Single trip travel medical insurance

Emergency medical coverage for one trip, from the day you leave to the day you’re home.

Covered for the whole trip
from departure to return
Priced by the day
pay only for the days you’re away
Tops up other coverage
when another plan’s travel days run out

Single trip travel medical insurance

Your trip, start to finish.

One policy covers one trip, from the day you leave until the day you come home. What happens before and after those dates matters too.

  1. Stability period:Usually the 90 days before coverage starts, or 180 days if you’re over 60 or 65

  2. Coverage starts

    Your effective date, usually the day you leave

    Covered:For you and any family members on the policy

  3. Planned return

    Coverage ends

    Staying longer?Ask to extend before your coverage ends

Before you leave

What “stable” means

  • No new symptoms
  • No new or changed medication or treatment
  • No new diagnosis
  • No hospital stay
  • No pending tests or specialist referrals

Had a recent change? Some plans offer a shorter stability period as an optional rider, at extra cost.

During your trip

Help, day or night

The assistance line directs you to care, and often pays the hospital directly.

After your return date

Extending your trip

Ask before your coverage ends. Leave it until after, and your options may be limited or unavailable, or a waiting period may apply.

Illustration only. Stability periods and definitions vary by insurer and plan, and your policy wording governs.

Is it right for you?

When a single trip plan makes sense.

A single trip plan fits some travellers better than an annual plan. These are the most common reasons to choose one.

  • One or two trips a year

    If you travel only once or twice, a single trip plan usually costs less than an annual plan.

  • A long trip

    A trip longer than an annual plan’s maximum trip length, such as a winter away, is usually covered with a single trip plan.

  • Topping up other coverage

    If another plan, such as group benefits, a credit card or an annual plan, covers only the first part of your trip, a single trip plan can cover the rest.

If something happens

The same help, whichever plan you choose.

Single trip and annual plans cover the same emergencies, and work the same way when you need them.

Call the assistance line first

In an emergency, call the number on your policy before you get treatment, or as soon as you can. If you don’t, many plans pay less. The assistance team directs you to care and often pays the hospital directly.

What a plan coversHow it works, step by step

Cost

What affects the price.

  • Age

    Rates rise with age.

  • Trip length

    Most plans price by the day, so longer trips cost more.

  • Health

    Your answers to any medical questions.

  • Deductible

    A higher deductible lowers the price, and a lower one raises it.

  • Destination

    Some insurers price by destination. Travel within Canada usually costs less.

Frequently asked questions

All questions
Should I buy a single trip or an annual plan?

If you take one or two trips a year, a single trip plan usually costs less. If you travel more often, an annual plan can cost less overall, as long as each trip fits within its maximum trip length. For a trip longer than that, a single trip plan is usually the better fit. We can look at your travel for the year and suggest which makes sense.

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Can I top up my other travel coverage?

Yes. Group benefits, credit cards and annual plans often cover only the first part of a trip, such as the first few weeks. A single trip plan can cover the rest, starting the day your other coverage ends. Check how many days your current coverage includes before you book, and buy the top-up before you leave, since a waiting period may apply if you buy it after.

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Can I extend my emergency travel medical insurance coverage?

Usually, if you ask before your coverage ends. On a single-trip plan, you can often extend for more days. On an annual plan, you add top-up days for a trip that runs longer than your plan’s trip length. The insurer may ask about your health first, so contact us as soon as you know you’ll be away longer.

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What is a stability period, and why does it matter?

If you have a medical condition, a stability period is the time before you leave during which that condition must not have changed. Each policy defines this, but it usually means no new treatment or medication, no change in dose, no new or worse symptoms, no hospital stay or referral to a specialist, and no tests or results still pending. Some routine changes, such as switching to a generic version of the same drug, usually don’t count. On an annual plan, the stability period counts back from each departure, not from the day you bought the plan.

The period depends on your age, the length of your trip and your answers to the health questions. It’s often 90 or 180 days. If the condition changes inside that period, it may not be covered on your trip, even if the change seemed minor. Some plans offer an optional rider, at extra cost, with a shorter stability period. It’s only needed if your health changed during the standard period. If your health changes after you buy, tell us before you leave, so we can check your options.

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Are pre-existing conditions covered by travel insurance?

Often, if the condition was stable before you left. Most plans cover a pre-existing condition only if it didn’t change during the stability period, which is often 90 or 180 days. If it changed, a claim related to it may be refused. Some plans offer an optional rider, at extra cost, with a shorter stability period, needed only if your health changed during the standard period.

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A question about your coverage? Ask us.

No obligation. We’ll tell you plainly what we think, including when you already have what you need.