Do You Need Health Insurance When Visiting Canada?

Many foreigners assume that healthcare in Canada is free. And while it is true that Canadian residents are eligible to receive provincial healthcare through the government, the same is not true for foreign visitors. Any foreign visitor absolutely needs to have travel insurance for visitors to Canada.

Healthcare expenses may not be as high in Canada as they are in the United States, but they are still significant. Most visitors will not be able to pay for unexpected medical treatment on their own, and the vast majority of domestic health insurance plans don’t provide coverage abroad. Be sure you have the visitor insurance Canada tourists need to help pay your medical bills in case of an illness or injury.

Does my US health insurance cover me in Canada?

Unless your US health insurance plan specifically offers global coverage, it will not cover you in Canada. Although it’s a good idea to check to see if you have this coverage prior to departing for Canada, most will not. This makes travel insurance to Canada the best option to keep you protected from unexpected medical issues.

Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Travel Insurance

You are eligible to purchase travel insurance for Canada if any of the following criteria apply to you:

  • You’re visiting Canada from another country for tourism or business purposes.
  • You’re a new immigrant to Canada who is not yet eligible to purchase provincial healthcare.
  • You’re working temporarily in Canada. Temporary workers typically must wait for at least 3 months to enroll in Canadian provincial healthcare.
  • You’re a Canadian citizen living abroad and visiting Canada.
  • You’re a Canadian citizen who just moved back to Canada and not yet eligible to enroll in provincial healthcare.

Please note that you should not purchase Canada travel insurance from Insubuy if you are interested in Super Visa insurance, as this can only be purchased from a Canadian health insurance company.

What Does Visitors Insurance for Canada Cover?

Visitors to Canada medical insurance will generally cover any new medical conditions, injuries or accidents that occur after the effective date of the policy. They will generally not cover any pre-existing medical conditions; however, some plans will cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to a certain age and up to a certain limit.

Canada visitors medical insurance will provide coverage for whatever is medically necessary, such as physician visit, labs, x-rays and other diagnostic procedures, surgery, hospitalization, ICU, prescription drugs, emergency room visits and more.

Additionally, it also provides coverage for trip interruption, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, loss of checked luggage and emergency assistance services.

If you are planning to participate in hazardous activities, such as skiing, ice hockey, or ice skating, you should consider purchasing hazardous sports coverage as most Canada travel insurance plans will otherwise not cover adventure sports.

How to Get Visitors Insurance for Canada with Insubuy

You can buy visitors insurance to Canada quickly and easily with Insubuy. All you need to do is fill out the quote form and instantly get Canada travel insurance quotes from different companies. You can compare plans, purchase online in minutes, and coverage can begin as soon as the next day. 

Protect your health and your finances on your Canadian trip. Buy visitors to Canada travel insurance today!