Compare Health and Medical Insurance For Visitors to Canada

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What is visitor to Canada insurance?

Canada's provincial healthcare does not cover visitors, making health insurance for visitors to Canada a crucial form of coverage. Visitor to Canada insurance protects your parents, relatives, and other visitors from unexpected medical emergencies and travel-related costs while in Canada.

There are two main types of visitor insurance: medical insurance for visitors to Canada and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Medical insurance for visitors to Canada can help to cover the cost of medical care if you become sick or injured while travelling. It can also help to cover the cost of travel if you need to be transported to a hospital in another country. This is the most common type of visitor insurance.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance can help to reimburse you for the cost of your trip if you have to cancel due to an unforeseen circumstance, such as illness or bad weather, or other situations that may delay or cancel your trip (lost baggage, transportation delays, etc).

What is Super Visa insurance?

Super Visa insurance is a special type of travel insurance that’s only available to the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or residents who are staying in the country for a long period of time. It will cover any medical emergencies that may happen to your relatives during their stay.

The minimum requirements a Super Visa insurance policy has to meet are:

Must be valid for at least one year from the date the visa-holder arrives in Canada
Must have at least $100,000 CAD in coverage
Must cover emergency medical care, possible hospitalization, and repatriation
Must be active and available for review by an immigration official each time the visa-holder enters Canada
Must have been bought from a Canadian insurance company

Learn more about Super Visa insurance

What does visitor insurance cover?

Visitor insurance to Canada covers emergency medical expenses, hospital visits, prescription drugs, and more. Non-residents in Canada can use visitors to Canada insurance coverage to visit a hospital, emergency room, and walk-in-clinics. Here's a list of all the inclusions in a medical insurance plan for visitors to Canada:

Physician consultations: Reasonable and customary charges for medical care received from a physician, whether in or out of the hospital
Prescription drug coverage: Health insurance can cover the cost of prescription medications that may be needed during your stay
Pathological tests or diagnostic procedures: Diagnostic procedures including blood work, X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and more
Paramedical services: Services provided by licensed professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, or massage therapists
Pre-existing condition coverage: Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions that are declared during the application process
Repatriation: Insurance can cover the costs of emergency medical evacuation back to your home country, which can be a significant cost without coverage
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D): Visitors to Canada insurance may also provide a one-time lump sum amount in case of severe accidents that may lead to the death or loss of limbs of the insured
Emergency dental care: Some insurance plans provide coverage for emergency dental treatment or surgery that may have resulted from an accident or sudden injury
Ambulance transportation: Visitors’ health insurance covers the costs of ambulance services—whether ground or air— needed to transport the visitor to the nearest hospital or medical facility during a medical emergency
Hotels, meals, taxis: If a medical emergency requires a visitor to extend their stay in Canada for treatment or recovery, the insurance can cover additional expenses for hotels, meals, and local transportation such as taxis
Childcare: In the event that a visitor is hospitalized and unable to care for their dependent child, the visitor to Canada insurance may cover temporary childcare expenses
Trip break/Side trip: Some emergency medical insurance plans for visitors offer flexibility with a trip break or side trip coverage, which allows visitors to return to their home country for a short period or travel to another country without losing their insurance coverage

What are the types of medical insurance for visitors in Canada?

Explore comprehensive visitor medical insurance options for visiting parents, friends, family, students, and foreign workers.

Visitors to Canada

Canada’s robust public healthcare system does not extend to non-residents of the country. Those visiting Canada from outside the country also need visitor medical insurance to cover the expensive costs of a doctor’s visit, emergency care, prescription, and more if you fall ill during your trip.

Super visa insurance

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can get a super visa for their parents and grandparents to visit them in Canada for as long as two years.A mandatory stipulation of super visa approval is holding a medical insurance policy to cover illnesses or accidents that can occur during this trip

International Students

International students often need emergency health insurance in whichever country they are studying in. This includes both Canadians studying abroad and students completing their education in Canada. Emergency visitor medical insurance ensures one can focus on their studies knowing they won’t have to deal with an unforeseen medical bill.

Foreign Workers

Foreign workers visiting Canada for temporary or permanent employment will not have immediate access to public healthcare. Visitor medical insurance will cover them if they get sick or injured while working in Canada.

Travelling Canadians

Residents of Canada need travel insurance for trips abroad. While your public healthcare or group health insurance covers medical emergencies at home, an accident or medical emergency while you are out of the country can be very costly.

Snowbirds

Snowbirds are retired Canadians who spend the winter season abroad to avoid Canada’s colder months. As a snowbird, it’s important to make sure you have the right travel insurance in place before you head south for the winter, as you will not qualify for public health insurance at your destination.

How much does visitor insurance to Canada cost?

The average cost of visitor health insurance for travelers to Canada typically ranges from $50 to $400 per month, depending on factors such as age, duration of stay, and the level of coverage chosen. For instance, younger travelers (under 30 years) may pay between $50 and $100 monthly, while those aged 70 years and older may see costs rise between $200 and $400 per month.

