medical travel in canada

DESTINATION

1. Overview

Brief introduction to the country and its reputation in medical tourism.

Canada, known for its stunning landscapes and high standard of living, has been quietly establishing itself as a reputable destination for medical tourism. With a healthcare system that ranks among the world's best, Canada offers medical tourists the promise of high-quality, innovative treatments often at a fraction of the cost found in other developed countries. While the country is primarily famous for its universal healthcare available to residents, medical tourists are increasingly discovering the benefits of seeking medical care in this North American nation.

Historical and Cultural Significance in Medicine

Historically, Canada has made several groundbreaking contributions to the field of medicine. From the discovery of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in the 1920s to pioneering techniques in cardiac surgery, the country has a rich history of medical research and innovation. Its cultural emphasis on holistic wellness and preventive medicine also creates a nurturing environment for medical tourists seeking not just curative but also preventative treatments.

Why Choose Canada?

Besides its medical achievements, Canada is known for its stringent healthcare regulations, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and highly skilled professionals. The country prides itself on a culturally sensitive and patient-centered approach to healthcare, which is especially beneficial for medical tourists from diverse backgrounds.

Developing Trends

Over recent years, Canada has seen growth in specialty areas such as cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments, orthopedic procedures, and alternative medicine. The rise of telemedicine has also made consultations more accessible for international patients, making Canada an increasingly attractive destination for medical tourism.

2. Popular Medical Procedures

List and brief descriptions of procedures.

Canada is a leader in several medical specialties. Among them:

• Orthopedic Surgery : Including hip and knee replacements.
• Cardiac Care : Advanced procedures like minimally invasive heart surgeries are popular.
• Cosmetic Surgery : From facelifts to liposuction.
• Cancer Treatments : Specializing in cutting-edge therapies.

Specializations or Pioneering Treatments

Canada is recognized for its research and development in the medical field, particularly in stem cell therapies, personalized medicine, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Certain facilities also offer specialized treatment plans that integrate alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, offering a holistic treatment approach.

3. Top Hospitals & Clinics

Renowned institutions.

Some of the top medical facilities include the Toronto General Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic's Canadian affiliate, among others.

Accreditation and Affiliation

Canadian hospitals often hold accreditations from the Healthcare Accreditation Canada (HAC), which ensures they meet international healthcare standards. Many are also affiliated with world-class research universities.

Special Features, Awards, or Recognitions

Many Canadian hospitals have received awards for innovation in medical care and patient services, as well as recognition for their advanced research programs.

4. Cost Comparison

Comparative data.

On average, medical procedures in Canada can cost 30-60% less than in the United States, depending on the treatment. However, costs are generally higher than in countries like India or Thailand.

Price Ranges

For example, a hip replacement may range from $16,000 to $20,000, whereas the same procedure can cost upwards of $30,000 in the United States.

5. Quality & Safety

Medical standards and practices.

Canada adheres to some of the highest medical standards globally, ensuring that medical tourists receive top-tier care. The country's healthcare system operates under stringent guidelines enforced by federal and provincial authorities. State-of-the-art facilities, advanced diagnostic equipment, and a focus on research make Canada a reliable option for healthcare services.

Accreditation Systems, Regulatory Bodies, and Quality Checks

Healthcare Accreditation Canada (HAC) is the primary body overseeing hospital accreditation, ensuring that institutions meet or exceed quality standards. Most hospitals also undergo regular inspections by provincial health departments.

Patient Safety Protocols and Patient Rights

Canadian healthcare facilities are committed to maintaining rigorous patient safety protocols, including infection control, medication safety, and high nurse-to-patient ratios. Patients are also entitled to confidentiality, informed consent, and the right to refuse treatment, aligning with international patient rights standards.

6. Medical Visa Information

Guidelines and requirements.

Canada offers a range of visa options for medical tourists, depending on the duration and purpose of the visit. A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is commonly used for short-term medical treatment.

Duration, Documentation Required, and Application Process

Generally, a TRV allows you to stay in Canada for up to six months. Required documentation typically includes identification, proof of medical appointment, financial solvency, and a letter from your healthcare provider. The application process can take several weeks, so it's advisable to plan well in advance.

Travel-Related Advisories or Restrictions

As with any international travel, it's essential to check for any current advisories or restrictions related to health or security.

7. Cultural Considerations

Local customs and etiquette.

Canadians are known for their politeness and welcoming nature. However, punctuality is highly valued, especially for medical appointments. Always arrive on time.

Language and Prevalence in Medical Institutions

While English and French are the official languages, most medical staff are fluent in English. Interpretation services are commonly available in healthcare settings.

Dietary Considerations or Restrictions

Canadian hospitals offer a variety of dietary options, including vegetarian, halal, and kosher meals, catering to a diverse patient population.

8. Travel & Accommodation

Popular areas to stay.

Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are popular cities with easy access to top medical facilities. Accommodations range from budget hotels to luxury suites.

Proximity to Medical Facilities

In most major cities, medical facilities are centrally located, making it convenient for patients to travel back and forth.

Transportation Facilities and Infrastructure

Canada has a robust public transportation system. Many cities offer public transit that is accessible to people with disabilities.

Recommendations for Post-Procedure Relaxation

Canada's breathtaking landscapes offer excellent opportunities for post-procedure relaxation, from the serene coasts of British Columbia to the tranquil countryside of Quebec.

9. Legal & Ethical Considerations

Legal rights of patients.

Patients have the right to informed consent, confidentiality, and quality care, among other legal protections under Canadian law.

Medical Malpractice Laws and Patient Recourse

Canada has stringent medical malpractice laws. Patients who believe they've received inadequate care have the right to file a complaint or even pursue legal action.

Ethical Considerations

Canada adheres to global ethical guidelines regarding treatments like stem cell research, organ transplantation, and clinical trials.

10. Benefits & Risks

High-quality healthcare, state-of-the-art facilities, and globally recognized medical professionals make Canada a desirable medical tourism destination.

Potential risks include the cost factor for some patients and the relatively colder climate, which may not be suitable for all medical conditions.

11. Post-Procedure Care

Post-operative care.

Canadian healthcare institutions offer thorough post-operative care, including specialized rehabilitation services and follow-up appointments to monitor recovery.

Availability and Quality of Rehabilitation Centers

Top-notch rehabilitation centers are available, specializing in everything from orthopedic recovery to cardiac rehabilitation.

12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Do Canadian Hospitals Accept International Insurance?
• Some do, but it's best to confirm in advance.
• What is the Typical Wait Time for Procedures?
• This varies by procedure and hospital, so it's advisable to consult directly with the healthcare provider.
• Can Family Members Accompany Me?
• Most Canadian visas allow for accompanying family members, but verify the specifics based on your situation.
• Is Emergency Care Available for Medical Tourists?
• Yes, emergency care is available, although it may be costly without proper insurance.

