When is comes to the best travel insurance for Canadian seniors, do you have all the facts?
For those of us in middle age and older, getting the best Canadian travel insurance for seniors becomes more and more important. As Canadians we love to travel and we’re welcomed all over the world!
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or a once-a-year adventurer, accidents and medical emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. The need for the best travel medical insurance for Canadian seniors is real.
Sadly, the odds of this happening increase as we get older. As a result, our need for the best international travel health insurance is very important.
As you know, your provincial health care coverage won’t cover you if you become sick or injured outside of your home province. Without sufficient protection, medical expenses could be financially devastating.
As a frequent traveler in my 50s, I always make sure that I have appropriate Canadian travel insurance for seniors. I’ve heard too many stories about people who failed to get their Canadian travel insurance and were left with staggering medical bills!
My friend Lori was hospitalized for an inflamed gallblader while traveling in the US, and had to have surgery to remove it. She stayed in the hospital for 6 days, and her travel insurance for seniors covered the bill of $131,786.50!
Whether you’re going to Vancouver, Banff or Venezuela, travel insurance is a must!
I’ve only had to use my Canadian travel medical insurance for minor incidents, thanks goodness! Keep reading to hear about my experience using travel insurance.
Based on my years purchasing the best Canadian travel insurance, I’ve done a seniors travel insurance review and Canadian travel insurance comparison. It’s important to know what is covered and what is not, your options, your costs, and whether there are any deductions or limitations.
I hope that this travel insurance comparison (Canada) helps you to make a good out of country medical insurance for Canadian seniors decision for yourself and your family.
Below you will find Canadian travel insurance reviews for the most popular medical travel insurance for seniors. Make sure to read the travel medical insurance Canada for seniors details to ensure that it’s right for you. Also, don’t miss the frequently asked questions at the end!
TL:DR – If you just need to know the best travel insurance for Canadians, jump to this link.
If you’re not a senior but are still looking for information on the best travel insurance for Canadians, I’ve got you covered too! Read my comprehensive review of travel insurance for Canadians here.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for support – it means a lot!
Best Canadian Travel Insurance – Age 60 and under
My favourite Canadian medical travel insurance is through World Nomads. I’ve used World Nomads for years and I trust them. They are truly a no hassle Canadian travel health insurance provider.
Best Travel Insurance Canada: simple & flexible
You can buy and claim online, even after you’ve left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travelers with coverage for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
I’ve had to use my World Nomads insurance only once. I think I must have been lucky so far! An airline (I won’t name names!) lost my luggage once on a trip to Europe. I’ve since implemented a carry-on only policy so this doesn’t happen again, but on that trip, I had checked a bag.
In any event, I phoned World Nomads and a very friendly representative told that I would first have to check to see if the airline would reimburse me. If they would not, World Nomads would ensure I was reimbursed for the cost of my belongings. It was very easy to fill in the online form with my details.
Luckily, the airline found my bag after a couple of weeks (I can’t believe it took so long!) and returned it to me, along with an amount to cover my costs while I waited for my bag.
There are hundreds of online accounts from people who have used World Nomads for their travel insurance and had excellent experiences. While the accounts are sometimes sad, they always make me feel good about choosing World Nomads for my travel insurance.
7 things You Should Know About World Nomads Insurance
- Trusted reliable underwriters
WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great coverage, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most. - Value for money with the cover you need
WorldNomads.com provides coverage for what’s important for travellers from 140 countries. By focusing on what you need and leaving out what you don’t, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive online. - Flexibility when you need it most
Had a change of plans? You can buy more coverage or claim online while you are still away. You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you’re already travelling. - Coverage for a range of adventure activities
From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado, WorldNomads.com covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels. World Nomads may even cover motorcycle touring! - World Nomads keeps you travelling safely
All WorldNomads.com members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub. - More than just great value travel insurance
All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal. - World Nomads is recommended and endorsed by National Georgraphic and Lonely Planet, and is one of the best known seniors travel insurance companies in the world.
- World Nomads does not cover travel in Cuba. If your travel plans include Cuba, this insurance for seniors may not be right for you.
