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11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in May 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers, top credit cards with travel insurance, methodology, best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at no extra cost.

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Special medical insurance for ship captains and crew members, international students and missionaries.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

Here is the list of travel cards offered by Chase that include various forms of travel insurance.

Having one of these in your wallet is a good start to protecting your travel investments and preventing expensive accidents; however, savvy travelers check card terms closely and sometimes supplement with a third-party policy, like from one of the companies above, to better protect themselves.

on Chase's website

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 6 hours.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 12 hours.

• Car rentals: Theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

• Trip interruption: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for three days.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Green Shield Canada   Reviews

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I tried to claim the expense of my prescription glasses

I tried to claim the expense of my glasses from Green Shield Canada . I was told there are issues with this Health Service Provider that are preventing us from considering reimbursement for this claim. I tried to contact green shield but was given no help. I then contacted the supplier but I can't get a refund with a custom made prescription glasses (the picture of the glasses was also attached) which is understandable. The funny thing is that I submitted two claims on the same day. One is for contact lens with the cost of $90, the other one is for prescription glasses with the cost of $620. Green shield reimbursed the $90 claim but denied the $620 claim even though they are from the same supplier. This gives me a feeling that they denied my claim not because of the supplier, but because of the amount they are not willing to pay out of their pocket. I have been buying glasses from the same eye wear supplier for almost ten years. I never got a problem getting reimbursed before with all the other insurance companies (i.e. Canada Life, Blue Cross, etc). Starting from this year, my employer decided to switch to green shield, then everything became ridiculous. I asked the eye wear supplier, and they told me GSC is the only insurance company who denied them, and they are still arguing with GSC for the past couple of months. My friend also told me GSC refused to reimburse some prescription medicine bills because my friend didn't buy medicines from the "approved" pharmacy stores. If you can, avoid GSC!

Date of experience : April 30, 2024

may as well give up instead of trying to get them to look at a claim

Since they're on strike, they have pretty much stopped processing all but basic claims. I've paid into this plan for 13years (along with all the other guys at work) now I actually need something, and they cant find paperwork, "you never sent paperwork", (even though we have shown that we've sent it multiple times). All you get is auto responses because they have no one working customer service. But according to them the entire customer service group being on strike wont affect customer service at all. If this is unaffected, then it must have been dismal before. Don't bother paying into plan, just smash out your teeth with a hammer and save the prolonged pain, because Green Shield isn't going to help you.

Date of experience : April 17, 2024

This company is the worst

This company is the worst! Terrible customer service!! Wait times on the phone over an hour for providers or customers. If you use their on-line request form, they don’t send a confirmation email and you will be waiting over a week for a response! If you are an employer looking to buy benefits for your employees DON’T PICK GREENSHIELD!

Date of experience : April 03, 2024

This company should not be able to sell…

This company should not be able to sell insurance to anyone I don’t understand how they haven’t been shut down long ago A horrible company to deal with They use every trick to deny your claim Including there web site always changing your active status to not active and so on Someone needs to run a tv special on the way they operate

Date of experience : February 05, 2024

Absolutely horrible company

Absolutely horrible company. They do everything in their power to deny an eligible benefit. Try calling them. No one answers unless you're willing to wait an hour. I've been waiting almost 2 weeks to get my eye glass benefits and the claim keeps getting denied. Zero customer service.

Date of experience : February 01, 2024

Dreadfully disappointed

After almost three months the Hospital still has not been paid!!!! After waiting an hour, I was told that they had farmed out the out of country to another insurance firm. In general the people I spoke to every time I spend an hour or more to speak to somebody they don't have answers or give excuses. Our employer switched to Green Shield and many of us are unhappy with the waiting, poor information and the people in a public service industry who are not willing to serve the public. If it were possible I would rate them as 0 !!!!!!

Date of experience : January 15, 2024

Absolutely incompetent - 3days x 1.5hrs each call no answer !

Absolutely incompetent - Since Jan 1st, forced to use Greenshield as a result of employer moving from Sunlife. Their video doesn't come close to actual claim submission process and ALL claims shows "In Progress" ! I have tried calling Customer Service now for 3 days each lasting over 1.5hrs and yet no one answers ! Even the Pharmacy submitted claims are selectively rejected for basic prescribed medication. You have to wonder why even bother having a Health Care Plan. It doesn't look like they have ANY staff while an automated VR phone system keeps going in a loop not knowing what to do until you yell at it repeatedly to get a Customer Service Agent to speak with.

