Visitors to Canada health insurance and Super Visa
Emergency medical coverage for visitors to Canada
Visitors to Canada health insurance provides emergency medical coverage for people who are not currently covered by a Canadian government health plan. It helps cover hospital stays, emergency care, ambulance transportation, and returning to your home country (repatriation) if an unexpected medical emergency happens.
This coverage is strongly recommended for anyone visiting Canada, as it helps to protect you from the high cost of medical care.
Visitors to Canada Health Insurance helps you:
- Cover eligible medical emergencies
- Reduce the risk of high medical bills
- Meet Super Visa requirements (when applicable)
- Choose coverage up to $300,000
A trip to Canada should be a time to enjoy, not a source of financial stress. In Canada, medical care is excellent but expensive: even a routine hospital visit or an ambulance ride can quickly result in a bill of several thousand dollars.
This insurance covers unexpected medical expenses during your stay, so you can travel in Canada with peace of mind.
Who needs Visitors to Canada health insurance?
Parents of Canadian residents
Super Visa applicants
Foreign workers
International students
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible:
- International students: You must be between 17 and 40 years old on the day your coverage starts.
- Other visitors: You must be between 3 months and 80 years old on the day your coverage starts.
- You are not already covered by a Canadian government health plan.
What can be covered during your stay
If a medical emergency happens during your trip, your coverage may include several types of care, including:
- Hospital stays
- Emergency care and treatment in a hospital
- Medical tests required during treatment
- Purchase or rental of medical equipment
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency return to your home country
- Transportation for a loved one to come to your bedside
- Prescription drugs following a medical emergency
Choose the right coverage for your stay in Canada
Insurance is available as a flexible plan:
Coverage amounts:
Your situation
Your age when coverage starts
Plan type
Individual
Family
Maximum trip length
Coverage amount
$100,000
$150,000
$300,000
$100,000
$150,000
$300,000
$100,000
$150,000
$300,000
$150,000
$300,000
$100,000
$150,000
$300,000
24/7 emergency medical assistance
All plans include access to emergency medical assistance, a service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If an emergency arises during your stay, simply take out your card and contact our team. We can quickly guide you to the care you need.
Coverage of pre-existing medical conditions
Eligibility rules apply. A pre-existing medical condition is a condition for which you were diagnosed, treated, or examined before your coverage starts. If there is any difference between this explanation and the definition in the insurance policy, the policy wording prevails.
These conditions are generally not covered, though some may be included for an additional premium if they have been stable for a set period.
Required stability period:
- Ages 3 months to 59 years: The condition must be stable for 3 months.
- Age 60 and over: The condition must be stable for 6 months.
See the definition of “Stable and Controlled” in the insurance policy.
How much does Visitors to Canada travel health insurance cost?
- The cost of Visitors to Canada travel health insurance depends on several factors, including the traveller’s age, length of stay, selected coverage amount, whether pre-existing medical conditions are covered, and whether a deductible is added.
- Because every traveller is different, the exact premium depends on your situation.
- You can get a personalized quote in just a few minutes to find out the cost of your coverage.
Frequently asked questions about Visitors to Canada travel health insurance
1. Can you buy Visitors to Canada travel health insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes. You can buy insurance even if you have a health condition. However, pre-existing medical conditions are generally not covered.
Some conditions may be covered if they are stable for a specified period before coverage begins. An additional premium may apply.
The stability period depends on the insured person’s age.
2. When does your coverage begin?
If you buy the insurance before arriving in Canada, your coverage begins on your arrival date. If you buy it after arriving in Canada, a waiting period may apply. See the definition of “waiting period” in the insurance policy.
Your coverage generally ends when you leave Canada to return to your country of residence.
Depending on the chosen plan, coverage can be up to $300,000 for medical emergencies during your stay.
3. Can you get a refund if the trip is cancelled or cut short?
Yes. A partial refund may be available if the trip is cancelled or cut short, depending on the policy terms.
The reimbursed amount depends on:
- The coverage terms
- The portion of the trip already used
- Certain administrative fees
- If you made a claim while on your trip
- Other factors set out in the policy
4. Can you buy Visitors to Canada travel health insurance after arriving in Canada?
Yes. A 7-day waiting period generally applies, except in the case of accidental injury. If coverage is purchased before arrival in Canada, this waiting period does not apply.
5. Can you pay for Visitors to Canada travel health insurance in installments?
No, the full amount must be paid before coverage begins.
However, if the cost is $400 or more and the effective date is more than 2 weeks away, it is possible to:
- pay a deposit of at least 25% when you buy the coverage
- pay the balance no later than 2 weeks before coverage begins
6. Can you add a deductible to Visitors to Canada travel health insurance?
Yes. You can add a deductible ranging from $250 to $2,500. This option can reduce your premium by 10% to 25%. The deductible applies per medical event.
7. Is pregnancy covered under Visitors to Canada travel health insurance?
No. Pregnancy-related care is not covered.
This includes:
- prenatal or postnatal care
- fertility treatments
- voluntary termination of pregnancy
- childbirth
- complications related to pregnancy or childbirth
- care for a child born during the trip
8. Are trips outside Canada covered under Visitors to Canada travel health insurance?
Yes. Side trips outside Canada may be allowed.
However, certain conditions may apply depending on the length of the stay and the destination.
9. Is Visitors to Canada travel health insurance mandatory?
While not mandatory for everyone, it is required for the Super Visa and strongly recommended for all other visitors.
Get a quote for your Visitors to Canada travel health insurance
In just a few minutes, you can find out the cost of your protection and choose the insurance that fits your stay in Canada. If you have questions, a TourMed representative can guide you.
The Visitors to Canada plan is not offered online for now.