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Hospital and physician costs
Eligible emergency treatment and hospital expenses can be costly overseas, particularly during U.S. travel.
Travel medical insurance for Canadians
Travel Insurance in Canada: Compare Coverage Before You Go
Compare emergency medical coverage for trips outside Canada and buy online in minutes. Enter your trip details below.
Get a Travel Insurance Quote Online
See live rates and plan options. Availability, eligibility and online purchase depend on the insurer and your trip.
Important: A displayed quote is not confirmation of coverage. Review the insurer's policy wording, eligibility rules and effective dates before purchasing. For existing medical conditions, contact us if you need help interpreting the questions.
Travelling to the United States, Europe, Asia or another destination? Explore emergency medical coverage for trips outside Canada, understand common exclusions, and compare available options using our online quote tool.
Canadian travel insurance adviceLive online quote toolLicensed insurance advisor
Why it matters
Why Canadians Need Travel Medical Insurance
Your provincial health plan may pay only a portion of emergency medical expenses outside Canada, and some costs may not be covered at all. Travel medical insurance can reduce exposure to eligible unexpected medical costs abroad, within the policy's limits and conditions.
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Medical transportation
Depending on the plan, benefits may include ambulance services, evacuation or medically necessary return arrangements.
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24/7 assistance services
Many policies include emergency assistance contacts to help coordinate eligible treatment and claims.
Government of Canada guidance recommends arranging travel health insurance before travel, including day trips to the U.S.
Know the gap
What OHIP pays for emergencies outside Canada
Ontario residents keep some out-of-country emergency coverage, but it is small. These are the maximums the Ontario Ministry of Health lists (page updated January 2026), and they apply only to care that is medically necessary, acute and unexpected, not pre-existing, and needed immediately.
| Service outside Canada | What OHIP pays (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Doctor services | The bill or the Ontario fee-schedule rate, whichever is less |
| Emergency outpatient care (such as an emergency room visit) | Up to $50 a day |
| Inpatient: operating room, intensive care, coronary care, neonatal or pediatric special care | Up to $400 a day |
| Inpatient: all other levels of care | Up to $200 a day |
| Transfer home to an Ontario hospital | Not covered |
Other provinces set their own out-of-country limits, and they are also far below foreign hospital prices. Check your plan before you travel.
How much of a hospital bill would you pay?
Enter a hospital bill from a trip. The calculator applies OHIP's hospital maximums and shows the gap travel insurance is meant to cover.
Hospital charges only; doctor bills are reimbursed separately at Ontario rates. Example figures, not a quote. OHIP decides eligible amounts.
Choose the right structure
Types of Travel Insurance to Compare
Single-trip emergency medical
Coverage for one planned trip, subject to policy maximums, dates, destination and eligibility.
Multi-trip annual travel medical
An option for frequent travellers. Check the maximum covered duration of each trip and extension requirements.
Trip cancellation and interruption
May reimburse certain non-refundable prepaid costs when a listed covered reason applies. Not all reasons are insured.
Travel packages and extra benefits
Some products combine medical with baggage, trip delay or other coverage. Confirm what is actually included in the selected plan.
Travel scenarios
Travel Insurance for Your Next Trip
USA trips
Medical expenses in the United States can be substantial. Review emergency medical limits even for a short visit.
Snowbirds and longer stays
Compare maximum trip length, extensions, eligibility, and pre-existing medical condition wording carefully. See our snowbird travel insurance guide for provincial limits and US rules.
Family vacations
Review eligibility of each traveller, dependant definitions, and whether a family rate or policy option is available.
Business travel
Check destination rules, medical coverage and whether work-related activities are excluded.
Travel within Canada
Some services outside your home province may not be fully reimbursed by provincial health coverage; review private protection as appropriate.
Travellers with medical histories
Medical conditions, recent medication changes or tests may affect coverage. Answer all insurer questions accurately.
Understanding coverage
What Travel Insurance May Cover
- Emergency physician and hospital services for covered illnesses or injuries
- Eligible emergency diagnostic tests and prescriptions
- Emergency ambulance and medical transportation
- Emergency assistance and coordination services
- Eligible medical evacuation or repatriation
- Trip cancellation, interruption, baggage or delay benefits, when included
Benefits, maximum amounts, deductibles and conditions vary by insurer and policy.