Global Provider Members

English and French

Canadian Dollar

Because of its great latitudinal extent, Canada has a wide variety of climates. Ocean currents play an important role, with both the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Alaska Current in the Pacific affecting climate. Westerly winds, blowing from the sea to the land, are the prevailing air currents in the Pacific and bring coastal British Columbia heavy precipitation and moderate winter and summer temperatures. Inland, the Great Lakes moderate the weather in both southern Ontario and Quebec. In the east, the cold Labrador Current meets the Gulf Stream along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, cooling the air and causing frequent fog.

Facilitators

Ontario, Canada

Manitoba, Canada

British Columbia, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Featured Treatments

MedicalTourism.com

MedicalTourism.com is a free, confidential, independent resource for patients and industry providers. Our mission is to provide a central portal where patients, medical tourism providers, hospitals, clinics, employers, and insurance companies can all find the information they need. Our site focuses on patients looking for specific knowledge in the fields of medical tourism, dental tourism, and health tourism.

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Medical travel in canada, in this article, cra rules on medical travel, medical travel if you travel more than 40 kilometres, medical travel over 80 kilometres in canada and abroad, cra medical travel rates 2023, medical travel rates 2022.

If you need to receive medical care, you may be able to deduct medical travel expenses for your medical mileage. The deductions can represent a big chunk of savings that you can claim at tax time. Here’s an overview of the rules for claiming medical travel from the CRA.

Firstly, you will need proof that you attended the medical service you needed. You can provide receipts for the services you’ve received or a document or letter signed by the provider of the medical service.

You cannot claim medical travel expenses if you travelled less than 40 kilometres in one direction to receive medical attention.

If you travelled more than 40, but less than 80 kilometres one way, you will be able to claim medical travel, and if you travelled more than 80 kilometres, you will be able to claim mileage, as well as accommodation, meal and parking costs.

You will also be able to claim travel expenses if you had to receive medical care outside of Canada.

If a medical practitioner certifies that you needed to be accompanied to receive medical attention, you will be able to claim the expenses of the attendant.

You will only be able to claim medical expenses for which you have not, and will not be reimbursed. If medical reimbursement has been included in your income (ergo, it will be taxed) you will be able to claim your medical travel expenses.

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You will be able to claim medical travel from the CRA such as bus, train and taxi fares, and vehicle mileage (if public transportation is not readily available) if you meet the following conditions:

• You were not able to receive the needed medical care near your home
• You took a reasonable and direct route
• It was reasonable for you to travel to a farther destination in order to receive medical attention.

You can claim medical mileage from the CRA by the detailed or simplified method.

If you use the detailed method, you need to keep all receipts of your medical travel expenses in order to claim them. You are able to deduct all qualified public transport fares, and if you travel with your vehicle - all costs of operating and owning it. These include fuel, oil, insurance, maintenance, depreciation and more.

With the simplified method, you will be able to claim a flat medical mileage rate and you won’t need to keep detailed records. However, the CRA may still ask you to provide documentation to support your medical mileage claim, so we recommend keeping a logbook of your medical travel.

If you need to travel more than 80 kilometres in order to receive medical care, you will be able to claim medical expenses such as bus, train and taxi fares, vehicle mileage (if public transportation is not readily available), meals, parking and accommodation if you meet the following conditions:

Again, you can claim medical travel and other expenses by the detailed or simplified method.

The detailed method of claiming medical travel and other expenses requires you to keep all receipts of your accrued expenses, such as for travel, parking (if applicable), meals and accommodation.

The simplified method lets you use a medical mileage rate and a per-meal rate for your expenses. Keep receipts of your accommodation costs, as there are no flat rates. While you don’t need to keep detailed receipts for medical travel and meals, the CRA may ask for documentation to support your mileage expenses claim.

If you claim medical travel with the flat per-kilometre medical rate, note that there are different rates for each Canadian territory.

Use the medical travel rates above to claim your medical travel expenses for 2023.

Are you claiming work-related mileage besides medical travel expenses? See our CRA mileage guide for all the rules on mileage reimbursement and deductions in Canada.

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Claiming Medical Expense Travel Credits

Canada is vast and some of the most beautiful places in our great country to live are quite remote. One of the drawbacks of living outside a major city center can be that if you need medical care, you may need to travel a long way to get it.  Thankfully, depending upon how far you have to go for your care, the government of Canada may allow you to claim medical expense travel credits.

Many of the expenses that you may incur to travel for medical treatment or expenses that you incur on behalf of your spouse or dependants are tax-deductible.  Eligible expenses may include transportation costs, meals, and accommodation for both the patient and an attendant if required. Let’s explore the allowed eligible expenses and how to claim them .

How Far Do I Need to Have Travelled to be Eligible for Claiming Medical Expense Travel Credits?

Anyone who has had to pay for parking at a hospital knows how expensive it can get. While it would be nice to be able to deduct those expenses , unless you traveled more than 80 km for medical care, your parking expenses aren’t deductible.

To claim transportation and travel expenses with the CRA, the following conditions must be met:

• There were no equivalent medical services near your home
• You took a direct route
• It was reasonable for you, under the circumstances, to travel to the place you did for those medical services

If you traveled at  least 40 km  (one way) to get medical services, you can claim the cost of public transportation (ex. bus, train, or taxi fare). If public transportation isn’t available, you may be able to claim vehicle expenses.

If you traveled  more than 80 km  (one way), you can claim vehicle expenses, accommodation, meals, and parking expenses.

Whether you traveled more than 40km or 80 km, if a medical practitioner has certified that you can’t travel without help, you may also claim the travel expenses you pay for an attendant.

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How are Vehicle Costs Calculated by the CRA?

If driving to get medical care is necessary, you can claim the cost of fuel, oil, license fees, insurance, maintenance, and repairs, including parts . Depreciation, provincial tax, and finance charges are all eligible.

There are two methods to calculate vehicle expenses — the detailed and the simplified method .  If you use the detailed method, keep track of the number of kilometers driven in the 12-month period you choose for medical expenses. Then, calculate the percentage of your total vehicle expenses that relate to the kilometers driven for medical treatment.

For example; if you drove 10,000 km during the year and 5000 of those kilometers were related to medical treatment (more than 40 km away), you can claim half of your total vehicle expenses on your tax return.

If you chose the simplified method, you only need to determine how many km you traveled for medical treatment in the 12-month period. Multiply the km  by the rate for your province . The rates are different for each province or territory, are updated annually, and can be found at the Canada Revenue Agency’s website.

Whether you choose the detailed method or the simplified method, be sure to save all your receipts in case the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) asks to see them later.

How do I Claim Meals?

