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Insurer review · Policy wording effective Oct 25, 2024

GMS Visitors to Canada & Super Visa insurance: plan review

What GMS covers, who qualifies, how its 180-day pre-existing rule and waiting periods work, and how to buy or claim.

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By Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA Updated 11 years as a licensed advisor

The short answer

GMS Visitors to Canada insurance is an emergency medical plan from Group Medical Services, a Canadian insurer based in Regina. It's available to visitors under 80, with $25,000 to $150,000 of coverage and deductibles from $0; the $100,000 and $150,000 options meet Super Visa rules for 365 days. Stable pre-existing conditions are covered if unchanged for 180 days before the effective date. There's no waiting period if bought before arrival; otherwise sickness has a 2-day wait (bought within 30 days of arrival) or 7-day wait (later). Visitors under 55 answer no medical questions. Not available in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nunavut.

GMS Visitors to Canada at a glance

From GMS's policy wording (effective October 25, 2024), eligibility questions and website, reviewed October 2026.

Under 80age on the effective date
$25K–$150Kcoverage per person
From $0deductible options
180 daysstability for pre-existing conditions
365 daysmaximum per policy
0 / 2 / 7 dayssickness wait: before arrival / ≤30 days after / later

GMS eligibility and waiting period checker

Answer a few questions to see whether the visitor can apply for GMS, which questions they'll face, when coverage for sickness starts, and whether a known condition would be covered.

Super Visa application?

This doesn't replace GMS's eligibility questions, which must all be answered truthfully on the application.

The eligibility questions, by age

GMS asks more questions as the visitor gets older. All must be answered "no" to apply. Summarized from GMS's eligibility questions (effective March 30, 2023).

Under 55

3 questions, no medical questionnaire

  • Any reason to seek medical treatment (other than regular care of a chronic condition or a visa medical)?
  • If already in Canada: ever denied similar cover by another Canadian insurer?
  • If already in Canada: more than $5,000 of medical treatment here in the last 12 months?
55 to 69

The 3 above, plus health questions

  • Expecting treatment or awaiting tests for heart disease
  • Fainting or falls more than once without a diagnosis
  • Home oxygen, or oral steroids for a lung condition
  • Untreated vascular aneurysm; valve replacement, dialysis or organ transplant
  • A new diagnosis, new treatment or change in treatment in the last 12 months for conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke or TIA, blood clots or GI bleeding
70 to 79

All of the above, plus one more

  • Do you need help from another person with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, eating or moving in and out of bed?

Age 80 or older on the effective date: not eligible for GMS.

What GMS Visitors to Canada covers

Eligible emergency costs up to the coverage amount you choose, per person. Summary only; the policy wording governs.

BenefitWhat's covered
HospitalRoom and board up to semi-private, unless a physician instructs otherwise
Physicians and surgeonsTreatment by a physician or surgeon
DiagnosticsX-rays and other diagnostic tests
Emergency roomOutpatient emergency room charges
Prescription drugsPrescribed by a physician, up to a 30-day supply
Road ambulanceEmergency transport to a hospital
Health practitionersUp to $500 combined: osteopath, physiotherapist, chiropractor, chiropodist, optometrist, podiatrist
Accidental dentalUp to $2,000 for an accidental blow to the mouth; up to $300 for dental pain relief
Return of remainsUp to $10,000 to return home, or up to $4,000 for cremation or burial in Canada
ChildcareUp to $500 for licensed childcare if you are hospitalized
Side tripsTrips of up to 30 days outside Canada, starting and ending in Canada, totalling no more than 50% of the coverage period; not your home country
Automatic extensionUp to 48 hours if your flight to or from Canada is delayed

The rules that decide a GMS claim

Most claim problems with any visitor plan come from these.

180-day stability

A condition that had new treatment, a medication change, a new diagnosis or new symptoms in the 180 days before the effective date isn't covered.

Waiting periods

No wait if bought before arrival or switched without a gap. Otherwise 2 days (bought within 30 days of arrival) or 7 days for sickness.

Call within 24 hours

Contact GMS Travel Assistance before treatment where possible, and no later than 24 hours after treatment or admission.

Travel advisories

No coverage for travel outside Canada to places under an "avoid non-essential travel" or "avoid all travel" advisory.

Side-trip limits

Each side trip up to 30 days, starting and ending in Canada, and no more than 50% of the coverage period in total. The home country is never covered.

Where it's sold

Not available for visitors staying in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nunavut.

How to claim with GMS

  1. Call GMS Travel Assistance. Toll-free 1-800-459-6604 (Canada and US) or collect +1-905-762-5196 (WhatsApp accessible), before treatment if possible.
  2. Keep every document. Original itemized bills, receipts and medical reports.
  3. Submit within 90 days of the illness or injury. For claims from November 1, 2025, use the online claim portal (Robin Assist) or email GMSAssist@robinassist.com.
  4. Or mail it to Robin Assist, Attention: Imaging Center, 70 Talman Court, Concord, ON L4K 4L5.

