Hiking in British Columbia. Skiing in Quebec. Basking in the sun on a beautiful beach on Prince Edward Island. These are just some of the bucket-list vacations that Canadians can pursue as they discover (or rediscover) the vast range of travel experiences the country has to offer.
According to a recent TD Insurance survey, 73% of Canadians polled plan to travel for pleasure over the next 12 months, and half of those plan to do so domestically outside of their home province or territory.
Yet despite Canadians' best-laid plans, one thing that is too often left off the holiday checklist is travel insurance.
The survey found only 51% of polled travellers venturing domestically outside of their home province or territory plan to purchase travel insurance, and only 42% of those plan to buy emergency travel medical coverage.
The top selected reason why many are skipping out on travel medical insurance? Forty-four per cent of Canadians surveyed believe that they are already covered by their provincial or territorial health coverage.
While provincial or territorial health plans may provide some level of coverage for certain medical services outside of your home province or territory, in the event of a medical emergency, there are some out of pocket expenses which aren't covered — and those costs can add up quickly, said Anthony Ricci, Associate Vice President, Life, Health & Credit Protection at TD Insurance.
For example, if you're from Ontario and need a ground ambulance in Nova Scotia, OHIP won't cover that cost, and without private insurance, it could cost you more than $700¹. Newly required prescriptions or medications prescribed while travelling can cause sticker shock as well.
Understanding your coverage
Ricci said that there is also often a knowledge gap that Canadians have when it comes to domestic travel and the amount of coverage they have through third-party providers. According to the TD Insurance survey, 36% of Canadian travellers polled wouldn’t purchase travel medical insurance for an upcoming domestic trip outside of their home province or territory because they are covered by an employer, and 25% state that they are covered by their credit card provider.
While both of these providers may indeed offer coverage, Ricci said, it may not be sufficient. A person may be surprised to learn that they may not be covered for the entire duration of their trip, or for the full cost of the trip, if it is cancelled or interrupted.
“The key message here is: don't make assumptions about your existing coverage,” Ricci said. “Planning for the unexpected is just as important as planning your trip, and it’s important to check whether your existing plan has sufficient coverage to meet your unique travel needs.”
Preparing for your next adventure
Before embarking on your next domestic trip, keep the following tips in mind to help make the travel experience smoother.
Check your coverage and consider purchasing travel insurance before leaving
Check whether you have adequate coverage for your trip through your employer, credit card, or existing insurance plan. If you need more, consider topping up your existing coverage. A good time to purchase travel insurance can be at the time of booking your trip, when you have all the details at your fingertips to complete the application, like your return and departure dates.
Use online tools
Many insurers have online tools to help you find the right insurance package for your next vacation or help you determine if you have any coverage gaps in your existing coverage. For instance, if you’re an existing TD credit card holder, you can learn what travel insurance benefits are available on your card with the Credit Card Travel Insurance Verification Tool.
Explore your options
Decide what type of travel insurance plan works best for you. Many providers offer a range of options that cover single or multiple trips in a year, medical coverage, trip cancellation, interruptions or delays, baggage loss, and more.
“Canada is a beautiful and big country; it's a longer distance to fly from St. John’s to Vancouver than it is from Toronto to Paris,” Ricci said. “A lot can happen to upset your vacation in that distance — from medical emergencies to cancelled flights — and having the right travel insurance in place can help you travel with confidence.”
To learn more about travel insurance, visit the TD website.
Source EN: 1 Ambulance Fee Regulations, NS Reg 133/2002.