Travel Insurance Broker in Toronto

Why Ontario Residents Need Travel Insurance

Most Ontario residents assume their provincial health card covers them when they travel. It doesn't, at least not in any meaningful way. OHIP provides minimal coverage outside Canada and very limited reimbursement even within other Canadian provinces. A hospital stay in the United States, for instance, can easily run $10,000 to $25,000 per day. Without travel insurance, you're personally responsible for the full bill.

Travel insurance is inexpensive relative to the risk it covers. A week-long trip policy for a healthy adult typically costs less than a single night at a foreign hospital would.

What Travel Insurance Covers

Emergency Medical

This is the core of any travel policy. Emergency medical coverage pays for hospital stays, doctor visits, surgery, prescriptions, and medical evacuation if you get sick or injured while travelling. Plans typically cover $1 million to $5 million in medical expenses per trip, and many include 24/7 assistance hotlines that coordinate care and handle hospital payments directly so you're not navigating a foreign healthcare system alone.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

Life doesn't always cooperate with your travel plans. Trip cancellation insurance reimburses non-refundable costs, such as flights, hotels, and tours, if you need to cancel before departure for a covered reason. Trip interruption covers the cost of getting home early if something happens while you're away. Covered reasons typically include illness, injury, death of a family member, and certain travel advisories.

Snowbird and Extended Stay Coverage

If you spend winters in Florida, Arizona, or elsewhere outside Ontario, standard single-trip policies won't cut it. Snowbird plans are designed for stays of 30 days to six months or more. They include emergency medical coverage tailored to older travellers, often with options for pre-existing condition stability clauses. The key is getting the stability period and coverage limits right. I compare plans from multiple providers to find one that fits your health profile and travel dates.

Pre-Existing Conditions and Honesty

This is where most travel insurance claims get denied. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, you need to disclose it fully and accurately on your application. Many policies will cover pre-existing conditions as long as they've been stable for a defined period, usually 90 to 180 days. Changing medication, adjusting dosages, or having new symptoms within that window can void your coverage entirely.

I walk clients through the medical questionnaire to make sure nothing gets missed. An honest, complete application is the single most important step in making sure your policy actually pays when you need it.

Credit Card Travel Insurance: Know the Gaps

Many credit cards include some travel insurance, but the coverage is often limited. Common restrictions include short trip durations (typically 15 to 21 days), age limits, exclusions for pre-existing conditions with no stability clause, and lower medical coverage caps. Credit card coverage can be a useful supplement, but relying on it as your only protection is a gamble. I can review what your card offers and identify the gaps a standalone policy would fill.