After a few summers of pandemic restrictions, my family and I are ready to travel beyond our backyard! Planning a trip is usually always a bit stressful, and planning to travel in a post-pandemic world can amplify that. But having a to-do list certainly helps me stay organized and feeling in control. One of the things I checked off my vacation planning to-do list is getting travel insurance.
This type of insurance is something I may have skipped in the past and trusted that everything would be fine. But living through a pandemic changed my perspective. I now plan for the worst, and hope for the best. Of course, I hope my family will stay healthy when we’re travelling (and when we’re at home, for that matter). However, we bought travel insurance anyway. Like it or not, our provincial health insurance plan only covers expenses within our home province. But with travel insurance, we can feel protected no matter where we go.
Curious how it works? I’ll answer a few questions you may have:
When do you need to buy travel insurance?
It’s a good idea to buy travel insurance as soon as you book a trip. Why that soon? Travel insurance can sometimes include trip cancellation benefits. This may help you recover costs if you cancel your travel plans (due to a covered reason) leading up to your trip.
Do you only need emergency medical coverage? Then you can buy a plan any time before you leave your home province.
Do you need travel insurance for a weekend away?
If you plan to travel, it’s a good idea to buy travel insurance before you leave, whether you’re:
- taking a quick trip across the border,
- spending a week in another province, or
- planning an extended stay overseas.
How much does travel insurance cost?
The cost of travel insurance can vary depending on factors like:
- your age and health needs,
- the duration of your trip,
- where you’re travelling,
- and more.
While travel insurance costs vary, the average is somewhere between 4-12% of your total trip cost. For a $5,000 trip, the average travel insurance cost is about $228. Compare that to the cost of a few stitches in a US hospital, which could be upwards of $3,000. The price of insurance is clearly worth it. Especially since medical expenses have the potential to be financially overwhelming.
Not to mention if you have a serious injury or illness.
Why is travel insurance important to me?
We’re planning a road trip to the US and staying with friends for about a week. It’s going to be low-key and relaxing (fingers crossed). Even if our plans are not overly adventurous, it’s not without risk. A broken arm, a chipped tooth, or a lost credit card is still possible.
The last major family vacation we took, both my partner and I experienced food poisoning. Not fun. But not serious either. However, it would have been reassuring to know we could use travel insurance to pay for a hospital stay – if needed.
Things will be different this time. Because we’re travelling with two young kids, in unfamiliar settings, it’s even more important to protect ourselves. While we’re away this summer, I know that our travel insurance will help if we:
- have an unexpected hospital visit, ambulance ride, or emergency dentist visit,
- lose our documents or cards – or have them stolen, or
- need to return home for a medical reason.
And, it’s nice to know our insurance would cover translation services if we needed it.
Can you rely on your credit card insurance for travel?
In the past, I trusted that the coverage offered through my credit card plan was enough. But this type of coverage often has limited benefits and coverage. Before trusting it’s enough, check what the coverage limits are. And then, fill in any coverage gaps with travel insurance through an advisor.
How can you get travel insurance?
It’s impossible to predict what might happen while traveling. That’s why it’s important to:
- Consider all the potential risks associated with travel, no matter how long or short the trip.
- Understand how your provincial health plan may:
- only cover some healthcare expenses incurred outside Canada, and
- limit coverage when traveling to another province.
To help make sure you’re protected from medical bills while travelling, meet an advisor. They can help explain your travel insurance options.
For more information about travel insurance from Sun Life, including FAQs, visit our Travel Insurance page.
Read more:
- Looking for a restful vacation? Try unplugging
- 5 things you need to know before taking a sabbatical
- How to learn a new skill this summer
This article is meant to provide general information only. It’s not professional medical advice, or a substitute for that advice.
FAQs
It's a good idea to buy travel insurance as soon as you book a trip. Why that soon? Travel insurance can sometimes include trip cancellation benefits. This may help you recover costs if you cancel your travel plans (due to a covered reason) leading up to your trip.