Date of experience : January 26, 2024

The Worst! Avoid if you can!

I am a real estate agent and have been forced to buy ORWP through greenshield. They truly are the worst company I have ever dealt with! First of, I had to budget an hour every time I try to call.Then they screwed up the plan I chose and set me up for a completely different plan! The customer service didn't even so much as apologizing. She just coldly said yeah you'd have to call the administrator to figure it out. So I'm back on the phone to fix the mistake they made. Only if the Ontario Real Estate Association isn't forcing us to buy the insurance while keeping a few more bucks to themselves.

Date of experience : January 16, 2024

Liers: they don't care about your Mental Health!

My plans covers psychologist services and so I went to see one. Unfortunately did not get a refund from them as : "the person you saw was a counselor, not a psychologist". Not sure what would be the difference to them. And then saying that Mental health is a priority to them. What a joke. Absolutely ludicrous!

Date of experience : January 09, 2024

Absolute garbage company. Insurer? I think not!

Absolute garbage company. Nothing but deny deny delay and deny. WITH NO EXPLANATIONS! It's not like I have expensive prescriptions, however the ones that do the best job with least side effects (talking NSAIDs here) are repeatedly denied. I'm taking my money elsewhere. This company is useless. NOTE: Although only ONE date is allowed in the review, this has been a 2 year runaround.

Date of experience : October 03, 2023

This company is not client oriented

This company is not client oriented. They do not respond in a timely manner. If I wasn't tied in to this without an option to change i would get out of my coverage. Stay away from this company.

Date of experience : March 10, 2024

Horrible Insurance Company

Horrible Insurance Company. Frustration beyond belief. Ring menus calls transferred to full answering machines . Next they extended health re home care. It won’t kick in if quote “ If the Provincial Home Care Program is not involved with registered nursing or PSW care in the home, then the request for services will be ineligible. “ pay your money get denied . Pay $489 a month premiums for zero coverage . Hip replacement is elective surgery. Ergo no assistance from Ont Home Care hence no Green Shield coverage . I could go on but won’t .

Date of experience : September 14, 2022

Due to my line of work

Due to my line of work, encouraged through my employer to seek psychological help and that we have ‘great coverage’. This was a difficult thing to do when you’re already in a dark hole. Finally did it only to be denied coverage with zero explanation. Perhaps a little professionalism would up Greenshields star rating.

Date of experience : October 16, 2023

The only reason I use greenshield is…

The only reason I use greenshield is because I am forced to buy their coverage if I want a post secondary education, otherwise I wouldnt bother. Just about every claim is partially rejected with no explanation given. Then I have to pay interest to the service provider because my bill was not fully paid by this useless company.

Date of experience : November 24, 2023

Absolutely terrible customer service…

Absolutely terrible customer service and very misleading website. I could rant on here for a long time but I'll save the time because I've wasted too much time on them anyway. Four years ago I tried to get reimbursed for physio and eventually gave up because I was just too frustrated. A claim I submitted this week was denied because of a five year old worksafe claim on an unrelated body part, despite having a Doctor's note for the service (they claimed the note was not properly worded, though they give no indication on their website of what needs to be included to make a note valid). Save yourself the headache and use someone else.

Date of experience : May 25, 2023

Bluecross was removed and Greenshield…

Bluecross was removed and Greenshield implemented without explaining the rationale in College Pensions. With GSC. These last few years I have found there is less coverage, more convoluted menu systems, and now with the removal of username access, I cannot enter the website. I’ve been on computers since 1982 and am very familiar with things digital but it has been most frustrating with GSC. I completed a review several years ago, also a scathing review and was asked to remove it and was given a contact for any subsequent claims. She is gone now. I do not intend to remove this review unless customer service improves for all members.

Date of experience : September 23, 2023

Disasterous new 3rd party travel insurer

I signed up with Greenshield for post retirement benefits primarily their travel insurance plan in 2018. Since OHIP as slowly and covertly eroded coverage I felt reassured that this plan could be helpful. Fast forward to now where Greenshield has also eroded coverage and also signed up with a disasterous new travel insurance provider whose agent gave me completely wrong information not to mention that I can't even log in due to glitches in their code verification system. I will be cancelling Greenshield as fast as possible. They provided benefits while I was working but was also the worst provider then compared to Manulife etc. I welcome any one who can provide some good alternatives.