• You need to have traveled more than 80 km for care to claim meals with the CRA. Just like vehicle costs, you can choose the use the detailed method or the simplified method.
• To use the detailed method, you tally the actual cost of each meal .
• If you choose the simplified method, you may claim up to $17 per meal, up to a maximum of $51 per day , including sales tax.
• Whether you choose the detailed method or the simplified method, be sure to keep those receipts.

What are the Rules for Accommodations?

• To claim accommodations, like meals, you need to have traveled more than 80 km for medical services.
• Accommodation claims are based on your receipts, and only the cost — with taxes — of the stay is eligible . Extra costs like room service, movies, and phone calls are not included.

Travel outside of Canada

Outside of Canada medical expenses may also be eligible. You have to meet all the following conditions:

• practitioners must be authorized in their country of service by law. In the case of hospital stays, the institution must be public or a licensed private hospital.
• the  health care services you receive must not be available in your area, and you must be required to travel to access them .

Travel Companions

If your spouse, your common-law partner, or another individual travels with you, you may be able to include that person’s expenses as part of your medical expense tax credit. To include these expenses, you need to have  a note from your physician or another authorized medical practitioner that certifies that you were unable to travel alone .

If you qualify, you can write off the cost of your travel companion’s transit tickets, accommodation, and meals, depending on how far you have traveled for your medical care.

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Tax tip: what are the qualifications to claim the caregiver amount, tax tip: can i transfer my disability tax credit to my spouse, what is a registered disability savings plan.

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Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Consider hepatitis A vaccination for most travelers. It is recommended for travelers who will be doing higher risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where a traveler might get infected through food or water. It is recommended for travelers who plan on eating street food.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Canada. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Canada.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Canada is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Canada, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the  Department of State Country Information Pages  for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Although Canada is an industrialized country, bug bites here can still spread diseases. Just as you would in the United States, try to avoid bug bites while spending time outside or in wooded areas.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Consider using permethrin-treated clothing and gear if spending a lot of time outside. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Canada include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip:

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in the heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if you are driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately.  Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance for things your regular insurance will not cover.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.
• Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Canada’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Make sure there are seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Canada, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Canada for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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How to claim CRA medical travel expenses for 2023

The costs involved with traveling to receive medical attention can be significant when you factor in accommodation, meals, and related expenses.

Find out how to claim your CRA medical travel expenses.

IMPORTANT: All claims related to Medical Travel require documentation provided by the practitioner confirming your attendance (whether this be a receipt for services, or a letter signed by your service provider).

Claiming Mileage

There are two ways to claim transportation costs as a CRA travel medical expense but you have to travel at least 40 kilometers one way to obtain medical service that were not available locally.

Example: for trips to and from the hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office.

Record the distance of travel, calculate your mileage according to the province in which you reside. (2021 rates):

Example: 55¢ x 160km = $88.00; you may claim $88.00 as an eligible medical expense.

Vehicle expenses may be claimed as CRA medical travel expenses by submitting gas receipts for the date(s) of travel/service.

Claiming Meals, Accommodations and Parking

In addition to the transportation costs above, you may claim reasonable expenses during your trip for medical attention provided that you had to travel more than 80 kilometers to attend your appointment. The travel costs of one accompanying individual are also allowable, if it is deemed necessary to have a companion.

Meals can be claimed one of two ways: 1. Meal receipts can be submitted for reasonable costs for the patient and one attendant (alcoholic beverages will not be reimbursed) OR 2. A flat rate of $23 per meal may be claimed for the patient and one attendant up to a maximum of $69 per day per person.

Accommodations

Receipts must be enclosed for any reasonable accommodation fees that are being claimed (ie: hotel receipt). Coverage applies to the accommodations ONLY; telephone, movie charges and the like are not eligible for reimbursement.

Receipts must be enclosed for any parking lot fees incurred. Please refer to the CRA medical travel expenses website for further details

A farmer lives in rural Alberta. There is not much in the way of medical services, vision care, or therapeutic care, such as physiotherapy, available in this small town.  Consequently, most treatment modalities require travelling to a center that has the appropriate medical facilities. The closest center is 44 kilometers from their home.

On a recent trip, they had chiropractic services performed and managed to visit the dentist for a check-up and teeth cleaning.  They were eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of the travel between their home and where the services took place.

In Alberta, that amounts to 53 cents a kilometer – so they were also able to claim $46.64 for travel expenses (there and back).  An alternative is to submit gas receipts for the dates of travel service.

On occasion, the same farmer requires a medical service that was only available on a timely basis in a major medical facility in the USA. This service was available in Canada but the wait time was over six months and the inconvenience to our customer as a result of their condition necessitated a faster remedy. They chose the US destination for the service.

As the travel distance now exceeded 80 Kilometers, in addition to the travel costs (economy class air fare), our customer can claim reimbursement for meals, accommodations, parking as well as the costs associated with a companion travelling with the patient if deemed necessary. An eligible travel expense claim of this magnitude represents a significant savings. 

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■  Safety of care:

When canadian patients travel abroad for care.

Medical tourism offers alternatives for patients, but not without potential risks for themselves and their Canadian physicians.

Published: July 2023 The information in this article was correct at the time of publishing

Why do Canadians seek care abroad?

Medical tourism refers to patients travelling abroad to obtain medical services. Canadians may engage in medical tourism as an alternative to lengthy wait lists, or to obtain treatment that may not be covered by their provincial or territorial health plan, or to undergo procedures that may be unavailable domestically. Patients may choose to travel abroad for a wide range of medical services including cosmetic procedures, diagnostic examinations, organ transplants, in vitro fertilization, cancer and neurologic therapies, and bariatric surgery. 1

Medical tourism can have an impact on patient safety. It may also raise potential medico-legal issues for Canadian physicians and bring unexpected challenges when patients return to Canada for follow-up care.

Before the patient travels

Physicians should respect patients’ autonomy in seeking out-of-country procedures and other decisions regarding their healthcare. When there is an existing doctor-patient relationship, the physician is obligated to provide reasonable care, irrespective of where the patient intends to seek the treatment or has previously received treatment.

If a patient chooses a treatment that will be administered outside of Canada or requests a referral to an out-of-country specialist, consider the following:

• If you feel you do not have the knowledge to provide an opinion on a particular treatment, or you are unfamiliar with a specific physician or facility providing the desired service, inform the patient that you do not have sufficient information to recommend the service. It is then up to the patient to investigate and arrange for the treatment.
• Continue to advocate for the patient and be cooperative with the out-of-country care providers to help ensure a smooth handover and continuous care of the patient. This includes providing pertinent information in the patient’s medical record to the patient. This information may be communicated in the form of a letter summarizing the patient’s condition, which the patient may deliver to the out-of-country care providers as they see fit.
• Discuss with the patient ways in which they can reduce the health risks of receiving medical care abroad, such as getting vaccinated before travelling, or allowing sufficient recovery time before the patient makes the trip back home.
• Document your discussions concerning the nature, benefits, and risks of out-of-country medical services in the patient’s medical record.

