Nearly 99% of Canadians do not purchase travel medical insurance for short trips

Almost 99% of Canadians who take one or two-day trips don’t purchase travel medical insurance, Allianz Global Assistance Canada (AGAC) said recently.

Data show less than 1.4% of single trip medical policies purchased through its various distribution channels are for one- or two-day trips, said AGAC, a travel insurance and assistance services provider.

“That is concerning, especially when you consider how many Canadians take short trips,” said Dan Keon, vice president of market management with AGAC. “Over 12.5 million Canadians have travelled to the U.S. this year for at least one night, according to Statistics Canada.”

A broken arm alone could cost thousands of dollars at a hospital in the United States, while an extended stay as an inpatient, due to a motor vehicle accident or appendicitis, for example, could cost tens of thousands of dollars per day.

Even if you’re travelling within Canada, Keon says, “your provincial health insurance plan won’t necessarily cover all costs if you were to be injured or needed medical assistance. For example, ambulance transportation costs, whether by ground or air, are not covered by provincial health care plans in Canada, however, medical travel insurance provides for this eligible benefit to a covered limit.”

AGAC advises travellers to plan for the unexpected by buying insurance at the same time they finalize and book their trip. Having insurance not only provides assistance to the person who becomes ill or sick, it also provides peace of mind if they for those travelling with a partner.

Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.