Date of experience : September 05, 2023

Hours on Hold

Hours on hold, when you finally get through they can not answer basic questions. Find an alternative insurance provider.

Date of experience : February 13, 2024

Caitlin - 5532

Worked with Caitlin - 5532 today. She went above and beyond in assisting me with my questions and concerns. Even though my item wasn't fully covered Caitlin helped me to understand. Thanks Caitlin for great customer service.

Date of experience : November 30, 2022

Medical equipment hidden rules

Recently tried to claim for medical equipment prescribed by hospital doctor and occupational therapist due to a hip replacement. My claim was partially denied. Had previously contacted an agent who told me what items I could claim. When claim was processed the items prescribed by the occupational therapist were denied. Why didn’t they mention this little hidden rule when I enquired about them? Not very friendly or helpful agents.

Date of experience : August 23, 2022

By Lisa Jackson

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Best travel insurance in Canada

Day Of Victory Studio / Shutterstock

You’ve packed your bags, mapped your itinerary, and set your “out of office” message – it’s vacation time! But what about travel insurance?

According to a 2019 study by the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, 13% of Canadians aren’t sure if they have travel insurance before they go on vacation. Of those who have bought insurance, 17% don’t know what their policy covers.

As a professional travel writer, I find this rather alarming. Canadian health insurance is not valid outside Canada, and your provincial or territorial health plan may not cover all the costs even if you’re travelling domestically. If you suffer an accident or get sick abroad, unexpected medical bills can bankrupt you. It’s why the Canadian government  advises all travellers to buy travel insurance , and I never leave the country without it. Whether you’re taking a two-week trip or a gap year abroad, every one needs the best travel insurance in Canada, regardless of age, health status, destination, or length of vacation.

Best for thrill seekers: World Nomads

Designed for adrenaline lovers with wanderlust, World Nomads insures a long list of adventure sports, activities and volunteer/work experiences, as well as sporting equipment delay/loss/theft. You also get access to a 24/7 hotline that provides information that adventure travellers may need: weather reports and travel advisories, assistance locating the nearest trail, and finding a gear shop.

The standard policy covers emergency medical expenses up to $5 million, emergency dental, trip cancellation/interruption/delay, baggage delays/theft/damage, and more. The downside: you must be under 66 years of age to qualify.

Best for families: CAA Travel Insurance

A long-trusted Canadian institution, CAA travel Insurance offers flexible travel plans to suit every type of traveller and vacation, but their policies are particularly great for families. Their stand-alone emergency medical policy of up to $5 million in health coverage is extremely comprehensive, even including medical repatriation, emergency dental, and reimbursements for pet care and kenneling.

The Vacation Package Plan provides full cancellation/interruption insurance – ideal for prepaid, all-inclusive vacation packages – as well as family transportation and escort of children during emergencies. Anyone can buy CAA travel insurance, but members get a 10% discount.

CAA’s emergency medical plans also now include coverage for COVID-19-related illnesses for vaccinated customers. Coverage is up to $2.5 million if partially vaccinated and up to $5 million if fully vaccinated.

Best for seniors and retirees: Blue Cross

Blue Cross has been around for more than 70 years, and 1 in 4 Canadians utilize its travel insurance. Blue Cross’s emergency medical covers up to $5 million. It has special “snowbird” travel insurance packages designed for Canadians who head to warmer climates each year, making Blue Cross ideal for retirees.

Part of the package is the recently launched Serenity Service. This free perk provides a range of benefits if your flight is delayed, including access to an airport lounge or even a hotel room (depending on the length of the delay). Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered.

Best for budget travellers: Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance

Starting at only $1.36 a day, Travel CUTS Bon Voyage Insurance offers very affordable travel insurance packages, and it’s personally been my “go-to” travel policy for years. Yes, it’s geared toward students (e.g., you can swap your travel dates at no charge due to an exam schedule conflict), but anyone between 15 and 50 years of age can purchase a policy.

The standard package includes hospital and medical up to $1 million, dental care, air ambulance evacuation, flight accident, accidental death or dismemberment, and trip interruption/cancellation insurance. Adventure and extreme sports are also covered.

Best for Canadians with pre-existing medical conditions: Manulife CoverMe

Manulife CoverMe offers highly comprehensive Canadian travel insurance packages for those travelling as a family, a visitor to Canada, or a student. You also get access to the TravelAid mobile app, which provides directions to the nearest medical facility and local emergency telephone numbers.

