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Guide to Purchasing Travel Insurance For Visitors to Canada  By: Ronald Chan

With the strong economy, welcoming culture, great natural beauty and high quality of life, Canada is a popular destination for foreign visitors. Canada in not only a popular vacation destination it has the strongest economy in the G8. The strong Canadian economy means that Canada is a hot spot for business travelers, foreign workers, new immigrants, and international students.

Also, Canada has an aging population which means that the health care system is overburdened. Canada’s health expenses rival the United States as the most expensive in the world.

Also, Canada has an aging population which means that the health care system is overburdened. Canada’s health expenses rival the United States as the most expensive in the world.

Sample medical costs in Canada.

Simple doctor visits cost approximately $150 Ambulance approximately $250 Non-critical hospital stay cost around $3,500 per night Air ambulance around $20,000 etc.

Medical expenses can become financially crippling. To ensure personal safety, Medical Insurance is highly recommended for all foreign visitors to Canada.

The good news is that medical insurance is quite affordable. For example, good individual coverage can be purchased for a 40 year old for $3-$5 per day, and an entire family can be covered for under $15 per day.

Canadian insurance companies have developed medical insurance plans for all types of visitors to Canada. weather you are a business traveler, international student, new immigrant, foreign worker, or simply vacationing in Canada, a plan designed to suit your needs is available at an affordable rate.

Business Travelers and Tourists Visiting Canada

Whether you are traveling to Canada for business meetings or vacationing with your family, medical insurance is important to cover the high costs of medical care. Visitor to Canada Emergency medical is available to pay the expenses incurred by sudden and unexpected medical conditions. Coverage is available up to 89 years of age. No medical questions are required but pre-existing medical conditions will likely be excluded from coverage. If you have a pre-existing medical condition please review the medical policy wording closely before purchasing.

Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance can be purchased at levels of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000. Coverage can be purchased for individuals, couples, or families. Single trip and annual plans are available. If you plan to travel to Canada frequently within a 12 month period then an annual plan will be most suitable.

New Immigrants to Canada

New immigrants to Canada are not eligible for provincial health insurance until they gain landed immigrant or permanent residence status.

Foreign workers in Canada

The Canadian labor shortage has provided ample opportunities for foreign workers to enter Canada on a work visa. Unfortunately, these work visas are normally issued for 6 months minus one day… this is one day before the foreign workers become eligible for Provincial health insurance coverage. This means that private health insurance must be purchased to cover emergency medical costs for the time spent living in Canada on a temporary work visa.

Inpatriate Medical Insurance

Employers can provide medical insurance to foreign workers by purchasing Inpatriate Medical Insurance. Inpatriate Medical Insurance can be purchased for the six month work visa. Inpatriate insurance can be purchased for durations as short as one month for workers who have already arrived in Canada. Coverage can be purchased at levels of $100,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000. Single, Couple, or family coverage is also available. Inpatriate medical Insurance coverage differs from Visitors Emergency Medical Insurance as it provides for non-emergency medical visits.

Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance

Foreign workers who are not provided coverage by their employers will be required to purchase private medical insurance. Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical Insurance is available for personal coverage for your entire work visa term in Canada. Coverage can be purchased at levels of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000, with the high cost of health care in Canada it is recommended that foreign worker purchase the best coverage amount. Single, Couple, or family coverage is also available.

International Students in Canada

Canada is a world leader in education. Many international student choose Canada for their foreign education destination. Not all international students are eligible for government sponsored health insurance…. and for those who are eligible may have to wait three months before the coverage becomes effective. Also, international students not attending eligible educational institutions will not be covered by the provincial government health insurance plan. Private medical insurance will be required. International students can choose to purchase complete Health and Hospital Insurance or only Emergency Medical Insurance

Health and Hospital Insurance

Provides International Students visiting Canada with complete health coverage. In addition to emergency medical coverage, non-emergency health costs and prescription drugs are also covered up to maximum amounts. Medical coverage of to $1,000,000 is available. Coverage can also be purchased for the students spouse and family while they are residing in Canada.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Similar in coverage as the health and hospital plan but does not cover non-emergency medical and prescription drugs are limited to a 30 day supply. Coverage can also be purchased for the students spouse and family while they are residing in Canada.

Make sure that you are safe and enjoy ‘peace of mind’ during you stay in Canada by purchasing medical insurance.

When traveling anywhere, it is always a smart idea to purchase some form of travel insurance. There are certain circumstances out of your control that may happen, and you will want to be prepared for that occasion.

There are hundreds of reasons that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early, or a medical emergency could force you to seek emergency medical assistance. It might take you years to save up for your vacation, but it takes only a second to ruin it. Purchasing travel insurance will give you peace of mind in the event something catastrophic happens to cause you to cancel your trip. Your hard earned money will not go to waste on nonrefundable vacation tickets.

Cruise travel insurance does not cost as much as you may think. The typical insurance policy will include travel cancellation insurance, trip interruption coverage, medical plans and much more. Coverage like this is usually not very expensive – it is a lot less than the potential fortune you can lose if you have to cancel a nonrefundable cruise. It is also very easy to purchase cruise travel insurance. You can purchase them from the place you booked your vacation, or you can buy it separately from another company. There are hundreds of websites you can look at to compare costs and coverage.

It is vital to look at many different types of travel insurance policies, as well as many different companies that offer them. Like all things in life, the more research you do, the better prepared you will be when the time comes to purchase it. Before you commit yourself to a policy, make sure you compare it with others to be sure you are getting the best deal possible. Taking a little time to read through more than one company’s policy can save you a lot of money.

By: Eric Morris