Claims submitted before November 1, 2025 were handled by World Travel Protection. Full details on GMS's claims page.

Refunds and cancellations

  1. 10-day review. Return the policy within 10 days of applying for a full refund, if coverage hasn't started.
  2. Before the effective date: full refund if no travel has taken place.
  3. Visa refused: full refund after the effective date if you never travelled to Canada, minus an administration fee, with the refusal letter.
  4. Going home early: partial refund from the date you left Canada, minus an administration fee, with proof of departure.
  5. Provincial coverage starts: partial refund, minus an administration fee.

No refund if a claim has been made, or if you request it after the policy expires.

Who GMS suits, and who should look elsewhere

A good fit

  • Visitors under 55: no medical questions
  • Super Visa applicants under 80 wanting $100,000 or $150,000
  • Visitors with conditions stable for 180 days or more
  • Families switching from another Canadian insurer without a gap
  • Visitors planning short side trips, including to the US

Consider another insurer

  • Visitors aged 80 or older
  • A medication or treatment change in the last 180 days
  • Visitors staying in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nunavut
  • Families who need more than $150,000 of coverage
  • Visitors who need cover in their home country during the stay

See all 14 insurers side by side: compare Visitors to Canada insurance companies.

Buy GMS Visitors to Canada insurance online

Opens GMS's own secure application with Pankaj Bhatia as your advisor, at the same price as buying direct.

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Compare GMS with other insurers

Buy online opens each insurer's secure site; Plan details opens our review.

GMS visitor insurance: FAQ

What is GMS Visitors to Canada insurance?

An emergency medical plan from Group Medical Services (GMS Insurance Inc.), a Regina-based insurer, for visitors, Super Visa applicants, new immigrants and returning Canadians waiting for provincial coverage.

You choose $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000 of coverage and a deductible from $0. The current policy wording is effective October 25, 2024.

What is the age limit for GMS visitor insurance?

Applicants must be under 80 on the policy effective date. Visitors under 55 answer only three eligibility questions; those 55 to 79 answer more.

Applicants 70 to 79 also answer a question about needing help with daily living activities. For visitors 80 or older, see insurers with higher age limits.

Is GMS insurance accepted for a Super Visa?

Yes, with $100,000 or $150,000 of coverage for 365 days. GMS's online application pre-selects the 365-day period for Super Visa applicants.

GMS is a Canadian insurer, which IRCC accepts. The policy must be paid and issued; a quote is not accepted.

Does GMS cover pre-existing conditions?

Yes, if they have been stable for the 180 days immediately before the effective date. A condition that changed in that period isn't covered.

Stable means no new treatment, medication change, new diagnosis or new symptoms. GMS decides stability by its policy definition, regardless of a physician's opinion.

Is there a waiting period if the visitor is already in Canada?

Yes. Bought within 30 days of arrival: a 2-day wait for sickness. Bought more than 30 days after arrival: a 7-day wait. Injuries are covered from the effective date.

There is no waiting period if you apply before arriving, or if you switch from another Canadian insurer's similar policy with no gap in coverage.

Is GMS visitor insurance available in every province?

No. GMS doesn't offer its products in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nunavut.

Visitors staying in other provinces and territories can apply. For Quebec or New Brunswick, Pankaj can quote other insurers.

How do I make a GMS claim?

Call GMS Travel Assistance at 1-800-459-6604 (Canada and US) or collect at +1-905-762-5196 before treatment, or within 24 hours of treatment or admission.

Submit the claim within 90 days of the illness or injury. For claims from November 1, 2025, use the online portal run by Robin Assist or email GMSAssist@robinassist.com.

Can I get a refund from GMS?

Yes. A full refund before the effective date, or after it if the visa was refused and you never travelled (with the refusal letter, minus an administration fee).

Partial refunds, minus an administration fee, are available when the visitor goes home early (from the departure date, with proof) or becomes covered by a provincial plan. No refund applies if a claim was made.

How do I buy GMS insurance?

Use the Buy GMS online button, which opens GMS's own secure application with Pankaj Bhatia as your advisor.

Or compare GMS with other insurers first, or call Pankaj at 647-640-2222.

Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA, licensed visitor insurance advisor

Reviewed by Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA

Licensed insurance & financial advisor · Insure In Canada Inc. · Mississauga & Cambridge, Ontario

Pankaj has arranged GMS and other visitor and Super Visa plans for families for 11 years. This review is based on GMS's policy wording, eligibility questions and website, read in October 2026. Policies are issued by GMS; Pankaj is the advisor, not the insurer.

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Sources and related pages

Independent review by Pankaj Bhatia, a licensed advisor; not published by GMS. Summarized from GMS documents reviewed in October 2026. The policy wording governs coverage, limitations and exclusions, and GMS may change its products. The checker is a planning aid, not underwriting.