Travel Insurance for Canadians Abroad
Every fall many Canadians head south, aka Snowbirds, to spend their winters glowing in warm Florida, Mexico or Texas sun or basking on the beaches of California or Costa Rica – anywhere south that is far from the cold, ice and snow of their home and native land. If you’re a Canadian Snowbird there are some things you should know before you pack your bags:
- Canadians can stay in the United States for 182 days during a 12-month period.
- Canadians from British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia require five months, minimum of residence in a province to maintain provincial health insurance eligibility. Newfoundland and Labrador require four months.
- Be sure to check in with your doctor prior to departure and have a full checkup before looking into travel health insurance.
- Understand your coverage including any limitations, etc. on pre-existing health conditions.
Many Canadian Snowbirds are retired and need a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan to ensure they are covered in case they fall ill or have an accident. For most seniors and retired travelers, the right international insurance plan is a fine balance of price, benefits and medical assistance services available to them while away from home. They also desire a plan that is comprehensive and will help them navigate a foreign medical system should that need arise.
Review Canadian Snowbird Travel Insurance Coverage
When traveling outside your home country it is always important to purchase international travelers medical insurance, even if you already have private medical insurance. Canadian Snowbirds are typically out of their home country for 4 to 6 months, and as such need to make sure their travel health plan includes:
- Freedom to seek treatment with hospital or doctor of choice
- Maximum medical limits from $50,000 and up
- Access to 24/7 emergency assistance medical hotline to speak with medical experts
- Deductible options from $0 to $2,500
- Renewable up to 24 – 36 months
- Travel delay and baggage delay benefits
- Repatriation and emergency evacuation
If a Canadian Snowbird is traveling outside their home country for a prolonged period of time, they should also look into Patriot Travel Insurance, which provides coverage from 5 days up to 2 years and covers non-U.S. citizens. In addition to the aforementioned coverage, Patriot Insurance also includes benefits such as:
- Short-term travel medical coverage
- Coverage for individuals and dependents
- Available in daily and monthly rates
- Coverage from 5 days to 2 years, Renewable up to 24 months if one month or more are purchased
As with all travel health insurance plans, one tailored to the Canadian Snowbird should cover all individual needs based on their current health as well in case of an emergency or injury. You should also ensure that any activities that you plan on participating in are covered by your standard travel health plan, and if they are not that they are covered through extreme sports insurance coverage – and remember these activities may not always be as “extreme” as you think! Activities such as hiking, hot air balloon rides, and water skiing are often considered extreme sports.
Related: Global Health Insurance for Canadian Expats Living Abroad
For more information on international insurance for the Canadian Snowbird, have your list of questions ready and speak with a qualified insurance representative today.
Travel insurance plans available to Canadian snowbirds in Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Costa Rica, USA, Caribbean, and Europe.
