Every fall, tens of thousands of Quebecers set course for Florida, Arizona or Mexico for the winter. For snowbirds, travel insurance is not a last-minute detail: when you buy and how long you cover genuinely change the protection you get.
Buy before departure, ideally weeks before
The golden rule: coverage must be in force before you leave the province. But there’s an advantage to acting early: your health at the time of purchase serves as the reference point. If a health issue comes up between purchase and departure, you can sort it out with the insurer, far better than discovering an exclusion once you’re down south.
Medical stability: the criterion that matters
Most policies for travellers 55 and over require your medical conditions to have been stable for 3 to 6 months before departure (sometimes longer, depending on age and policy): no new diagnosis, no medication change, no test awaiting results. A dosage adjustment in November can affect coverage for a December departure. Our article on pre-existing conditions breaks down the concept.
How long should the policy run?
Three approaches, depending on your situation:
- Per-trip policy: covers the exact dates of your stay. Simple if you leave once.
- Annual multi-trip policy: covers all your departures for the year, each up to a maximum length (for example 30 or 60 days). Worth a look if you also take getaways year-round.
- Long-stay snowbird policy: built for stays of 3 to 6 months and more, with extension options.
If your return date is flexible, check the extension terms: it’s usually possible to extend coverage from abroad, provided you do it before expiry and with no claim in progress.
Don’t forget the RAMQ rules
To keep your public-plan eligibility, you generally must be present in Quebec at least 183 days per calendar year (exceptions exist, including one authorized long stay every seven years). Check your situation with RAMQ before planning a full winter abroad. Losing public coverage has consequences well beyond the trip.
The snowbird checklist
- Buy before departure, ideally early in the fall
- Declare all medical conditions and confirm the required stability period
- Pick a duration with margin, or confirm the extension terms
- Count your days of presence in Quebec
- Keep the emergency assistance number on you
Ready to compare options? See our snowbird travel insurance page. Our advisors know the ins and outs of long stays.