Does travel insurance actually pay out? ›
Travel insurance can help provide peace of mind and protection on your trip. For example, if your trip gets interrupted for a covered reason or you get injured while you're away, the plan is designed to help cover those costs.
Do you need to print off travel insurance? ›
What travel insurance documents are needed for my trip? Before travelling, download your travel insurance documents onto your devices and print a copy of your insurance certificate to take with you. It also makes sense to jot down your insurer, policy number, and contact details for emergencies.
Should you travel without travel insurance? ›
If all of your reservations can be canceled without penalty, then trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage isn't necessary. But even if your trip isn't 100% refundable, insurance may not be necessary.
Do you get your money back with travel insurance? ›
If your travel insurance policy has a money-back guarantee or review period, you can cancel for any reason and receive a full refund within the timeframe if you haven't filed a claim or departed for your trip yet. But you won't get a premium refund if you cancel your policy after the review period.
What are two disadvantages of travel insurance? ›
Cost: Travel insurance will add to the overall cost of your trip. Some may choose to forgo it to save money, especially on shorter or less expensive trips. Exclusions and Limitations: Policies may have various exclusions and limitations, so it's essential to read the fine print.
What is not covered by travel insurance? ›
Reasonably foreseeable events. Known storms, epidemics, acts of war. Travel restrictions imposed by government authorities. Pre-existing conditions, unless the Premium plan is bought within the window for coverage.
Do I have to tell my travel insurance? ›
If you forget to tell us about any changes to your health, you may not be covered if you have a medical emergency and need to claim. If you're undergoing diagnosis or investigation, your existing medical conditions can't be covered until you receive your diagnosis, even if they were originally covered.
Does travel insurance ask for proof? ›
Receipts and itemized bills for all expenses. Documentation of any refunds or expense allowances received from your tour operator, travel agency, common carrier, resort, property management company, or other entity. Copy of resort invoice/vacation rental contract or confirmation.
What documents do I need for international travel? ›
International travel documents
- U.S. passport.
- U.S. passport card.
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
- Permanent resident card.
- Border crossing card.
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License.
Generally, most domestic health insurance policies are not accepted abroad, so there is a benefit to purchasing travel medical insurance as a supplement to your health insurance coverage. The travel medical coverage is only valid while you're traveling.
Does my health insurance cover me abroad? ›
U.S. health insurance plans typically do not cover regular and routine medical care required overseas. This means your health insurance won't pay for care if you need to visit a doctor for a prescription medicine, or if you need treatment for a condition that is not considered an emergency.
Is travel insurance must? ›
The short answer is no, as travel insurance is not always mandatory for international travel. That's only half the story, though. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some countries do require travellers to have insurance, while others do not.
Will travel insurance cover flight cancellation? ›
Cancellation protection for flights is typically included with standard travel insurance, but if it's not enough for your needs, you can buy dedicated cancellation insurance as an add-on or as a standalone policy.
Does travel insurance cover any cancellation? ›
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance allows you to cancel your trip for virtually any reason. As mentioned, a standard policy typically excludes this coverage, so you will need to purchase it as an add-on. If you want CFAR insurance, expect your overall plan costs to increase.
Do travel insurance companies actually pay out? ›
In most scenarios, travel insurance reimburses you for your covered financial losses after you file a claim and the claim is approved.
Do travel insurance pay out? ›
A typical travel insurance policy should cover you for medical treatment, trip cancellation and losing your luggage while you're away. But not every policy will cover every eventuality. We look at what's likely to be included in your policy – and what isn't.
Is it worth claiming on travel insurance? ›
Travel insurance can give you extra protection if your holiday doesn't go as planned. This is very important if you are travelling independently because you may find yourself stranded with no way to get home and no rep to help sort out your holiday problem.
Does travel insurance pay up front? ›
Travel insurance may pay your expenses upfront if you require emergency medical treatment or emergency transportation while traveling overseas.
Does travel insurance cover 100%? ›
» Learn more: How much is travel insurance? All policies provide 100% coverage of the trip cost, however the more expensive plans usually have higher limits on benefits like medical evacuation.
