You'd rather not think about all the things that might go wrong on your dream trip, but these things can and do happen. So getting informed about travel insurance BEFORE you book your trip, should definitely be on your trip planning checklist!



What exactly is Travel Insurance?
Travel Insurance protects you financially against unexpected illness, theft, cancellations and interruptions before and during a trip.



The Basics...

  • Trip Cancellation - protects your hard earned vacation dollars from unexpected cancellation before your departure.
  • Trip Interruption - assists with unexpected, last-minute expenses should your trip be cut short due to weather, an emergency back home or an unexpected deviation to your travel plans.
  • Emergency Medical Insurance - takes the pain out of medical or dental costs while you are out-of-province or out-of-country.
  • Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation - gets you to a hospital or back home quickly in the event of a medical situation - even if you are in remote locations.
  • Helps to replace your stuff - covers the cost of replacing personal items due to theft, damage or delay of your bags, camera gear and documents (ie. passport) while traveling.

For just a few dollars a day, travel protection gives you the peace of mind you need to know that if something does go wrong, you won't be out of pocket for more money.



Credit Card has Travel Insurance Coverage...
Credit Card travel insurance coverage may be limited or only covers certain things. It's really important to read the fine print to fully understand what's included and what's not included. Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage may be limited and may not cover the full cost of the trip. Ensure that you are protected for Out-of-Country/Province Medical Emergencies. Protection may only be available for the main cardholder.



Already covered through Work Benefits...
Definitely read the fine print to better understand the limitations and exclusions. Ensure the plan covers non-employees (ie. everyone in your family travelling). Also check if coverage is for a specific number of days away or only while on work-related trips. Inquire if the plan allows for pay-direct for out-of-country medical expenses. If not, you may need to pay expensive medical bills out-of-pocket and submit a claim to your insurance company when you return.



Pay attention to Government Warnings...
Many travel insurance policies will have a clause where they won’t cover you if you travel to a country your government has warned you against travelling to. On the other hand, if you have purchased travel insurance and a government warning is issued after the fact, you may be able to make a claim for non-refundable trip payments made should you decide to cancel your trip.



Annual (Multi-Trip) Policy vs Single Trip Policy
If you travel more than once a year, compare the cost of an Annual Travel Insurance Policy vs a Single Trip Policy. An annual policy covers all your trips within a year, and can be far more cost-effective than a Single Trip Policy. These have a maximum duration per trip and often, a maximum dollar amount you can claim in a year, but you can purchase a "top-up" plan to supplement your Annual Policy that covers the gaps in coverage for a particular trip if needed.



Having travel insurance is a must if you travel out of your home province or country. It doesn’t matter if you’re crossing the border for just a few hours to shop or you’re headed overseas for a vacation — it’s better to be safe (and covered) than sorry. If you can afford to travel, you can afford travel insurance.



For more information about Travel Insurance options available, contact your Travel Advisor.



Download, Government of Canada - "Say Yes to Travel Insurance!" information sheet.



Check out Global Affairs Canada - Travel Insurance Video.