If you are involved with a patient who seeks out-of-country care, this may create a duty of care and thus include you in the coordination of care. If the patient experiences poor health outcomes as a result of the treatment, you may be exposed to the risk of a legal action being brought outside of Canada. This could raise questions about your eligibility for CMPA assistance. Owing to the way the CMPA is structured, the CMPA does not generally assist with legal actions commenced outside of Canada.

After the patient returns home

Patients who return home following out-of-country procedures are likely to seek continued care from their Canadian physicians. The goal remains to provide continuity of care to the extent possible. Existing doctor-patient relationships generally remain in place, together with the duty of care that obliges physicians to appropriately treat patients in accordance with accepted standards of practice in Canada.

After the patient returns to Canada:

• It is appropriate for you to request that the patient provides you with information about the out-of-country medical care, including from the medical record of the care provider in the other country. Such information can assist in providing follow-up care.
• Continue to use reasonable care and diligence in treating the patient within the limits of your knowledge and resources.
• “When patients make special requests, how should you respond?”
• “Helping patients make informed decisions”
• “Providing your professional opinion concerning patients outside Canada”
• 1.  This article is intended to address situations where a patient chooses to pursue care outside of Canada. This must be distinguished from situations where a provincial/territorial government requires a patient to be sent outside of Canada for care that cannot be provided in Canada (often owing to a lack of resources). Members are encouraged to contact the CMPA for advice in these latter situations.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this learning material is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific professional medical or legal advice, nor to constitute a "standard of care" for Canadian healthcare professionals. The use of CMPA learning resources is subject to the foregoing as well as the CMPA's Terms of Use .

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Making Canada a Destination for Medical Tourists: Why Canadian Provinces Should Not Try to Become “Mayo Clinics of the North”

Faire du canada une destination pour le tourisme médical : pourquoi les provinces canadiennes ne doivent pas tenter de devenir les «cliniques mayos du nord», leigh turner.

Associate Professor, Center for Bioethics, School of Public Health & College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

When Canadian researchers examine the subject of medical tourism, they typically focus on ethical, social, public health and health policy issues related to Canadians seeking health services in other countries. They emphasize study of Canada as a departure point for medical tourists rather than as a potential destination for international patients. Several influential voices have recently argued that provincial healthcare systems in Canada should market health services to international patients. Proponents of marketing Canada as a destination for medical tourists argue that attracting international patients will generate revenue for provincial healthcare systems. Responding to such proposals, I argue that there are at least seven reasons why provincial health systems in Canada should not dedicate institutional, financial and health human resources to promoting themselves as destinations for medical tourists.

Quand les chercheurs canadiens se penchent sur la question du tourisme médical, ils s'intéressent habituellement aux enjeux éthiques, sociaux, de santé publique et de politiques de santé liés aux Canadiens qui veulent obtenir des services de santé dans d'autres pays. Ils mettent l'accent sur le Canada comme point de départ pour le tourisme médical plutôt que comme destination potentielle pour les patients étrangers. Plusieurs voix influentes ont récemment affirmé que les systèmes de santé provinciaux canadiens devraient mettre les services de santé sur le marché des patients étrangers. Les promoteurs de la mise en marché du Canada comme destination pour le tourisme médical affirment que la présence de patients étrangers engendrera des recettes pour les systèmes de santé provinciaux. En réponse à de tels arguments, je stipule qu'il y a au moins sept raisons pour lesquelles les systèmes de santé provinciaux au Canada ne devraient pas consacrer des ressources institutionnelles, financières et humaines pour se proposer comme destination pour le tourisme médical.

During his time as British Columbia's minister of health services, Kevin Falcon, currently that province's deputy premier and minister of finance, asked, “Why can't British Columbia be the Mayo Clinic of the North?” ( Fowlie 2010 ). Falcon proposed attracting patients from the United States and elsewhere and using the money these people spent on health services as revenue for British Columbia's health system. He speculated about the possibility of charging international patients four to five times the cost of treating them ( MacLeod 2010 ). Falcon claimed that international patients would not receive priority treatment before Canadians. Rather, he stated that medical tourists would take advantage of “unused capacity” by having surgery on evenings and weekends ( Fayerman 2010 ). Falcon is not the first public figure to propose that Canadian healthcare facilities should position themselves as destinations for international patients. Brian Day, former president of the Canadian Medical Association and one of Canada's most outspoken advocates for an expanded for-profit, private healthcare sector, has for several years argued that Canada should profit from selling health services to foreign patients ( Hall 2007 ). In 1993, Dennis Timbrell, at the time president of the Ontario Hospital Association, proposed attracting international patients to Ontario hospitals and using the money they paid to keep healthcare professionals employed and hospital units open ( Priest 2008 ). More recently, the business consulting firm Deloitte ( Purdy and Fam 2011 ) issued a report proposing that Canadian provinces promote both medical travel to healthcare facilities outside Canada and inbound medical tourism to Canadian hospitals and clinics. Deloitte's proposal attracted coverage by national news media. Canadian interest in marketing health services is part of a larger global trend in which countries as diverse as Barbados, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea promote medical tourism initiatives as a vehicle for promoting economic and social development and generating revenue that can be used to subsidize publicly funded healthcare ( Connell 2006 ; Turner 2007a , b ).

Thus far, researchers addressing medical tourism in a Canadian context have focused upon Canada as a point of departure for medical travel ( Crooks and Snyder 2011 ; Turner 2007a , b ). Addressing such topics as information disclosure and informed consent, quality of care and patient safety, continuity of care, roles and responsibilities of Canadian medical tourism facilitators and financial burden of treating medical tourists who return home with post-operative complications requiring costly treatment by publicly funded Canadian medical facilities, health researchers have explored ethical issues and risks facing Canadians engaging in medical tourism and going abroad to healthcare facilities situated in such countries as Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand ( Penney et al. 2011 ; Snyder et al. 2011 ; Turner 2007a , b ). To date, bioethicists, health policy specialists and public health researchers have not examined and addressed recent proposals to make Canadian provinces destinations for medical tourists. Positioning provincial healthcare systems and particular healthcare facilities as destinations for international patients raises numerous ethical issues and prompts concerns about health equity, optimal allocation of health human resources and the possibility that increased medical tourism to Canada might lead to significant expansion of for-profit, privatized healthcare in Canada.