You can get a quote from World Nomads online, without any obligation to buy. I think World Nomads is the best international travel insurance for seniors.
Although World Nomads is great travel insurance for seniors over 70, their quotes for annual travel insurance policies are not very competitive.
If you’re in the market for out of country health insurance for Canadian seniors on an annual basis, the best quotes I’ve found are from TuGo. See all the details below.
Best Travel Insurance for Canadian Seniors – Aged 60+
Another of the best Canadian travel insurance companies is TuGo, and I have successfully used TuGo several times for my travel insurance for international travel.
- As a business for over 50 years, TuGo has specialized in travel insurance and assistance solutions for millions of travelers worldwide
- TuGo’s dedication to travelers, partners and employees has made the company one of Canada’s top travel insurance providers and Gold Standards, Canada’s Best Managed Company. I really like this about TuGo!
- TuGo’s customer service team speaks 29 languages and is licensed to help travelers when they need it the most.
- Claims at TuGo’s dedicated assistance and coordination team is available 24-hours-a-day to handle emergency medical situations anywhere in the world
- Claims at TuGo provides ISO 9001 certified claims service, meaning it adheres to quality assurance standards and works towards continuous improvements of the areas of service provided
- TuGO is committed to Corporate Social Responsibility. TuGo’s policy influences its business strategies and operations, and promotes ethical decisions and actions. This is so important in the world today!
4 Reasons to Choose TuGo for your best travel medical insurance for seniors in Canada:
- Comprehensive emergency medical protection
If you go to a hospital or clinic while away, you want comprehensive coverage. Your provincial health plan isn’t enough! If you need medical assistance while on your trip, call Claims at TuGo, who will coordinate with medical staff to get you the best treatment possible - Simple eligibility requirements
It’s quick and easy to qualify. If you’re 60+, TuGo’s Medical Health Questionnaire is straight-forward, with only 5 questions! - Competitive pre-existing condition coverage
Unstable pre-existing conditions are a major reason claims aren’t paid out. Age, trip length and the stability of your condition before leaving on the trip are all factors which impact coverage. TuGo has the right coverage for your needs. - Claims at TuGo
Claims at TuGo deals with the details, so you don’t have to. You’ll have access to a renowned Claims team, with 24/7 emergency assistance. They’ll help coordinate treatment and arrange further assistance, anywhere in the world.
When it comes to travel insurance for seniors Canada, “stability” of pre-existing conditions can be tricky to understand. When planning your trip, prepare yourself by learning the ins and outs of your best travel insurance for international travel. Here’s how you can better recognize how coverage applies.
The definition of a pre-existing condition
The definition of a pre-existing condition varies depending on what plan you purchase, for the TuGo travel insurance for Canadian seniors a pre-existing condition is defined as “a dental or medical condition, illness or injury:
- that has been diagnosed, and for which you have consulted or received dental or medical treatment before the date you leave for your trip; or,
- that has not yet been diagnosed, and for which you were experiencing symptoms before the date you leave for your trip; or,
- that is a medically recognized complication or recurrence, whether or not the condition was diagnosed before the date you leave for your trip”
A 7-day exclusion and when it applies
For TuGo travel medical insurance for seniors, a 7-day exclusion may apply to travellers 59 and under, depending on the trip length (you’ll need to check your best travel health insurance Canada policy to confirm required stability periods).
The exclusion applies in the 7 days leading up to the departure date if your pre-existing condition flares up, gets worse, requires medical treatment, or develops but remains un-diagnosed before departure.
Stability and medical testing
If you require frequent medical testing, you may be wondering if testing affects stability. Good news; it won’t affect your pre-existing condition coverage unless there’s a change in your condition. There are no exclusions for routine check-up tests or routine monitoring tests leading up to the departure date, and testing won’t affect your pre-existing condition coverage unless there’s a change in your condition.
Don’t forget! Read your travel insurance for seniors with pre existing conditions wording to confirm you meet the required stability period, based on your age and trip length.
To get a no-obligation quote from TuGo, click on the block below.