However, the stand-out feature is arguably TravelEase – a special policy designed to cover fully disclosed medical conditions. For travellers with pre-existing conditions, it insures a bunch of expenses for health services and transportation. It provides up to $10 million in emergency medical benefits – a unicorn in the travel insurance world.

Best for emergency medical assistance: Medipac Travel Insurance

Medipac is one of the only travel insurance companies out there that is staffed by their own team of trained medical professionals, via their Medipac Assistance hotline. Medipac’s medical professionals are your first point of contact in an emergency medical situation. This service is also helpful for dealing with foreign medical systems and helping to prevent unnecessary expenses when dealing with a large deductible.

Medipac offers several competitive features for their travel insurance plans, including no age limits, a claim-free discount, and a 90-day stability period for most pre-existing conditions. If your pre-existing medical condition isn’t covered by a standard Medipac insurance plan, Medipac also offers personalized, underwritten insurance policies to help you meet your needs.

Medipac is offering a 5% Vaccine Discount to clients who have received a minimum of one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the new MedipacMAX option. This COVID insurance option provides maximum coverage of up to $5 million USD for COVID-19, in addition to its other benefits.

Best for frequent travellers: Allianz Travel Insurance

Touted as a world leader in the Canadian travel insurance and assistance industry, Allianz Travel Insurance is a major provider of travel insurance, corporate assistance, and concierge services. It seeks to help its customers find solutions to various travel-related problems. Allianz Travel has partnered with many reputable companies, including travel agencies, airlines, resorts, websites, event ticket brokers, corporations, universities and credit card companies.

Allianz Travel Insurance is a great choice for anyone looking for travel insurance. Its single-trip plans are perfect for those leaving home and visiting another destination (or destinations) before going back home. Its parent company, Allianz Global Assistance, has five plans to choose from, all offering different levels of protection and coverage.

Allianz Travel Insurance’s annual/multi-trip plans are perfect for both personal and professional travelers who take multiple trips in a year. It offers four distinct options to choose from.

Will my provincial insurance be valid overseas?

No! If you get sick or injured overseas, the Canadian government will not cough up a dime to cover your medical costs. Here are the sobering facts:

• Canadian public health insurance is not valid outside of Canada.
• Foreign hospitals can be extremely expensive and may demand payment before treating you.
• The Canadian government will not pay a Canadian’s medical bills for an illness or accident suffered abroad. You’re on the hook for footing the bill!

Will my provincial insurance work in another province/territory?

Flash your valid provincial health card in another part of Canada, and you’ll likely be covered for some of the same services insured by your home provincial plan. This is because the provinces and territories (except Quebec) signed an agreement whereby the host province foots the bill for any medically necessary health care services and gets reimbursed by the home province later.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of the woods. Depending on your destination, a slew of other services may not be covered, such as an ambulance, hospital transfer, prescription drugs, transportation back to your home province, and procedures not currently approved by your home plan.

Plus, since Quebec wasn’t a signatory to the interprovincial billing agreement, you’ll likely be charged for any medical bills incurred there. For this reason, it’s recommended that you buy extra travel insurance (or verify your  credit card’s travel insurance coverage ) to cover any uninsured health care services that may crop up during your trip.

What does the best travel insurance in Canada cover?

Every travel insurance policy is different and what’s covered depends on how much you’re willing to pay for coverage. Typical medical services that you can expect to be covered include:

• Emergency hospital and medical costs
• Ambulance and air ambulance costs
• Outpatient services
• Physician and laboratory costs
• Prescription drugs
• Direct payment to the hospitals and doctors caring for you
• Assistance with bringing a family member to your bedside
• Air ambulance or commercial repatriation home
• Return of your vehicle if you are ill and have to come home

Additional benefits may include:

• Trip cancellation for non-refundable monetary losses
• Trip interruption
• Baggage loss, rental car damage, out-of-pocket expenses
• Accidental death and dismemberment

How much coverage do I need?