Promoting Canada as a Medical Tourism Destination

Before identifying risks associated with attempting to position Canadian provinces as destinations for medical tourists, I should note that there are numerous instances when treating patients from outside Canada is both justifiable and commendable for Canadian healthcare facilities. For example, Canada has several outstanding paediatric care facilities, and there are compelling humanitarian reasons for providing care to children who come to Canada for specialized treatment that they cannot obtain in their local communities. However, providing humanitarian care or treating individuals from elsewhere who fall ill or are injured while visiting Canada is different from attempting to develop a large for-profit medical tourism industry that markets health services to international patients. Here, I present seven reasons why provincial healthcare systems in Canada should not attempt to sell health services to medical tourists.

1. Shift Toward for-Profit, Privatized Health Services

Positioning Canadian provinces as destinations for significant numbers of international patients is likely to lead to a greatly expanded role for private, for-profit healthcare in Canada. Canada's publicly funded system of universal access to healthcare, a system in which all Canadians have access to medically necessary health services regardless of personal wealth or social status, is based upon the principle that all Canadians have an equal right to medically necessary care. Personal wealth is not used to determine who obtains access to treatment or goes to the front of the line for care. Establishing a sizeable marketplace for health services risks redrawing the line between publicly funded healthcare and for-profit, privatized medicine in Canada and would constitute a major shift in how healthcare is delivered in Canada. Creating a for-profit healthcare sector that caters to international patients paying out of pocket for medical procedures and excludes Canadians who also wish to pay for whatever health services they seek seems unlikely. It is therefore important to understand the full significance of promoting Canadian healthcare facilities as destinations for international patients paying for care. If Canadian provinces try to attract large numbers of medical tourists purchasing medical care, Canadians with sufficient financial resources will likely insist that they, too, should be able to purchase what at present are publicly funded health services.

Advocates of an expanded for-profit healthcare sector within Canada understand that attracting international patients who pay for treatment in Canada can then be used to justify why Canadians with substantial financial resources should be allowed to purchase expedited access to medically necessary care. Responding to Falcon's proposal to make British Columbia a destination for medical tourists, Mark Godley, owner of one of British Columbia's private surgery centres stated, “I hope for the sake of all of us that his idea does fly” ( Fayerman 2010 ). He added, “It will be virtually impossible to prevent a mixed private/public model in the event that Americans come here for health care.” Citizens and health policy makers who are not driven by the notion that health services are best provided through market mechanisms need to understand that promoting medical tourism to Canada is a strategy that risks functioning as a “Trojan horse” within Canada's publicly funded provincial health systems.

2. Allocating “Unused Capacity” to Medical Tourists Rather Than Addressing Health Needs of Canadians

Many hospitals in Canada have “unused capacity” because of provincial resource allocation decisions that, for financial reasons, limit access to some health services. Unused operating rooms could be utilized to treat wait-listed Canadians rather than paying, international patients. While queues persist for such treatments as bariatric surgery, hip and knee replacements, and coronary artery bypass grafts, if medical tourists seeking these surgical interventions were to receive immediate treatment, there is reason to fear that they could jump to the front of the line while Canadians are left waiting for care in the very hospitals their tax dollars built. Delays that Canadians face in obtaining access to various health services constitute a major barrier to positioning Canadian healthcare facilities as destinations for international patients. At the time when Falcon first proposed taking advantage of “unused capacity” to make British Columbia a destination for medical tourists, over 72,500 British Columbians were wait-listed for treatment ( BC Ministry of Health Services Wait Times Registry 2010 ). Countries with significant wait times for many medically necessary medical procedures are not well positioned to market health services to international patients seeking these same interventions. Providing such treatments to international patients could further increase wait times in Canada and, ironically, have the practical effect of forcing more Canadians to consider going abroad for medical treatment. Rather than determining how to market medical procedures to US residents and other international patients, politicians and provincial health planners should instead direct their attention towards ensuring that the health needs of Canadians are addressed in a timely manner. “Unused capacity” should be used to reduce wait times in Canada.

3. Marketing Medical Tourism Is a Poor Use of Public Resources

Although advocates of national and regional medical tourism initiatives portray medical tourism as a profitable revenue stream, it could easily become a financial sinkhole in which public funds are wasted on expensive marketing campaigns or, as has happened in India, are captured by corporations ( Thomas and Krishnan 2010 ). Proponents of the economic potential of medical tourism strategies make unsubstantiated claims about the number of Americans seeking medical care outside the United States. For example, Kevin Falcon states, “We know that every year several hundred thousand Americans travel outside of America and spend billions of dollars on their health care” ( Fowlie 2010 ). Brian Day (2009a , b ) often mentions a number from a 2008 report by Deloitte claiming that an estimated 750,000 Americans went abroad for medical care in 2007, with the number of US medical tourists expected to climb to six million in 2010 ( Keckley and Underwood 2008 ). A review of the report's sources reveals that these claims are baseless. The numbers are taken from an editorial that was posted to the website of India Daily ( Baliga 2006 ) and not based upon any research or data concerning the actual number of Americans going abroad for medical care. Policy making and health system planning need to be based upon accurate data rather than numbers not obtained through credible research methods. Researchers using survey findings, as well as data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and the International Trade Administration, estimate that between 50,000 to 121,000 US residents sought healthcare outside the United States in 2007 ( Johnson and Garman 2010 ). Some of the outbound medical travel from the United States is from southern states to Mexican cities and towns located near the US–Mexico border ( Judkins 2007 ). There is little reason to think that Canadian healthcare facilities, because of their geographic distance from the southern United States and the price structures they would likely use, can capture this low- and middle-income market of largely uninsured Americans travelling a short distance to Mexico for inexpensive medications, dental care and other out-of-pocket services.

4. Promotion of Medical Consumerism and Commercialization of Healthcare

Proponents of making Canada a destination for medical tourists appear unfamiliar with many of the procedures routinely marketed to international patients. Web searches for medical tourism generate ads for such procedures as “mommy makeovers,” “bridal surgery specials,” “designer vaginas,” commercial surrogacy, “lipotourism,” commercial kidney transplants and stem-cell “therapies” that have no scientific basis. While travel for medical care includes journeys for mainstream, legitimate, medically justified procedures such as orthopaedic procedures and dental surgery, part of the marketplace for medical tourism involves provision of procedures that are unproven or unethical, or are driven more by medical consumerism than medical necessity. Acknowledging that many medical tourists require mainstream medical procedures, Canada does not have an oversupply of healthcare professionals available to treat patients requiring orthopaedic surgery, cardiac procedures and numerous other interventions sought by medical tourists. Promoting Canadian provincial health systems as destinations for medical tourists could have unexpected effects upon the practice of medicine, the relationship of patients to healthcare professionals and the delivery of health services.

