Why Travel Insurance is Essential for Domestic Trips

The Importance of Emergency Medical Insurance

Provincial Healthcare Limitations

While provincial healthcare covers basic medical expenses, it often falls short for additional costs like ambulance services, emergency dental care, prescription drugs, or vehicle return.

For instance, consider the case of Sonya, an 83-year-old from Alberta. During a visit to her family in Regina, she had an unfortunate fall, resulting in a hospital visit for a CT scan, dental fees for a chipped tooth, and replacing broken glasses. Without travel insurance, Sonya would have faced nearly $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, her Emergency Medical Insurance plan covered $1,670 of these costs, significantly reducing her financial burden.

Coverage for COVID-19 and Beyond

Your provincial healthcare plan will cover COVID-19 related emergencies, but other expenses like ambulance rides, prescription medications, dental emergencies, or vehicle return may not be included. Purchasing Emergency Medical Insurance ensures comprehensive coverage for these additional costs.

Annual Plans for Frequent Travelers

If you travel outside your home province more than twice a year, an Annual Emergency Medical Plan could be more cost-effective. These plans offer continuous coverage, saving you the hassle and expense of purchasing insurance for each trip.

For example, Anthony, a 59-year-old from Alberta, faced a skiing accident during his vacation at Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna. His Multi Trip Annual Worldwide Emergency Medical Insurance plan covered the ambulance and prescription costs, saving him over $600 in out-of-pocket expenses.

Pre-Existing Conditions

For those with pre-existing medical conditions, travel within Canada is simplified with no stability requirements under a Travel Within Canada Emergency Medical plan. This flexibility allows for travel without waiting for a specific period to confirm the stability of your condition.