Canadian travel insurance for American travellers to Canada: There are many alternatives to choose from when looking for Canadian travel insurance, particularly for American travelers who are just a short flight or drive away. The United States and Canada have historically had a strong connection. If you're thinking about moving to Canada or taking a vacation, now is the perfect time to look into your travel insurance choices.
The majority of Americans may enter Canada freely by air or land and partake in their favorite Canadian pastimes for the first time since March 2020. Our American neighbors south of the border have a plenty of things to choose from, whether you fancy hiking through the breathtaking lakes and towering mountains of British Columbia, eating poutine in Montreal, or watching an NHL hockey game in Edmonton.
Due to the proximity of the United States and Canada, many American travelers mistakenly assume that they are exempt from the need for travel insurance while visiting Canada. This is a grave error with potentially disastrous financial repercussions.
We’re going to go into great detail on Canadian travel insurance today and discuss why it’s crucial for American tourists.
Why Is Travel Insurance Required for Canadian Travel by Americans?
Canada is well recognized for its publicly financed healthcare system. Although this is offered to newly arrived permanent residents of Canada, it does not include services used by visitors or short-term visitors. The taxpayer-funded healthcare system may not be able to meet the medical demands of foreign students or temporary employees.
You can get healthcare while in Canada, but you will have to pay for it out of pocket if you become sick or hurt. Medicare or domestic health insurance usually provides little to no coverage while you are outside the United States, even if you have health insurance that protects you at home.
For this reason, a large number of American tourists choose to get both travel and foreign health insurance before departing for Canada. We’ve teamed up with Cigna, a top Canadian travel insurance provider, to give quick and easy estimates for coverage that is tailored to your requirements if you’d like to see what choices you have. Obtain a free quotation right now!
What should my Canadian travel insurance cover if I’m an American visiting Canada?
Not all Canadian travel insurance plans provide the same level of coverage. Nonetheless, the majority of strategies share a few key components. Let’s examine the key components of Canadian travel insurance that Americans visiting Canada should take into account:
Hospitalization and emergency medical coverage: One of the most crucial components of any travel insurance policy is having coverage for unforeseen medical costs. Make sure your Canadian travel insurance and/or foreign health insurance covers emergency medical charges such as ambulance services, medical bills, and hospitalization to prevent very expensive medical bills.
Medical evacuation: Because Canada is a huge nation, you will need to be evacuated out if you get extremely sick or wounded in an area lacking the essential facilities in order to receive the care you need. Medical evacuation should be partially covered by a decent travel insurance policy.
Previous medical conditions: It is important to confirm that your travel insurance covers any pre-existing medical conditions. If not, you can be required to pay out of pocket in the event of a health issue.
Repatriation: Although nobody like thinking ahead, there are situations when it is necessary. If you were to die away while residing in Canada, repatriation coverage guarantees that your remains may be repatriated to the United States.
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption: Should your trip need to be canceled or interrupted for whatever reason, these two coverage options provide a portion of your money back.
Baggage Loss/Delay: Have you ever been somewhere and had to spend days wearing the same clothing because your baggage got lost? If your luggage becomes delayed or lost during your vacation, this coverage will pay you a certain amount of money to buy new clothes.
Considerations for Canadian Travel Insurance for Various American Traveler Types
Not every American visiting Canada has the same precise requirements when it comes to travel insurance. There might be certain things you need to think about depending on your age, health, immigration status, and duration of stay.
Visitors and Tourists
Even if you’re just traveling briefly from the United States to Canada, the last thing you want is for uncontrollably bad weather to force your journey to be canceled or postponed. That may occur more often than we realize, as each of us has learned over the last 18 months.
If you plan to be out of the country for any length of time, you should get both international health insurance and travel insurance, which will shield you from having to pay for medical care while you’re abroad. Travel insurance covers cancellations, lost luggage, and other travel-related delays and interruptions.
Get a free quote from Cigna to begin examining your choices for health and travel insurance!
Learners
When you spend months or years studying in Canada, the issues around delayed travel become less significant. Plans for student health insurance that provide dependable and continuous coverage for diseases and injuries should be given priority instead.
Many colleges require all students to enroll in a mandated insurance plan, or they may have insurance requirements that must be met in order to be admitted. Before making a purchase, always make sure you are aware of the restrictions at your institution.
Foreign Employees
International employees who entered Canada with a valid work visa can be eligible for Canadian health insurance, depending on your circumstances. Although the precise rules differ by province, generally speaking you must have lived in your home province for more than six months.
Make sure to acquire sufficient travel and health insurance to protect you while awaiting eligibility for provincial healthcare coverage, and do your homework before entering the nation. We advise obtaining a free quotation from Cigna to investigate your alternatives for Canadian travel insurance.
Long-term Citizens
There is a mandated 3-month waiting period that may prevent you from accessing provincial health care, even if you are entering Canada as a lawful permanent resident. While some provinces do, others do not. More information regarding provincial healthcare for immigrants in Canada may be found here.
It’s a good idea to make sure you have private health insurance that will cover you throughout the first weeks and months in Canada, in case government coverage is delayed. Obtain a free quotation from Cigna to begin investigating your insurance choices.
Examine your alternatives if you’re an American traveling to Canada for travel insurance.
Travel insurance and foreign health insurance are essential resources that may shield you and your family from unforeseen problems and costs, regardless of how long you plan to remain in Canada.
The reliable partner of Moving2Canada, Cigna, provides free quotations for a wide range of Canadian travel insurance plans that will help you maintain your schedule and safeguard your health. For an instant, free quotation in just a few minutes, complete this form.