5. Competition in the Global Health Services Marketplace

There is reason to wonder how effectively healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities in Canada can compete on the basis of price within the global marketplace for health services. Price differentials are not the only motivation for medical tourism. Insofar as the cost of treatment matters to international patients, it is unclear how effectively Canadian hospitals and clinics can compete at the least expensive end of the marketplace. India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam dominate the market for inexpensive, out-of-pocket medical care. In India, for example, a coronary artery bypass graft is available for less than $10,000 ( Milstein and Smith 2007 ). Within North America, it appears that bariatric surgery and other procedures can be obtained in Mexico at lower prices than can be found at medical facilities in Canada and the US. In the United States, brand-name facilities such as the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center occupy the niche for medical care where price is not a determining factor when deciding where to receive care. Canadian provincial healthcare systems can attempt to compete for a mid-market share or perhaps attempt to compete for clients on the basis of factors other than cost of care, but they will find that hospitals and clinics located all over the world are competing for the same customers. Aside from well-known destinations in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, countries in such regions as the Caribbean and the Middle East have entered the global health services marketplace. To compete for customers, any clinic, hospital, province or country now entering the global marketplace for health services will need to have a substantial marketing budget. The investment needed to position Canada as a destination for medical tourists could be better spent by helping Canadians gain improved access to health services within Canada.

6. Medical Tourism, Continuity of Care and Patient Safety

Despite marketing claims touting the benefits of medical tourism, it is reasonable to ask how well medical tourism goes with good medical care. Patients who travel long distances shortly before or after surgery appear to be at increased risk for deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms ( Handschin et al. 2007 ; Gajic et al. 2005 ). Humans are not made of Lego bricks. Surgery involves more than simply popping knees and hips from patients, inserting replacement parts and waving bon voyage . Before surgery, physicians need to meet with patients, review their records, determine whether intervention is justified, discuss risks, benefits and alternatives to treatment, organize physiotherapy and establish plans for post-operative care. Follow-up care requires additional appointments and treating complications. Some patients who travel to international medical facilities return home with serious complications and no plans for post-operative treatment ( Jeevan and Armstrong 2008 ; Cheung and Wilson 2007 ). Domestic healthcare providers in home communities of medical tourists must then assume the financial burden of providing publicly funded healthcare to treat post-operative complications ( J. Birch et al. 2007 ; D. Birch et al. 2010 ). In many respects, it is very difficult to transform competent, professional medical care into a globe-spanning activity. Rather, medical care is a continuum and not just a discrete episode in the operating room. Promoting medical tourism to Canada risks building health policy on a questionable model of healthcare and a highly circumscribed notion of the patient–physician relationship.

7. Health Equity Matters

Finally, in a country that uses provincial healthcare systems and various social welfare programs to promote health equity, asking why British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and other Canadian provinces cannot become the Mayo Clinic of the North is in many respects to pose the wrong question. The Mayo Clinic has many commendable attributes, but it is not and has never been responsible for promoting equitable access to care ( MacGillis 2009 ; MacGillis and Stein 2009 ). Providing equality of access to care is a key feature of the Canada Health Act and an important component in the lives of every Canadian who obtains publicly funded access to medically necessary health services and does not have to worry about choosing between treatment and medical debt or bankruptcy. The Mayo Clinic accepts Medicaid patients from just five states; Medicaid patients from other states are not treated except in emergency services ( MacGillis 2009 ). Regarding such an institution as an unquestioned model of healthcare delivery and a beacon for what Canadian provincial healthcare systems and hospitals should become represents a departure from the understanding that all Canadians get access to care and that no one – local citizen or international customer – gets special treatment or goes to the front of the line based upon gold-plated health insurance plans or capacity to pay for treatment.

Promoting medical tourism to Canada – if current proposals gain traction and there is an effort to transform them into public policies – would constitute a significant shift towards the expansion of for-profit healthcare for both Canadians and international patients. American patients, as well as residents of other countries, are unlikely to serve as a reliable revenue stream for funding Canadian healthcare. Whatever challenges face provincial health systems in Canada, solutions are unlikely to emerge from attempting to become the Mayo Clinics of the North. Canadians should tell their elected representatives to “Hold the Mayo” and not waste public resources on efforts to attract international patients to provincial healthcare systems that already face many challenges in providing Canadians with timely access to medically necessary care.

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• Travel Insurance

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Why Travel Medical Insurance Is Essential

Updated: May 24, 2023, 6:18am

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What Is Travel Medical Insurance?

What are the different types of travel medical insurance policies, getting to a better location, what’s not covered by travel medical insurance, who needs travel medical insurance, how do i purchase travel medical insurance, how much does travel medical insurance cost, how much travel medical insurance should you have, why travel medical insurance is essential faqs.

No one wants to get sick while on vacation, and an illness or injury can be devastating during a trip.

Travel medical insurance is designed to help in these cases. It’s especially important if you’re travelling outside the country, where your provincial health plan may have limited or no coverage.

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Emergency medical

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Travel medical insurance pays for emergency medical expenses during a trip. If you are travelling and have an unexpected illness, injury or medical condition that’s covered by your travel medical insurance, the plan will reimburse you, up to the plan limits.

Travel medical insurance pays “reasonable and customary” charges for bills such as:

• Ambulance service
• Doctor bills
• Hospital and operating room charges.
• X-rays, examinations, treatments, lab tests and anesthetics.
• Drugs and medicines.
• Dental care, but check for special limits on the dental payout, such as $2,000 or $4,000.

Generally, there are two forms of travel medical insurance:

• Stand-alone medical insurance plans: These plans cover emergency medical and dental expenses you incur while travelling. However, a stand-alone medical plan doesn’t include other travel insurance coverage, such as trip cancellation insurance or baggage coverage.
• As part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan: In addition to emergency medical benefits, a comprehensive travel insurance plan can package coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage loss and more. It’s the best way to cover a host of potential problems.

Travel medical insurance is for medical emergencies while travelling, like a sprained ankle while sightseeing. It does not cover non-emergency or elective procedures, such as an experimental medical treatment overseas.

When you’re buying travel medical insurance, it’s important to know the difference between coverage types.

Single-trip vs. Multi-trip

How often you travel in a calendar year could be the deciding factor between these two coverage types. Here’s the difference between the two.

• Single-trip coverage:  Single trip coverage begins when you leave your home and travel to your destination (or destinations) and ends when you return home. The plan covers you for the duration of your trip. For example, you could purchase a single-trip plan for a four week European vacation where you visit several different countries.
• Multi-trip coverage: Also known as annual travel insurance, this covers you for a calendar year and is good for travellers who take three or more trips per year. For example, you could take a trip to Italy, come home for several weeks, then travel to Germany, come home, then take off to Mexico.