Several factors such as the tourist's age, health condition, and trip details affect the cost of health insurance for visitors to Canada. Young and healthy visitors will have to pay lower premiums while those above the age of 65 will pay higher premiums. Similarly, a pre-existing condition will increase te cost of premiums.

The cost of visitor insurance to Canada depends on factors like:

Age
Type of coverage (emergency medical, trip interruption/cancellation, baggage loss, etc.)
Trip length
Medical history
Amount of coverage
Deductible
Pre-existing medical conditions

The following table shows a comparison of visitor insurance in Canada monthly premiums, with and without pre-existing condition coverage

Visitor insurance monthly premiums: with vs. without pre-existing conditions

Visitor’s age	Premiums without pre-ex	Premiums with Pre-ex
25 years	$72.30/mo.	$92.70/mo.
35 years	$90.90/mo.	$100.20/mo.
45 years	$101.70/mo.	$115.50/mo.
55 years	$110.70/mo.	$129.60/mo.
65 years	$133.20/mo.	$168.60/mo.
75 years	$240.0/mo.	$328.80/mo.
85 years	$405/mo.	$453.92/mo.

*Cost of $100k in coverage for a visitor traveling to Canada for a 30 day period.

Why should you buy visitor insurance to Canada?

Visitors to Canada need medical insurance because public healthcare doesn’t cover non-residents visiting Canada. Without insurance coverage, you could face tremendously high costs for medical emergencies. The Government of Canada advises comprehensive travel insurance to avoid unexpected expenses.

An emergency visit to the hospital can cost anywhere between $1,000 - $1,200 for non-residents. MRIs can cost $1,500 or more, and a 24 hour stay in the hospital can cost $3,000 to $6,000. Without insurance, visitors could face significant out-of-pocket expenses for medical emergencies, hospitalization, or even routine care.

You need visitor insurance in Canada because:

You are not covered under Canada's public healthcare plans
Treatment for medical emergencies and prescriptions are expensive and may require cash payments
Your home country's public health care offering generally does not cover trips abroad
Medical insurance for visitors to Canada can cover a broad range of potential situations, including emergency room visits, transportation back to your home country, and prescription drug and dental costs

Frequently asked questions

When should I purchase visitors to Canada insurance?

While you can purchase visitors’ insurance to Canada at any time, it is strongly recommended that you purchase it prior to your arrival in Canada. This will ensure that you are adequately covered against emergency medical costs from the moment you enter the country.

If the visitor medical insurance policy is activated after your arrival to Canada, there may be a waiting period of up to a week or more before emergency medical coverage begins. During the waiting period, no illness or injury will be covered by the insurance providers and you will have to bear the expenses out of your own pocket.

Can I buy visitors to Canada insurance, if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, you can choose a policy that covers pre-existing conditions. This type of policy will ensure that any medical issues you may have had before your coverage are included in your protection. However, most insurers require a pre-existing condition to be stable in order to be covered. This typically means that your pre-existing medical condition should not have worsened in the past 180 days, there should not have been a change in your medication, and that there are no new symptoms.

Different insurance providers have different definitions and criteria for pre-existing conditions. It is important for you to read your policy document carefully.

Does visitor insurance to Canada require a medical exam?

No, there is no medical examination required for purchasing a visitor insurance plan. You can buy the policies online at any time. Health insurance for visitors to Canada coverage usually starts immediately after the policy has been purchased, ensuring you are protected against unforeseen medical expenses while in the country.

Do visitors get free healthcare in Canada?

No, visitors to Canada, including new immigrants, foreign workers, international students, and returning Canadians do not get free healthcare in Canada. It is highly advisable to get a health insurance for visitors to Canada for all non-residents who are not covered under a provincial plan.

My parents are healthy and are visiting Canada soon. Do I still need to get visitor insurance for parents?

Yes, you should get medical insurance for visitors to Canada even if your parents are healthy. Medical treatment in Canada is very expensive. An unexpected illness leading to a doctor’s visit can cost $300 or more and a visit to the emergency room can be as high as $1,000 or more. It is always advisable to buy visitor insurance for parents coming to Canada.

What should I do in the case of an emergency and/or hospitalization?

Insurance providers have different intimation policies. Depending on your plan, you may have to inform the insurer about any medical emergencies, prior to getting treatment or hospitalization. In other cases, insurers may require you to inform them about any hospitalization or treatment within 24 hours.

In most cases, you must notify your insurance provider as soon as possible in case of any emergency medical treatment or hospitalization. Failure to do so can lead to a lapse in coverage.

My parents are not in Canada, yet. Can I purchase visitor insurance for them?

Yes. You can purchase visitor insurance for your parents, friends, or any other relatives online. They do not need to be in Canada to purchase the insurance.

Can I cancel the policy and get a refund?

In most cases, you can get a refund if you cancel your visitor to Canada insurance policy. Some insurers also offer partial refunds if you are leaving the country prior to your expected date of return. Insurers also offer refunds if a super visa application is rejected. However, if a claim has been made on a visitor medical insurance plan, there will be no refund under any circumstances.

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