Securing a policy with a minimum of $1M maximum payable is a safe bet. But don’t just look at the numbers when choosing a policy – read the fine print. Every insurer has a list of situations in which coverage is not provided, otherwise known as “exclusions.” Check whether your provider includes coverage or has provisions for the following:

• Pre-existing medical conditions: According to the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a pre-existing condition is “something that happened (or started to happen) before you were insured.” Some policies may cover claims relating to pre-existing conditions that are “stable and controlled,” but read the definitions carefully. If you don’t declare a condition, the entire policy could be invalidated!
• Medical evacuation: Ensure the policy covers medical evacuation to the nearest hospital and/or to Canada and the costs of a medical escort to accompany you to your final destination.
• Repatriation in case of death: On the grim side, ensure that your plan covers the preparation and return of your remains to Canada.
• Adventurous Activities: If you plan on engaging in “high-risk” activities on your trip, you may need to shell out extra dough for a more comprehensive plan. Many policies don’t cover “risky” activities, such as skiing or snowboarding “out of bounds,” skydiving, scuba diving, white-water rafting, mountaineering, or participation in any rodeo activity. To cover your bases, ask questions and get specifics before purchasing a policy.

You may have to pay more to have these things included, but a few extra bucks may be worth it for peace of mind.

Should I buy “a la carte” travel insurance or get a travel credit card with free insurance?

A credit card with travel insurance is always a good thing to carry in your wallet. The  best travel credit cards in Canada  usually cover everything from emergency medical costs to trip cancellation/interruption to flight delay to rental car insurance, which could save you a wad of cash.

The  Scotiabank Gold American Express ® Card  has saved my butt a few times, and I’ve filed several travel-related claims through my card. I cancelled my trip to Portugal a few years ago due to a death in the family, and I got a full refund on my hotel deposit and flights for myself, my husband, and my baby. It totally justified the $120 annual fee.

That being said, don’t rely on your credit card to take care of all your travel insurance needs. It usually includes a basic policy, meaning it offers low (or no!) travel medical insurance as part of the package. Like any travel insurance company policy, you’ve really got to read the fine print and understand the conditions of your policy to avoid sticky situations.

For instance, the Scotiabank Gold American Express ® Card requires a cardholder to have charged at least 75% of trip expenses to make a trip cancellation/interruption insurance claim. So if you book an all-inclusive vacation for $5,000 and then cancel due to illness, at least $3,750 must have been charged onto your AMEX to qualify for a claim. If you didn’t do that, you’re out of luck.

Can I still purchase insurance if i’ve already started my vacation?

The short answer: most insurance providers won’t cover you after your departure date. However, a handful of insurers (such as World Nomads) will allow you to purchase a policy while already overseas. Just know that it can come with sky-high costs and/or conditions: World Nomads has a 48-hour waiting period before coverage kicks in. The bottom line? It’s always best to buy travel insurance before leaving the country.

Can I get travel insurance for part of a trip?

Some plans offer insurance coverage options that will allow you to customize your coverage, but you’ll have to research to find one that works for your unique circumstances. Alternatively, you could take out an insurance policy for each destination and/or segment of your trip.

For instance, you could get a World Nomads policy for the two weeks you’re scuba diving in Australia, followed by a basic Travel CUTS Bon Voyage insurance to cover a month-long trip to Europe. However, when you buy Canadian travel insurance, you must select a trip start and end date – meaning you must know the exact dates for travelling to those places.

Should I carry a printout of my policy with me at all times?

I recommend carrying the travel insurance card in your wallet and locking it up in the hotel safe with other important travel documents like my passport. But don’t rely totally on paper: Wallets get lost or stolen, luggage can be delayed or M.I.A., and papers are easy to misplace when you’re on the road. My advice is to send a copy of the policy to your email and save it on your iCloud or another storage system that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

Recommended reads

• What’s the Added Value of a Credit Card with Travel Insurance?
• The Best Travel Rewards Programs in Canada
• Aeroplan vs. AIR MILES vs. Avion

Lisa Jackson is a freelance personal finance and travel journalist, editor, and blogger who contributes to various online and print media outlets in Canada and abroad, including The Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Islands Magazine, Fodors, BRIDES, Huffington Post Canada, CAA Magazine, The Food Network, West Jet Magazine, NUVO Magazine, and many others. When she's not writing from her home office, she's busy globe-trotting to new destinations in search of her next story.

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Frequently Asked Questions Part 2

• February 6, 2021
• Super Visa Insurance , Travel Insurance
• No Comments

In continuation with our prevoius blog , here are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that people have when they are making plans of travelling to Canada.

