Your guide to travel insurance plans for Canadian seniors visiting the US
This guide will go over what travel insurance plans are most suitable, eligibility requirements, and what to look for. We also discover the Wise card!
Your guide to travel insurances for visiting the US from Canada
Do you have a trip to the USA coming up? 🌍✈️ Whether it's for fun, business, an extended stay, or something in between, travel insurance is imperative!
In this article, we’ll uncover the value of travel insurance, the difference from health insurance, and other benefits. We’ll even review leading travel insurance for Canadians and highlight how Wise can get you the most attractive exchange rate when you travel, without any hidden fees. Let's get into it!
How is travel insurance different from a health insurance plan?
Travel insurance and health insurance serve distinct purposes but are often confused.
Travel insurance protects against travel cancellations, lost luggage, or medical situations that occur for the duration of the trip in the States.1 Health insurance is more comprehensive, offering long-term care, for various and extensive health conditions while abroad or at home in Canada.
Even if you have a health insurance package in Canada, it typically doesn’t extend to medical concerns that happen outside the country, leaving you responsible for high out-of-pocket costs. Enter travel insurance! This will fill that gap, and even cover services like emergency medical evacuation and ambulances. Travel insurance offers peace of mind.
What are the benefits of getting travel insurance when traveling from Canada to the US?
There are plenty of benefits to getting travel insurance:
- Medical coverage for unforeseen medical expenses, including hospital visits, surgery, and seeing a doctor.1
- Reimbursement for cancellations or interruptions due to covered reasons including illness, injury, or natural disasters.1
- Compensates you for lost, stolen, or delayed luggage.1
- Covers the costs of emergency medical evacuation or repatriation to Canada.1
Most policies cover the following three areas:
- Medical evacuation coverage for transport either back to Canada or to the nearest medical facility, as well as the cost of a medical escort, if needed. 1
- Pre-existing medical condition support.1
- Repatriation in case of death, covering the preparation and return of your remains, local cremation or burial if necessary, and any additional expenses for family members who need to travel to identify the body.1
What are some of the most recommended travel insurance plans for visiting the US from Canada?
TD Multi-Trip All-Inclusive Plan
Advantages:
- Emergency travel medical coverage.²
- Trip cancellation and interruptions.²
- Emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.²
- Emergency nonmedical vehicle and home assistance benefits if your vehicle or home is insured through TD Insurance.
Duration:
Coverage is for unlimited trips per year, up to your selected maximum trip duration.2
Incidents covered:
- Medical treatment from doctors and hospitals.2
- Emergency ambulance transportation.2
- Medical tests and diagnostic procedures.2
- Dental treatment resulting from accidents.2
- Coverage for returning home.2
Coverage: Amount covered:
The TD multi-trip all-inclusive insurance covers up to 5 million dollars per insured person, per covered trip.2
Exclusions:
The full list of exclusions is detailed in your policy, and common examples are:
- Non-emergency services
- A childbirth
- Intentional self-inflicted injuries
- Abuse of alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants
- Illegal acts
- Participation in high-risk sports or activities
- Travel despite travel advisories
How to Request a Claim
Call 1-833-962-1140 or submit a claim online through their claims' portal.2
How to Cancel or Change the Insurance Plan
You can make changes or cancel your insurance either online with the help of a TD Insurance Advisor through chat support or by calling us directly.3
Manulife TravelEase Plans
Advantages:
- Extensive coverage for both single and multi-trip plans 4
- 24/7 emergency assistance4
- Covers trip cancellations and interruptions4
- Protection for baggage loss or delay4
Duration:
- Single Trip Plan covers individual trips up to 365 days.4
- Multi-Trip Plan covers multiple trips within a year, with a time frame ranging from 4 to 30 days.4
Incidents Covered:
- Emergency medical expenses4
- Trip cancellation and interruption4
- Baggage loss, damage, and delays 4
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation4
Coverage:
Coverage depends on the insurance model selected:
- Single-Trip TravelEase: This plan covers up to $10 million, including5 COVID-19-related expenses, for one trip5
- Multi-Trip TravelEase: This plan extends emergency medical protection across5
- multiple trips in a year, up to $10 million, including COVID-19-related expenses5
Exclusions:
- Undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions
- High-risk activities or sports
- Travel to destinations with travel advisories
- Intentional self-harm or illegal activities
- Claims arising from substance abuse
How to Request a Claim:
Travel claims can be made through the Global Excel Management (GEM) claims portal, which allows you to submit everything online.5
How to Cancel or Change the Insurance Plan:
To cancel, fill out and mail the Policy Surrender form. To make changes, use the portal online.5
Ontario Blue Cross Single-Trip Travel insurance
Advantages:
- Accommodation costs and meals
- Transportation expenses for delays due to accidents or illness
- Access to Blue Cross Travel Assistance
- 24/7 Accessibility
- Vehicle return costs to drive your vehicle if you cannot due to an accident or illness
Duration
While the Single Trip covers one trip, there is the option to extend this coverage, for an unlimited number of trips in one year.6
Incidents covered:
- Medical support
- Hospital visits
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Accidental death
- Air flight accidents
- Emergency returns
- Baggage Loss, delay, or damage
Coverage:
The Ontario Blue Cross Single-Trip Travel insurance covers up to 5 million dollars per traveler. 7
Exclusions:
- Trips undertaken for medical purposes 7
- Participation in high-risk sports, activities, or behaviors 7
- Suicide or intentional self-harm7
- Use of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances7
- Engagement in illegal activities 7
- Acts of war or civil unrest7
How to request a claim:
To submit a claim, download and complete the relevant claim form on the website, and upload it. 8
How to cancel or modify the insurance plan:
To cancel or make changes, complete an online form or write to them.8
How to choose a travel insurance plan before visiting the US from Canada?
Consider the following:
- Single-Trip vs. Multi-Trip Coverage: Single-trip plans are suited for one-off journeys, whereas multi-trip covers several trips within a year.
- Coverage for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: If you live with an existing condition, ensure that the policy covers it.
- Specific Illnesses and Treatments: Should you suffer from a specific medical condition or need specialized care, make sure the policy covers your needs.
- Emergency Coverage: Plans with higher coverage offer coverage for high healthcare costs in the US.
- Trip Cancellation and interruptions: Determine if the plan covers trip cancellations or interruptions.
- Exclusions and limitations: Review the policy for any exclusions or limitations to avoid gaps in coverage.
The best insurance plan is the one that fits all your needs! Be sure to do sufficient research ahead of your trip.
Traveling to the US? Don’t forget your Wise debit card
Insurance ☑️
Favorite outfit ☑️
Passport ☑️
When packing for your trip to the US, bring yourWise debit card! The benefits include::
- No foreign transaction fees
- No monthly or annual charges
- Ability to hold, send, and spend in over 40 currencies
- Manage everything easily with the Wise app
When you exchange from CAD to USD or make cross-currency payments, Wise offers the mid-market rate, a fair and transparent conversion rate.
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between the buying and selling prices of two currencies. This means you are guaranteed an accurate exchange rate, void of the markups typically added by currency exchange services.
A Wise card allows you to spend in USD without incurring excessive fees. Your purchases are processed as if you’re paying with local currency, and if needed, Wise’s smart technology converts your money at the favorable mid-market rate.
Get your Wise account and card in a few clicks 🚀
Sources:
- Trip interruption and travel health insurance
- TD Insurance Multi-trip All-Inclusive Plan
- Switching Your Insurance: Is there a cancellation fee?
- Manulife Travel Insurance for Travelling Canadians | Costco
- Quote and apply for Travel Insurance for Canadians | Manulife
- Single-Trip Travel Insurance Plans | Ontario Blue Cross
- Multi-Trip Annual insurance | Ontario Blue Cross
- Submit a Travel Insurance Claim | Ontario Blue Cross
- Policy Tools - Ontario Blue Cross
Sources verified on 27 September 2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
