Medical Insurance Canada

BOF333

I am going to Canada for 2 weeks holiday shortly. For travel insurance, I have been quoted between pound 420 and pound 650 from UK insurers The only insurance I'm interested in having his medical emergencies. A Canadian comparison site has thrown up a $CAN1m worth of cover for about $CAN200 (just over £100)

Is there any gotcha that should make me not take the Canadian insurance?

I have an Allclear annual policy which does not cover North America. When I asked to extend it, I was quoted over £600. I am 72 with some pre-existing, fully treated medical conditions and in good health. I have cycled over 400 miles in the last two weeks, for instance.

The Canadian policies. I am looking at would rule me out with certain conditions I don't have. For the rest you just have to declare that you have been "stable" for 180 days, which I am. These policies seem mainly aimed at insuring elderly relatives visiting Canada based expatriates. All visitors have to pay for emergency treatments in Canada.

sheramber

Are ypou visiting relatives?

What about repatriation if you are unable to travel home by normal meams?

flaneurs_lobster

I'd wonder if the level of coverage (CA$1M) was enough?

I know that it is often quoted that a heart attack and a week of intensive care in the US will often hit US$1M but I don't know if it's a valid comparator to CAN medical costs.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668811/medical-insurance-canada

For most insurances you have to be a resident in the country the insurer is based is so make sure they are aware and comfortable with you being uk based as they will need a license to sell insurance in the UK

Are you aware of what it covers you for? Private Medical insurance in Canada is very different to the UK and USA because they have province level public health like the NHS but their laws say you can't buy insurance to cover things their public health does so no queue jumping, no paying for your MRI but instead it gives you a better room in the state hospital etc.

Domestic travel insurance is popular in Canada but thats because of how cross province funding works can result in some shortfall so if your province says a hip replacement is $25,000 but you need an emergency one in a different province that costs $30,000 then your state will pay their standard rate and you or your domestic travel insurance pays the remaining $5,000

If you are looking at a US policy then be aware of deductibles and co-pay terms, some you may be paying the first $5,000 of any claim and up to 25% of anything above that.