Q. What should I look for when I am shopping for International Student Insurance to study in Canada?

A. Canadian healthcare is free for citizens and permanent residents, but the costs can be too much to bear for foreign nationals studying. You should shop for an ideal International Student Health Insurance plan that:

• Comes with affordable premiums;
• Lets you choose the effective date of the coverage to begin; and
• Has a reasonable refund policy in case your visa gets rejected.

Q. Do I need to get private health insurance in Canada if I have a Foreign Worker Permit?

A. Canada is known for its government-funded universal healthcare system that covers most people living in Canada, depending on their status. Foreign workers with work permits for at least six months can get access to the publicly-funded healthcare plan, but they may have to purchase private medical insurance until they can get the coverage.

Q. What should I expect when I arrive in Canada during COVID-19?

A. If you are travelling to Canada during COVID-19, there are several things you should expect, including the CBSA Declaration Card, the right documentation for your travels, proof that you have purchased an eligible emergency medical travel insurance plan, identification documents, and a comprehensive quarantine plan.

Q. Is it a good idea to buy a house in Canada during the pandemic?

A. If you are planning to immigrate to Canada and you have the funds, it would be a good idea to buy a house in Canada. Despite all the predictions of a housing market price decline, the residential real estate segment is strong. Owning a house when you become a Canadian permanent resident after the immigration process is complete could be a very useful decision.

At Travel Shield, we can provide you with a range of options for medical insurance and make recommendations based on your requirements. Feel free to contact us here or call us at 1-866-517-0606 to find out how we can help.

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Parent Super Visa

Essential Reasons & Benefits: Travel Shield Super Visa Insurance When Visiting Canada

Travel shield super visa insurance   is crucial when embarking on a journey to Canada, offering a layer of protection and peace of mind that can prove invaluable in various situations. Here are several compelling reasons why travel insurance is needed when travelling to Canada:

• Healthcare Coverage : Canada is known for its high-quality healthcare system, but medical expenses can be exorbitant for non-residents. Travel insurance ensures that you are financially safeguarded in case of unexpected illness or injury, covering medical treatments, hospital stays, prescriptions, and emergency medical evacuation if necessary.
• Unforeseen Medical Emergencies : Travel insurance provides a safety net in case of sudden medical emergencies. Accidents and illnesses can happen anywhere, and having insurance ensures you receive timely medical attention without worrying about the associated costs.
• Pre-existing Conditions : Travel insurance is vital if you have pre-existing medical conditions . It can cover medical expenses related to these conditions, ensuring you have access to necessary treatments and medications during your trip.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption : Life is unpredictable, and travel plans can change for various reasons, such as family emergencies, natural disasters, or unexpected events. Travel insurance safeguards your investment by reimbursing non-refundable expenditures if you need to cancel or cut your trip short.
• Lost Baggage and Personal Belongings : Airlines misplacing luggage or theft can disrupt the travel experience. Travel insurance offers enough coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and personal belongings, ensuring you are only stranded with essentials.
• Travel Delays : Flight delays and cancellations can lead to unexpected expenses like accommodation and meals. Travel insurance can help cover these costs, minimizing the financial burden of extended delays.
• Emergency Evacuation : Emergency medical evacuation might be necessary in remote or challenging locations. Travel insurance can provide coverage for evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or even repatriation back home.
• Legal Assistance : If you encounter legal issues during your trip, travel insurance can offer legal assistance and cover legal expenses if you need legal representation.
• Peace of Mind : Traveling to a foreign country can be exciting but also has uncertainties. Having  super visa insurance – travel shield  grants you peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your trip without worrying about potential mishaps.
• Compliance with Visa Requirements : Canada’s Super Visa program, for instance, requires proof of comprehensive medical insurance .  Super visa insurance – travel shield  ensures you meet these visa requirements and enables you to enter the country smoothly.
• Financial Protection : Travel insurance safeguards your investment in the trip, ensuring that unexpected expenses do not drain your savings or put you in debt.

In summary,  Super visa insurance – travel shield  is an essential companion for anyone visiting Canada. It provides a safety net against unforeseen circumstances, offering financial protection and allowing you to focus on enjoying your voyage to the fullest.

What are the advantages of Travel Shield Super Visa Insurance?