Best Canadian Travel Insurance – Age 70+
Although I’m not at this decade yet, my friends over age 70 know that getting the best travel insurance for Canadians as you get older can be more challenging. Canadians love their snowbird adventures and European trips even more when we get to be 70+ and we still need good travel insurance 70+!
Many insurance companies won’t provide the best travel insurance for seniors over 70 and the prices for the best travel insurance for senior citizens increase each year as you age. While getting older is great, paying more for the best travel insurance in Canada definitely isn’t!
However, there definitely are some insurance providers in Canada that provide travel insurance for seniors over age 70.
The senior travel insurance choices I have found come from insurance aggregators, who obtain travel insurance seniors Canada quotes for you from a variety of Canadian insurance providers. Just because you’re 70+ doesn’t mean you can’t get competitive travel insurance quotes for seniors.
Why Choose an Insurance Aggregator Like Kanetix
Kanetix is a great Canadian insurance aggregator that allows you to compare travel insurance for age 70 quotes from companies like TourMed, Blue Cross, AIG Travel Guard and many more.
Based on my research, TourMed may offer the best travel insurance for seniors aged 70+
Click on the banner below to get your no-obligation best travel medical insurance Canada quote from Kanetix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t I just use the insurance on my credit card?
Travel health insurance for seniors is a perk of some credit cards in Canada. Make sure you carefully check your credit card fine print to ensure that the seniors travel insurance Canada that is offered is sufficient for your needs.
Check things like:
- do you have to pay for the whole trip with your credit card to be covered under the medical travel insurance for Canadian seniors? Is there a minimum?
- Is there a maximum number of days covered for one trip?
- Is there a maximum amount of travel insurance over 70 that you’re covered for?
- are you covered for all medical services, such as physiotherapy and chiropractic, to treat you in an acute emergency?
- Is the coverage only for you or for everyone you’re traveling with?
- does your age affect your coverage?
- are you covered for pre-existing medical conditions?
- does the plan offer trip cancellation or interruption insurance?
- are you covered for ambulance or emergency air transportation?
- will you be penalized if you don’t call the claims company after the emergency or before visiting the hospital?
While you may have some coverage via a credit card, it might not cover you completely in an emergency medical situation. Make sure you contact your credit card provider to confirm the amount and type of travel medical insurance for Canadian seniors provided before your trip.
Is Travel Insurance the Same as Health Insurance?
No, affordable travel insurance for seniors can be much more than just medical insurance. Travel insurance can also cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss and emergency transportation.
Trip interruption insurance has proved extremely valuable in my family. My sister was on a trip to Europe when we had a death in the family. She had to cut her trip short to return home, and she was reimbursed for all the expenses she incurred as well as the value of the trip that she was unable to complete.
As a result of my sister’s experience, I never travel without trip cancellation insurance. You just never know what can happen.
What About Pre-Existing Conditions?
Pre-existing conditions are a tricky part of travel medical insurance. Most travel health insurance for seniors won’t cover pre-existing conditions. If you need medication for a pre-existing chronic illness you knew of before the travel insurance seniors policy was written, you very likely won’t be covered.
What Actually Happens if I Need Medical Care While Traveling?
If you need to be treated in a hospital or need emergency transportation while you’re traveling, you or a traveling companion need to contact the number you receive when you get confirmation of your senior travel insurance Canada policy. It’s normally a 24-hour number, and they will help to make arrangements and will approve costs as they arise. Some insurance companies may reimburse you for expenses. You pay the costs yourself and then submit documentation to the insurer when you get home.
It’s important to keep all documentation, including medical reports and receipts. It’s good practice to always call your insurer before getting medical attention, if possible.
Do I Need Travel Medical Insurance if I’m Only Traveling in Canada?
Most provincial health insurance plans only cover limited expenses when traveling out of province. The best travel insurance for elderly is designed to cover you outside of your home province while you’re in Canada too. Check with the medical insurance provider in your home province for more details.
What if I Want to Extend my Trip?
Extensions of your travel insurance policy might be possible. Always call your provider before your plan expires to get more information.
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Lesley
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