Common limitations and exclusions
- Pre-existing medical conditions not meeting stability or eligibility requirements
- Routine treatment, elective care and planned medical procedures
- Travel against certain government advisories, depending on policy language and timing
- Participation in excluded activities or certain sports
- Costs incurred outside the insured trip dates or beyond plan limits
- Expenses without required prior authorization or timely notice, where stipulated
This is general guidance, not an exhaustive list. The issued policy governs.
Decision guide
Single-Trip vs. Annual Multi-Trip Insurance
| Consideration | Single-trip policy | Annual multi-trip policy |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | One planned trip | Several trips during a policy year |
| Covered period | Selected trip dates | Each trip, subject to the policy's per-trip duration limit |
| Extensions | May be available with insurer approval | May require extra coverage if one trip exceeds the allowed duration |
| Price comparison | Compare total cost for the trip | Compare annual premium against expected number and length of trips |
| Key check | Departure and return dates | Maximum consecutive days per trip |
Before you buy
Five Steps to Select Travel Insurance
1
Enter correct trip details
Use accurate ages, dates, destination and traveller information.
2
Check medical eligibility
Disclose health information as required and review pre-existing condition clauses.
3
Compare limits and deductibles
Review the eligible medical benefit maximum and your potential out-of-pocket costs.
4
Review exclusions and advisories
Confirm relevant sports, work, destination and Government of Canada advisory provisions.
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Keep emergency contacts handy
Save your policy, assistance number and claims procedure before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Travel Insurance Canada FAQs
Do Canadians need travel insurance for the United States?
Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended, even for a short U.S. visit. Provincial coverage may be limited and may not pay medical providers directly. Compare private options before departure.
Does OHIP pay for emergency care outside Canada?
Only a small part. For emergencies that are acute, unexpected and not pre-existing, OHIP pays up to $400 a day for intensive or operating-room care, $200 a day for other inpatient care and $50 a day for outpatient visits, and doctor bills only at Ontario rates. It does not pay to bring you home. Private travel medical insurance covers the rest, within its limits. See the OHIP gap calculator.
Will my pre-existing medical condition be covered?
Possibly, but not automatically. Eligibility and coverage depend on the specific condition, stability period, medical history, application answers and policy wording. Ask for written clarification when uncertain.
Is travel medical insurance the same as trip cancellation insurance?
No. Emergency medical benefits address eligible unexpected medical expenses while travelling. Trip cancellation or interruption insurance addresses defined losses involving trip arrangements and may be sold separately.
What is a multi-trip annual travel insurance policy?
It is coverage for eligible multiple trips within a policy term, subject to the maximum allowed duration of each trip and other conditions. It does not necessarily cover an unlimited-length stay.
Can I buy travel insurance after leaving Canada?
Some insurers may offer limited post-departure options, often subject to waiting periods or other restrictions, but many require purchase before departure. Confirm availability and effective dates before relying on coverage.
Does my credit card already provide travel insurance?
Some cards include travel benefits, but limits, trip-length rules, eligibility, age restrictions and activation requirements differ. Review your card's certificate of insurance before deciding whether additional coverage is needed.
Can seniors and snowbirds compare travel medical insurance?
Yes. Plan eligibility, premium, maximum trip duration and medical questionnaires may differ with age and medical history. Review details especially carefully for longer winter stays.
Does travel insurance cover trip cancellation for any reason?
Usually not. Standard trip cancellation policies cover only specific listed circumstances. Certain plans may offer broader benefits, subject to exclusions and conditions.
How do I get a travel insurance quote with Pankaj Bhatia?
Use the live form on this page to enter your trip details, or contact Pankaj Bhatia at 647-640-2222 for help comparing applicable policy options.
Ready to Compare Travel Insurance?
Get online quotes or speak with Pankaj Bhatia before your next trip.
Pankaj Bhatia is a licensed insurance advisor. Insurance activities are conducted through Insure In Canada Inc., subject to licensing, insurer underwriting and product availability. The information on this page is educational and does not change the terms of any policy.
Official guidance: Government of Canada travel insurance advice · OHIP travel coverage · Travel advisories