Make sure you have enough insurance before you go, even if it’s only for a weekend, to avoid being caught off guard.
Travel Insurance for Canada vs Health Insurance for Canada: If you’re anything like the majority of people, you’re undoubtedly curious about the distinctions between health and travel insurance. They are both significant in Canada.
Each provides coverage for a crucial element of the trip and may make the difference between paying a fair and expected daily, weekly, or monthly premium and incurring thousands of dollars in unforeseen expenses.
Let’s examine the distinctions between health insurance and travel insurance for Canadians today and illustrate the circumstances in which you could need both.
What distinguishes health insurance from travel insurance?
Let’s first define each of these insurance categories. Health insurance and travel insurance are both vital, but they cover distinct kinds of travel.
A kind of insurance called travel insurance is intended to assist in covering unforeseen expenses that can occur if anything goes wrong during your vacation or if your schedule changes. This might include anything from a little inconvenience, like misplaced baggage, to a big emergency, like returning your remains home in the event that you die away while on vacation.
The purpose of health insurance is to pay for foreign nationals’ medical costs. This might include everything from urgent medical attention to something as basic as a yearly physical or prescription refill from a physician’s office.
Although they have distinct functions, each of these insurance kinds are significant. Travel insurance may contain some health coverage, but this is only intended to be used in an emergency. It is generally advised to get travel insurance for no more than six months.
A longer duration of usage is intended for health insurance. As many provinces demand a waiting time of at least three months before they can acquire a Canadian health card, many immigrants to Canada buy health insurance before they arrive in the nation. Buying private health insurance at this time is a smart move since it provides payment for all approved medical treatments and expenses.
Which is better to get first—travel insurance or health insurance?
In some circumstances, one kind of insurance is preferable than another.
Purchasing travel insurance is advised:
If you are traveling overseas for a brief period of time, such as on a business or holiday
Should you spend fewer than six months away from home
You should get health insurance if you plan to return home after your trip:
- If you’re relocating permanently or for more than six months,
- If you plan to often travel to and from Canada from your native nation
- If you want the assurance that, in the case of a catastrophic medical emergency, you may be flown or brought home
- Important things to look for when purchasing travel insurance in Canada
- Now that you are aware of the function of travel insurance, let’s discuss it in more depth. Before making a purchase, there are a few important factors and coverage specifics that you should be aware of.
medical crisis
Although it’s not the same as health insurance, most travel insurance includes some emergency medical coverage. Routine care or any medical treatment pertaining to a pre-existing ailment are not eligible for this.
Disruption of travel
Anybody who travels regularly is aware of the prevalence of trip interruptions. Trip interruption insurance may assist with covering expenses such as overnight lodging, meals, and even a replacement ticket in the event that you miss your connecting flight or have a flight cancellation.
Purses and personal belongings
Nobody enjoys handling misplaced luggage. It is even worse, however, to have to cover these costs out of pocket. In the event that your luggage is lost, lost baggage coverage usually provides a fixed sum of money for its replacement. In the event that your luggage is delayed, it may also assist you in making necessary purchases.
It’s possible that your travel insurance coverage offers additional advantages. To locate a plan that suits your requirements, make sure you thoroughly study the policy before making a purchase.
Purchasing Canada’s appropriate health insurance
It is crucial that you make sure you have the appropriate health insurance coverage for your migration to Canada. Ultimately, this insurance protects against the potentially very expensive situation of having to pay for medical bills out of pocket.
When looking for health and travel insurance, we suggest starting with these two companies:
For immigrants seeking for foreign health insurance, Cigna offers free quotations. Click here to get a free quotation.
BestQuote provides a free comparison of travel and health insurance plans from various providers. Get free quotes comparisons here.
The following factors should be taken into account when buying private health insurance in Canada.
prolonged medical care
The enhanced healthcare benefits provided by a travel insurance plan are the primary distinction between it and standard private health insurance. Prescription drugs, medical supplies, and non-urgent doctor appointments are examples of preventive or extended healthcare that are usually not covered by short-term travel insurance. One of the most crucial elements of having private health insurance is this.
Repatriation and evacuation
Evacuation insurance, which pays for emergency medical transportation expenses and repatriation in the event that you must return home for treatment, is not covered by all policies. If the worst happens, it won’t be as difficult for your loved ones to visit you in Canada since some policies even cover compassionate visits.
dental and vision
In many Canadian jurisdictions, dental and vision coverage is not reimbursed. You may wish to retain having this as part of your private health insurance even after you have access to your Canadian health card since it is so helpful!
Area of coverage
Before making a purchase, be careful to verify your coverage area. While some firms provide plans with global coverage, many others offer health insurance only for Canada. Since they are sometimes more costly, be careful to shop around before making a purchase.
Make sure you have the appropriate insurance before you go, whether you’re relocating to Canada permanently or just taking a brief vacation to Montreal or Vancouver to see relatives.