Top-Up Medical Coverage

Say that your credit card provides 14 days of travel insurance, but your trip is 32 days long. Or that you originally planned to be away for 30 days, but then you decide to stay another two weeks. Some insurers allow you to “top up” your coverage for those additional days. Typically, there are conditions for buying Top-Up Medical coverage, namely:

• Your original insurance policy is still active.
• There are no changes to your health or medical condition since you first bought the policy.
• You haven’t made any claims.

Most travel plans include emergency medical evacuation as part of their medical coverage insurance. This pays for you to get to the nearest adequate medical facility, or even back home, depending on your condition. If you’re vacationing in a remote part of the world, this would be essential coverage to have.

Be aware of your travel insurance policy’s rules for evacuation. For example, most insurers require pre-approval for any medical evacuation. For example, Blue Cross will exclude any costs over $10,000 for emergency air evacuation to the nearest medical facility if the transfer was not pre-authorized and arranged by the insurer.

What’s covered and excluded by a travel medical insurance plan will depend on the travel insurance company. Here are some common exclusions.

Pre-existing conditions

How pre-existing conditions are covered will vary by travel insurance company, and one insurer might define a “pre-existing condition” differently than the next. Some insurance companies will take a look at your past medical history to determine if a condition was present during a period that could range from 90 days to one year ago, depending on the policy.

Your travel insurer will requires you to meet certain requirements before it will cover expenses due to a pre-existing medical condition. For example, Blue Cross will not pay out due to a pre-existing medical condition for anyone aged 54 and under who during the three months preceding the effective date of insurance coverage had:

• Any medical condition that is not stable (and each insurer has its own definition of “stable”).
• Any heart condition for which you have used nitroglycerine more than once in a seven-day period for chest pain.
• Any pulmonary condition for which you have been treated with home oxygen.

If you have a pre-existing condition, it’s critical to read the policy exclusions very carefully.

Intoxication and drug use

Travel medical insurance typically won’t cover emergency medical costs due to intoxication or drug use. For example, if you become intoxicated and fall off a balcony, your travel medical insurance won’t cover the cost of your injuries.

Dangerous activities

Some travel medical insurance policies won’t cover expenses that resulted from activities such as mountain climbing, skydiving or parasailing. If you plan to engage in activities like this, work with a travel insurance agent to compare adventure travel insurance plans to make sure your particular activities will be covered.

Other exclusions

Other typical exclusions to travel medical insurance include:

• Routine medical examinations, such as vaccinations or immunizations.
• Obesity or weight modification, such as intestinal bypass surgery.
• Cosmetic surgery
• Organ or tissue transplants.
• Corrective devices and medical appliances, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Pregnancy, childbirth or related complications.

Even travellers in good health should have some form of travel medical insurance if they’re going outside Canada. (Some insurers, such as RBC Insurance, even offer Travel Within Canada packages.) According to Allianz Travel, the most common overseas medical emergencies their policyholders experience include:

• Fractures from falls.
• Cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.
• Trauma from a motor vehicle accident.
• Pulmonary or respiratory problems, such as a collapsed lung.

If you don’t have the right coverage in place and you get injured or sick on your trip, you’ll be stuck paying medical bills out-of-pocket.

Senior travellers, especially, should make sure to have good medical benefits when travelling abroad.

While your provincial plan may provide some out of country coverage, the reimbursement amounts may be limited. For example, your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) will only pay up to $400 per day for services provided in an operating room, coronary care unit, intensive care unit or neonatal or pediatric special care unit, and $200 per day for lower levels of care.

Before you buy a travel insurance policy, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Most travel insurance companies offer free quotes on their website. You can save time by visiting an insurance comparison website that compares quotes from multiple companies.

But price shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. The best travel insurance companies offer a solid range of coverage options at a fair price.

How much you pay for travel medical insurance depends on four primary factors:

• Trip duration
• Destination
• Coverage limit and deductible.

Keep in mind that travel medical insurance can also be part of or added to a comprehensive travel plan that includes other types of coverage, like trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance. The average cost of a comprehensive travel insurance plan will vary based on the cost of your trip, duration of trip, plan benefits selected and your age.

Common travel medical insurance coverage amounts are $5 million and $10 million, though RBC Travel Insurance offers unlimited.

It’s a good idea to select a plan with enough coverage based upon the type of trip you’re taking. For example, emergency medical evacuation from a cruise ship can start at $100,000.

If you’ve booked a trip with a tour operator, you may require a minimum amount of emergency medical and emergency medical evacuation insurance. For example, travellers booked with Adventure Canada require a minimum of $500,000 USD coverage person.

Do I need travel insurance if I already have health insurance?

If you are travelling outside of  Canada, consider buying travel medical insurance even with your provincial-based health plan. Many health plans won’t cover you outside of Canada or provide only limited global coverage. If you get sick or injured, you could be stuck paying for your medical expenses out-of-pocket.

How do I use travel medical insurance abroad?

If you have a medical emergency while travelling abroad, contact your travel insurance company for assistance. Travel insurance companies offer 24/7 global assistance hotlines to help travellers in emergencies, including coordinating medical treatment, language translation and arranging for transportation. Most travel insurers will not extend full coverage if you do not contact them before seeking medical attention. If you are unable to do so on your own, it’s important to have someone else act on your behalf.

Should I buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy or a stand-alone travel health plan?

If you want coverage for problems such as trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption and lost baggage, then look at comprehensive travel insurance plans.

If you only need travel medical coverage, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on coverage you won’t use and you can focus on medical-only plans.

Is travel health insurance ever required?

Some countries require travellers to provide proof of medical coverage before being granted entry, though this practice was much more prevalent during the height of the pandemic. Always check a country’s entry requirements before heading to the airport.

If your trip includes an organized tour, it’s a good idea to check with the tour operator to determine if they have any specific insurance requirements. And if you’re booked on a cruise, travel medical insurance is a must.

Does travel medical insurance cover COVID-19?

There are many travel medical plans available that include COVID-related medical expenses, and some, such as CIBC’s Travel Medical Insurance for COVID, are specifically designed to cover medical expenses related to treatment if you test positive during your trip. But since not all do, it’s important to verify COVID coverage before buying a plan if it’s a priority for you.

COVID medical coverage will typically fall under the limits of your plan’s travel medical insurance. It can cover any medical costs associated with contracting COVID during your trip, including doctor bills, medication and hospitalization.

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Ashley is a personal finance writer and content creator. In addition to being a contributing writer at Forbes, she writes for solo entrepreneurs as well as for Fortune 500 companies. Through her financial expertise, she provides millennials and young professionals the tools and resources they need to better manage their finances.

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Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care

This information is for people planning to travel outside Canada to have a medical procedure.

If you’re travelling for other reasons and have a medical emergency, consult the following:

If you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada or after your return

On this page

Medical tourism, health risks, financial risks.

