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Travel Insurance and Coronavirus
On March 14, the Government of Canada issued a global travel advisory recommending Canadians avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada, including all cruise ship travel, until further notice.
Prior to this, if you had purchased emergency medical coverage travel insurance before travelling you would typically be covered if you were to contract an illness abroad, including COVID-19. Your medical expenses would be covered under medical coverage just as any other unexpected illness would be.
However, travel advisories are an exception to this rule. If the Canadian government issued a travel advisory to your destination before you left for your trip, you might not be covered. If it was issued after you left, you might be okay. It depends on the provider and your specific policy as many exclude coverage for what could be considered a foreseen or expected outcome.
Travel insurance would typically cover you for coronavirus if:
- You purchase emergency medical travel insurance before you leave
- An unforeseen outbreak occurs while you’re visiting your destination
- There were no Canadian COVID-19 travel advisories issued for that destination prior to your departure. The current global travel advisory may affect this.
If you’re still planning to travel, check with your travel insurance provider to find out if you’re still covered.
Cancelling your trip
If you’re looking to cancel your trip due to concerns about coronavirus, you might be able to if you have purchased trip cancellation insurance. However, many providers have updated their policies to exclude COVID-19 related cancellations and coverages for trips purchased after a specified date. This varies by provider. Check your insurance policy or ask your insurance provider to verify your coverage.
If you haven’t left for your trip yet, consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance if you are concerned about how coronavirus might affect your travel plans, but also familiarize yourself with the company’s current exclusions. The Canada-issued global travel advisor may affect all types of travel insurance coverage depending on when you purchased your policy.
Your Ticket to Peace of Mind: Travel Insurance
You’ve booked your flight and hotel, and pulled out your suitcase for when the urge to pack strikes. There’s only one thing you haven’t done yet, and you may be debating whether you need to bother, and that’s get travel insurance.
Debate no more because travel insurance is one item you don’t want to pass on when you’re about to embark on a vacation. By purchasing travel insurance before you leave, you’re protecting your health by ensuring you get the care you need in the event of an injury or illness; your bank account from the healthcare costs and related expenses of a medical emergency; and, your travel plans so you can get back on your feet sooner.
We make it easy for you to compare travel insurance quotes from Canada’s top providers. We can find the right insurance policy for all Canadians, from families to individuals, from students to seniors. Our users save an average of 68%* when they compare travel insurance quotes with us.
Why should you pack travel insurance on your next trip?
The benefit of having travel insurance is it can save you from having to pay a significant amount of money should you need medical attention on your travels. Healthcare is expensive, especially in the U.S., and only about 10 per cent of out-of-country healthcare costs are covered by your provincial plan. Don’t take the risk, buy a travel medical insurance policy before you leave.