few days by the sea in Maine.
What does this travel insurance cover?
Visitors to Canada insurance covers emergency medical care for accidental injuries and unforeseen illnesses that are not related to pre-existing conditions.
Since visitors insurance is available from various companies, the exact coverage options can vary. Here are some examples of expenses that may be reimbursed:
- Hospitalization
- Physicians’ fees
- Services of health professionals (e.g., physiotherapist, chiropractor, podiatrist)
- Drugs
- Dental care
- Transportation by ambulance
- Repatriation to the country of residence
It’s also worth noting that some visitors insurance policies cover side trips—that is, travel by the insured person to another country besides Canada as part of their trip. They would be covered, for example, if the majority of their trip takes place in Quebec and they decide to spend a few days by the sea in Maine.
CAA-Quebec’s Visitors to Canada Insurance offers all this, and more. Contact us for details!
Who would need this travel insurance?
Private medical insurance from a Canadian insurer may be required for entry into Canada for some travellers. It’s mandatory when applying for super visas and for specific nationalities. In such cases, visitors insurance is the solution! Get more information about entering Canada.
The following travellers from foreign countries are eligible to purchase this insurance when coming to Canada:
- Tourists and people visiting family
- Foreign students or workers
- Immigrants
- Canadians returning home after long absences who aren’t yet eligible for Quebec’s public health insurance plan
Visitors to Canada insurance is especially useful for people who cannot purchase travel insurance in their home countries. This little-known product is not sold everywhere in the world, and sometimes the coverage on offer is insufficient.
Of course, if the people visiting you already have insurance that reimburses health-care expenses incurred in another country, they may not need to purchase another policy. It’s important that they validate their coverage to avoid any unpleasant surprises.When must visitors to Canada insurance be purchased?
It’s best to take out visitors insurance before leaving one’s home country, but under certain conditions it can also be purchased up to 30 days after arriving in Canada. If the visitor must show proof of insurance as soon as they arrive here, however, they have no choice: they must purchase it before leaving on their trip.