The  Travel Shield Super Visa Insurance  offers comprehensive benefits and coverage for individuals travelling to Canada. This insurance plan provides insured persons financial protection and peace of mind during unforeseen medical emergencies. Here are the key benefits;

• Hospital Accommodation Coverage : The insurance covers charges just up to the semi-private room rate charged by the hospital. This includes expenses for treatment in intensive care or coronary care units if deemed medically necessary. Additionally, a hospital’s emergency-room fees and outpatient services are covered when medically necessary.
• Medical Services Reimbursement : The insurance policy reimburses reasonable and customary costs for medical treatment administered by legally licensed physicians, surgeons, anesthetists, or registered graduate nurses (excluding immediate family members of the insured person). It ensures that essential medical care is covered during emergencies.
• Diagnostic Services : The insurance covers laboratory tests and x-rays, which the attending physician orders as part of emergency medical treatment. While most diagnostic services are covered, procedures like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans, cardiac catheterization, sonograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies require prior approval from the Assistance Company.
• Prescription Medications : The insurance plan includes coverage for prescribed drugs, including injectable drugs and sera, which can only be acquired with a proper medical prescription. These medications are supplied by a licensed pharmacist and are covered for emergency medical treatment. However, medications needed to stabilize a chronic or pre-existing medical condition are not covered. The benefit is limited to a 30-day supply and a prescription of up to $1,000 unless the insured person is hospitalized.
• Private Duty Nurse Services : In a covered emergency, the insurance offers coverage for the professional services of a private registered duty nurse (excluding immediate family members). This coverage is available when prescribed by an attending physician and approved in advance by the Assistance Company. It can be utilized while the insured person is hospitalized or in place of hospitalization, providing additional care and support.

It’s important to note that all coverage is subject to policy limitations, exclusions, and provisions. Certain expenses, such as specific diagnostic and private duty nurse services, require prior approval from the Assistance Company.  Travel Shield Super Visa Insurance ensures that individuals traveling to Canada can access quality medical care and assistance during unexpected medical situations, enhancing their travel experience with added security and protection.

You may also like

Handling Claims for Parent and Grandparent Super Visa Insurance: A Guide to the Process

8 Tips for Saving Money on Super Visa Insurance in Canada

How to Buy Super Visa Insurance in Brampton: Step-by-Step Guide and Checklist

Travel Shield Visitors Insurance Review

Travel shield visitors insurance.

Travel Shield is a newer travel insurance brand, founded in 2015 by Amaninder Bharj owner of Mars Empire Group Inc. (doing business as Travel Shield Canada Insurance Plan Brokers). The Travel Shield policies are underwritten by  Berkley Canada, a Canadian subsidiary of W.R. Berkley Corporation, an American property and casualty insurance provider.

• Travel Shield Plan B covers expenses related to stable (180 days) pre-existing medical conditions for travellers up to age 80.
• Flexible with deductibles.
• Lower cost than many other policies, especially at ages 55, 65, 70, 75 and 80.
• Travel Shield Plan A is similar to Plan B, except that is excludes coverage of any pre-existing medical conditions.

Disadvantages

• Neither of their plans would cover cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or lung conditions for travellers in their 70s.
• Signature is required upon application, which must be returned by fax or scan/email.
• Only available in certain provinces (BC, AB, SK, MB and ON).
• Higher early return fee ($50) and cancellation fee ($250).

• Customer Service
• Broker Services
• Local Offices

Effective date Change?

Please email your policy number and the desired new effective date and any documented proof, such as the copy of airline ticket, copy of visa travel issued, application status - screenshot from the government website to support your request for the change to [email protected] .

An early return refund?

If no claim on the policy, Please email the copy of boarding pass or stamp on the passport of arrival in the home country of the insured along with policy number to [email protected] .

Cancellation?

Please email the copy of the visa refusal letter before the effective date OR boarding pass or stamp on the passport of arrival in the home country of the insured along with policy number to [email protected] .

Refund Status

Once the refund request is submitted, if no claim on the policy, the email confirmation is sent within 48 hours of the process initiation and the amount is credited back to your credit card within 4 weeks.

Please email your question to [email protected] or Call - 1-855-508-0808

Super Visa Insurance

Super visa insurance comprehensive, super visa insurance monthly, snow bird insurance, travel insurance, international student, accidental death and dismemberment.

Please email your insurance needs to [email protected] or call 1-855-508-0808 .

How to Sign up with Travel Shield to sell the insurance products?

Thank you for your interest in selling Travel Shield products, please click here to start your sign up process.

Product training

Please login into your portal, the product training material is on the LHS menu, along with video clip, manual, etc.

