Insurance for Visitors to Canada

Visitor insurance for Canada is private medical insurance for people who stay temporarily in Canada and who are not covered by a public provincial plan such as the RAMQ, OHIP or another provincial plan.

It can apply to tourists, visiting parents or relatives, temporary visitors, Super Visa applicants, temporary workers, international students or certain newcomers awaiting provincial coverage.

It protects the visitor against unexpected medical expenses during their stay in Canada, particularly in the event of a medical emergency, hospitalization, ambulance or medical repatriation.

For a regular visitor, medical insurance is generally not mandatory to enter Canada. However, it is strongly recommended, because visitors to Canada are generally not covered by the public health plans.

Without insurance, the visitor could have to pay medical expenses themselves in the event of illness or accident. A medical consultation, an ambulance or a hospitalization can quickly become very expensive.

For a Super Visa application, private medical insurance is mandatory and must meet the criteria required by the Government of Canada.

No, in most cases, visitors to Canada are not covered by the public provincial health plans.

Some newcomers or temporary residents may also have a period without public coverage, depending on their status, their province of residence and their eligibility date.

This is why private medical insurance is important. It helps reduce the financial risk if a medical emergency occurs before or during the stay in Canada.

Ideally, insurance should be purchased before departure or before arrival in Canada, so that protection begins at the start of the stay.

If insurance is purchased after arriving in Canada, some insurers may apply a waiting period before coverage is fully active. During this period, certain medical emergencies might not be covered.

To avoid this risk, it is recommended to choose a start date that corresponds to the arrival date in Canada or to the end date of another insurance already in force.

Coverage can vary depending on the insurer and the chosen contract, but visitor insurance for Canada can generally cover emergency medical expenses, hospitalization, ambulance services, medications prescribed following an emergency, certain necessary medical examinations, emergency dental care following an accident and medical repatriation.

Since protections are not identical from one insurer to another, it is important to compare the options before buying.

Some visitor insurance policies may cover pre-existing medical conditions, but only if the conditions set out in the contract are met.

In general, the insurer may require the condition to be stable for a certain period before the insurance start date. The definition of “stable” can vary depending on the insurer.

If the visitor has a medical history, takes medication or has had recent changes in their health, it is important to mention this before choosing a plan.

Generally, no. An ongoing pregnancy and childbirth are treated as expected care rather than an unforeseen medical emergency, and most visitor policies exclude them.

Some policies cover unforeseen complications of pregnancy, but only up to a specific stage of the pregnancy and under strict conditions. Newborn care is almost always excluded.

The rules vary widely from one policy to another, and a pregnancy already known at the time of purchase is treated as a pre-existing condition. Talk to an advisor before choosing coverage and we will confirm exactly what the policy you are considering provides.

The coverage amount depends on several factors, such as the length of stay, the visitor’s age, their health and the desired level of protection.

Some visitors choose coverage of $100,000, while others prefer higher protection, for example $150,000, $300,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000.

For a short stay, simpler protection may sometimes be enough. For an extended stay, an older person or a Super Visa application, higher coverage may be preferable.

Yes, in many cases, it is possible to extend or renew the insurance if the visitor stays in Canada longer than expected.

However, it is important to apply before the expiry date of the current policy. If the insurance expires, it could be more difficult to obtain continuity of protection, and a new waiting period could apply depending on the insurer.

The rules can vary depending on the visitor’s age, the total length of stay, their health and whether or not a claim has been made.

In many cases, some insurers may offer a refund if the visa or Super Visa is refused, provided that no claim has been made and the requested documents are provided.

Refund conditions vary depending on the insurer. It is therefore best to check the rules before purchase, especially if the visa application has not yet been approved.

In an emergency, you must first get the necessary care. As soon as possible, the visitor or a relative should contact the assistance service indicated in the insurance policy.

The assistance service can explain the steps to follow, confirm the required documents and guide the insured person in opening a claim.

It is recommended to keep all receipts, invoices, medical reports, prescriptions and documents provided by the hospital or clinic. These documents may be necessary for the analysis of the claim or the reimbursement of eligible expenses.