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Buying guide · 2026

Super Visa insurance: broker or buy direct?

The premium is usually the same either way. The difference is the help you get with the medical questions, with changes, and when there's a claim.

An honest comparison from a licensed broker. It covers when buying direct is perfectly fine, when an advisor saves you from a costly mistake, how to check any broker (including us), and what to do if a claim is denied.

By Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA Updated 11 years as a licensed advisor
Take the 1-minute check See the comparison

The short answer

For the same plan, you normally pay the same premium whether you buy from a licensed broker or directly from the insurer, because the insurer pays the broker's commission. Buying direct is fine if your parent is healthy, the wording is clear to you, and you're happy with that one insurer. A broker is worth it when there's a medical history, an older parent, or you want to compare several insurers. Many claim problems start with the medical questions or the plan choice, and that's where an advisor helps most. Whichever route you take, check that the seller is licensed and that the policy names the insurer.

Broker, insurer or comparison website: side by side

Three ways families buy Super Visa insurance, and what each one gives you.

Licensed brokerDirect from one insurerComparison website
Price for the same planSame premium; the insurer pays the commissionSame premiumSame premium; the site is paid commission too
ChoiceSeveral insurers compared for your parent's age and healthThat insurer's plans onlySeveral insurers, usually ranked by price
Medical questionsGone through with you, and with your parents if neededYou answer alone online or by phoneYou answer alone online
Plan fitAdvice on pre-existing cover, deductible and stability periodsThe insurer's call centre explains its own planFilters and fine print; little advice
Date changes, refunds, renewalsYour advisor handles them with the insurerYou contact the insurerVaries; often a general support line
ClaimsAdvisor helps with forms, documents and follow-upInsurer's claims teamInsurer's claims team
AccountabilityLicensed person; in Ontario, $1M+ E&O insurance requiredThe insurerA licensed agency; check who your advisor is

A comparison website that sells you a policy is itself a licensed agency or broker. "Direct" only means the insurer's own website or phone line.

1-minute check: do you need a broker?

Answer honestly. Some families genuinely don't need help, and this tells you which you are.

Does either parent have a medical condition, take regular medicine, or had a change in medicine or a hospital visit in the last year?

Is either parent 70 or older?

Are you insuring both parents, or parents with different health?

Would your parents find English policy wording or medical questions hard to follow?

Do you want to compare several insurers, not just one?

Is the Super Visa not yet approved, or are travel dates still uncertain?

Four mistakes an advisor helps you avoid

Common problems when families buy on their own.

"Stable" means the insurer's definition

A parent on the same blood-pressure tablets for years may still be "unstable" if the dose changed recently. A wrong answer can void a claim, so go through the stability questions with the parent's medicine list.

Cheapest plan, wrong cover

The lowest price often excludes pre-existing conditions. For a parent with diabetes or heart history, that can mean the most likely claim isn't covered at all.

Wrong dates or missing paperwork

The policy must cover one year from entry, be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit, and name the insurer. A quote is not proof of insurance for IRCC.

Not calling the assistance line

Most policies expect the 24/7 assistance line to be called before or soon after treatment. Late notice can reduce what the insurer pays.

How to check any broker, including us

  1. Look up the licenceIn Ontario, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) lets you search licensed life and health agents by name, licence number or city. Other provinces have their own regulators.
  2. Ask about E&O insuranceOntario life agents must carry errors and omissions insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence. It gives you possible recourse if an agent's negligence causes a loss.
  3. Ask how they are paidA broker paid by insurer commission shouldn't charge you a separate fee for a Super Visa policy. Ask which insurers they represent.
  4. Read who issued the policyIRCC requires a Canadian insurer, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI. The policy should name the insurance company, not just the broker or website.

Pankaj Bhatia at a glance

Designations
CHS, PFA
Agency
Insure In Canada Inc.
Licensed in
ON, AB, BC, MB, SK, NB, NS
Experience
11 years
How we're paid
Insurer commission, no fee to you
Ask for our licence numbers anytime and check them with the regulator in your province.

If a claim is denied: what you can do

The same steps apply whether you bought through a broker or direct. A broker helps you prepare each one.

  1. Ask for the reason in writingGet the denial letter and the exact policy wording the insurer relied on.
  2. Use the insurer's complaint processSend missing documents or a doctor's letter. Ask for the complaint to be escalated until you get a final position letter.
  3. Go to OLHI, freeThe OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance reviews travel and health insurance complaints at no cost. Its recommendations are impartial but not binding.
  4. Get legal advice if neededFor large amounts, a lawyer can advise on your options. Ask about time limits for complaints and lawsuits early.

Prefer to buy online yourself? Start here

Buy online opens the insurer's own secure purchase page, so you can buy directly. Pankaj is still here if you have a question before or after. Plan details explains each plan first.

Policies are issued by each insurer. Availability depends on age, health and plan.

Broker vs direct: frequently asked questions

More answers in the full Super Visa insurance FAQ.

Is Super Visa insurance cheaper if I buy directly from the insurer?

Usually not. Insurers set the premium for each plan, and a licensed broker is paid a commission by the insurer, so you normally pay the same price either way.

What changes is who helps you. Buying direct, you deal with the insurer's call centre. Through a broker, you also have a licensed advisor who compares several insurers and stays with you for changes and claims. Ask any advisor how they are paid. We'll tell you.

Does a broker charge a fee on top of the premium?

Not for standard Super Visa and visitor plans. The insurer pays the broker's commission.

If anyone asks for a separate "service fee" to sell you a Super Visa policy, ask what it is for and get it in writing before you pay.

Can I buy every Super Visa plan directly from the insurer?

No. Some insurers sell online to the public, but many Super Visa plans are sold mainly through licensed advisors and managing general agencies.

Buying direct means comparing one insurer at a time. A broker who represents several insurers can show the plans side by side in one quote.

Is a comparison website the same as buying direct?

No. A comparison site that sells you a policy is itself a licensed agency or broker, not the insurer.

Look for the licensed advisor's name and licence, and make sure the policy documents name the insurance company. IRCC needs the insurer to be Canadian, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI.

Can a broker get a denied claim paid?

A broker can't overrule the insurer. But a good one helps you avoid the mistakes that cause denials and helps you appeal with the right documents.

If the insurer's final answer is still no, you can take the complaint to the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI). It is free and impartial, but its recommendations are not binding.

How do I check that a Super Visa broker is licensed?

In Ontario, search the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) list of licensed life and health agents by name or licence number.

Other provinces have their own regulators. Pankaj Bhatia is licensed in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

What protection do I have if a broker makes a mistake?

Licensed life agents in Ontario must carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence.

E&O insurance gives a consumer possible recourse when an agent's negligence causes a financial loss. Buying through an unlicensed "consultant" gives you none of this.

I already bought direct. Can a broker still help?

With general questions, yes. For changes to the policy, the insurer will usually deal with you or the advisor on file.

When the policy comes up for renewal, you can compare again and buy the new policy through an advisor.

Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA, licensed Super Visa insurance broker

Written by Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA

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

Pankaj has helped families insure visiting parents for 11 years. He wrote this guide to give the honest answer families ask for: when you don't need a broker, and when an advisor protects you from an expensive mistake.

Call 647-640-2222 · WhatsApp · About Pankaj · Google reviews

Same price, with an advisor on your side

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Sources and related pages

General information, not legal advice. Coverage, refunds and fees are subject to each policy's terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. Insurer names and marks belong to their owners.