Sample policy wording

Please login into your portal, the sample policies are in your dashboard LHS menu.

Password reset

Please go to login page and select option of "forgot password" and follow the screen

Please login to your portal.

Please email any other question to [email protected]

Medical Emergency - Want to report a claim?

Does your policy number start with TS101****** Call 1-844-879-8379 or 416-285-1722 TSM103**** Call 1-844-879-8379 or 416-285-1722 TSS741**** Call 1-833-516-3322

Submit the claims paperwork?

Please reply back to the same email from where the claim form was sent.

Followup on the Claim Status?

British columbia, saskatchewan.

Doni Shokirov

Ike Barredo

• Travel Insurance

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Travel Insurance For Canada: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:13pm

Table of Contents

Do you need travel insurance for canada, what type of travel insurance do you need, what does travel insurance for canada cover, what does travel insurance exclude, best travel insurance for canada, frequently asked questions (faqs).

From hiking trails in Ontario to traversing the slopes of the famous ski resort town of Whistler, there is no shortage of places to visit in Canada.

The vast North American country is a popular destination for travel-loving Aussies. In addition to a growing share of business travelers, more than 350,000 Australian tourists typically visit Canada each year.

While visitor numbers faded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the multitude of Australians heading to the Great White North has picked up in the last two years, particularly to experience the country’s stunning landscape.

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended to cover for any lost or stolen baggage, the possibility of your trip getting cancelled due to an emergency, illness such as Covid-19 or bereavement, and to cover medical expenses.

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website recommends that travellers purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip.

As in any foreign country, medical care in Canada can be expensive for visitors, with a visit to a doctor potentially setting you back by hundreds of dollars.

The Australian government won’t cover these costs, and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Canada, so you aren’t covered by Australian Medicare either.

In addition, given the large geography of the country covering a variety of destinations from beaches to mountains to national parks, it is wise to hold insurance cover for a multitude of events and a variety of potential risks including natural disasters, crime or other types of emergencies.

International travel cover for Canada is generally available in the following ways:

Basic travel insurance

This type of policy is broadly focused on cover for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, but also includes insurance for luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those traveling on a budget or for single trips.

Comprehensive travel insurance

This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, and so on. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and more, depending on your policy.

Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips within a 12-month period.

Optional add-on policies

Given the growing number of Australians heading to Canada for cruises, road trips or to the ski slopes, some insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for a variety of adventure sports and transport options available. These include cruise packs, winter sports packs and even higher cover for rental vehicles.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

Most international travel insurance policies will cover medical and hospital expenses, ambulance transportation, repatriation flights, as well as personal liability if you injure someone, or damage property while you’re in the country.

Policies will also cover, within limits, lost or delayed luggage and possessions, the costs of trip delays, interruptions or cancellations, and lost or stolen travel documents.

Comprehensive policies usually offer a broader cover to include personal accident cover in case of an injury during your trip that leads to permanent disability or death, and insurance excess payment if your rental car meets with an accident.

If you are planning to take advantage of Canada’s vast offering of adventure sports and activities, make sure these are covered by your policy—or that there is an option to add it on.

Most comprehensive policies will include popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, snow skiing or snowboarding will generally require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.

Most travel insurance policies to Canada will not provide cover in the following cases:

• Illegal activities: Insurers will reject any claims arising if you knowingly act illegally or dangerously.
• If you are under the influence: Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs.
• Unattended luggage: Insurers will ignore any claim for loss if your luggage is stolen while it was left unattended in public.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
• Extreme sports: International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like extreme sports, snowboarding or surfing. An optional add-on cover is required for these activities.

Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Canada. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and the type of cover.

It will also be determined by your specific needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.

An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our leading picks of travel insurance policies for Australians . However, always consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip, and any pre-existing medical conditions you would require cover for.

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Do I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t mandatory, but is highly recommended.

The Australian Government urges travellers to purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip, especially for medical cover.

Medical costs can be extremely expensive in a foreign country, especially if you have to visit a doctor, dentist or hospital in an emergency, so travel insurance is very handy.

Does my visa card have travel insurance?

Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. In addition, this may not cover all circumstances or emergencies. By comparison, a travel insurance policy will offer more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.

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Prashant Mehra is a freelance journalist based in Sydney. He has more than 20 years of international experience covering financial news, including with Reuters and the Australian Associated Press (AAP). He writes about business, markets, the economy and investing.