• Planning your procedure

During travel

Returning home.

Medical tourism is the term used when travellers go to another country for medical treatment. This can be for surgical and medical treatments or procedures, including cosmetic and dental.

You may choose to go to other countries for reasons such as:

• lower costs for treatment
• quicker access to medical services
• medical care not available in Canada
• recommendations from friends and family
• preference to receive care from a culturally similar provider
• opportunity to combine medical care with vacation destination

While most procedures go as planned, there can be serious complications. If you choose medical tourism, discuss your plans with a travel health clinic or your health care provider in Canada first.

You should also:

• only use trusted health care providers
• research the facility where the procedure will take place
• buy comprehensive health insurance that covers medical procedures in other countries
• Travel insurance

All medical and surgical procedures involve some risk to the patient. These risks may be higher in hospitals outside Canada, depending on where you choose to travel.

General complications

There have been reports of serious illness or complications from medical care received in health care facilities outside of Canada. These can include bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

If you become ill after your procedure, health care providers in Canada may not have enough information to properly assess and treat you.

Language barriers can also lead to misunderstandings about your medical care, including proper aftercare.

Flying soon after surgery may also increase your risk of complications, including:

• blood clots in the legs
• blood clots in the lungs
• air becoming trapped in a blood vessel post operation

Different standards and risk of infection

Hospital or medical clinic accreditation standards may be different from those in Canada.

Licensing standards may differ for:

• pharmacists

Some countries use different standards for regulating drugs.

Medication outside of Canada may be:

• counterfeit
• poor quality
• outdated or damaged
• unsafe, toxic or untested
• ineffective or watered down

Infection prevention and control procedures in medical facilities may also be different, which could lead to a higher risk of complications.

Standards for screening blood products or sterilizing medical equipment may be different than in Canada.

This could increase your risk of infections like:

• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• drug-resistant infections

Safety concerns

You may be pressured into undergoing procedures you don’t fully understand or consent to. If something goes wrong, your options for legal action may be limited.

Some international businesses pay people from developing countries to donate their organs. Organs may also be harvested from vulnerable people (like prisoners) without their consent. As such, the safety of these organs or the surgical procedures used to transplant them may not meet Canadian standards.

You may be seeking treatment outside of Canada to save money. However, complications or unplanned aftercare could result in greater costs to you than having the same procedure in Canada.

Your provincial or territorial health plan may not cover your expenses if you develop complications in the country where you’re having the procedure. Most travel insurance policies also won’t cover planned medical procedures in another country.

Learn more about:

Planning for your procedure

When planning your procedure, be wary of:

• people pressuring you into making a quick decision
• this includes claims that the procedure is of lower risk than what’s reported in Canada
• companies selling packages that include a holiday as well as the treatment

You should also be cautious if:

• there’s little information about the health care team available
• you have no opportunity to consult the physician before treatment

Talk to a health care provider in Canada

Before you decide to have a medical procedure done in another country, talk to a health care provider in Canada.

You should discuss if:

• you’re healthy enough to travel
• air travel is a risk after the procedure
• your routine vaccinations are up to date
• you need any other vaccinations before you travel
• any ongoing medical conditions are well controlled and stable
• you have enough required medication for the length of your trip

You should also talk about:

• whether you’ll need a follow-up consultation
• making a medical recovery plan when you return to Canada

Even if you don’t discuss it with a health care provider, you should make a plan for your aftercare in Canada.

• Travel vaccinations

Consult with the health care provider who will do your procedure at your destination to discuss the specific risks. Find out what legal rights you have if something goes wrong.

Check the credentials of anyone who will be providing medical care. Most countries publish this information on an official government website.

Research the facility where your procedure will be performed. Do not go to an unofficial medical facility. Find out whether the facility is accredited by the country’s state or federal body responsible for regulating health care.

Calculate all costs, including for emergencies. For example, an unexpected medical evacuation back to Canada if a procedure goes wrong or there are complications.

Read the travel advice and advisories for your destination to find out:

• about health risks
• advice to protect your health
• about medical services and facilities

Travel advice and advisories

Preparing to travel

Get written agreements with the health care providers or medical tourism group arranging your trip that fully outline what your fees cover, including:

Bring copies of your medical records, including:

• known allergies
• pre-existing conditions
• generic name
• manufacturer

You may need to have your records translated into another language before you go.

• pack essential items in a travel health kit
• consult with your airline about rules for travelling after a medical procedure
• plan how you’ll communicate with your health care providers if you don’t speak their language

Travel health kit

When you arrive:

• ask to see the clinic or hospital where the treatment will take place
• have a medical consultation before your procedure
• check that your health care provider has prescribed you with appropriate medication, including pain relief

If you have any concerns, do not proceed with the treatment.

Get copies of all medical records related to your procedure before departure, including X-rays and scans. This is important for follow-up care and if there are complications after you return home.

Review everything with a health care provider when you return to Canada, including:

• the results of medical tests
• descriptions of the procedures you had
• information about the medications you received

You may need to translate this information into English or French.

Monitor your health, especially if you have a chronic illness.

This includes conditions such as:

• respiratory disease
• cardiovascular disease

See a health care provider immediately if you notice any changes in your condition or signs of infection after you return, such as:

• swelling at the surgical site

If you had injections or blood transfusions while you were in another country, discuss blood testing with a health care provider. A test will look for infections transmitted by blood.

Tell any health care provider you consult for at least 12 months after you return that you have received medical treatment outside of Canada.

Related links

• Well on Your Way: A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad
• Travel health information

Other resources

• Transplant tourism (BC Renal)
• Declaration of Istanbul on organ trafficking and transplant tourism (International Society of Nephrology)
• Travelling for treatment: Medical tourism (Travel Health Pro)
• Medical tourism: Travel to another country for medical care (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

For Members

Find a plan, advice center, common questions, visitors to canada.

Emergency health coverage for tourists, workers, new immigrants and students.

Buy Now Make a Claim

Be ready for Canada

Arriving in a new country can be as daunting as it is exciting. To prevent any unnecessary anxiety, Pacific Blue Cross offers a Visitors to Canada Travel plan to ensure that your stay here is worry-free.

Our Visitors to Canada Travel plan provides protection against the high cost of emergency medical care for foreign visitors entering Canada for pleasure or business reasons, for foreign students, for immigrants or foreign workers entering Canada to lawfully seek permanent residence.

When this coverage is purchased prior to arrival in Canada, coverage becomes effective on the day you arrive. The plan is also available for purchase within 30 days of arrival, and coverage commences 72 hours following the date of application.

For returning Canadians awaiting eligibility for the Government health insurance plan to begin.

Pacific Blue Cross has you covered.

What coverage is available?

When Visitors to Canada coverage is purchased prior to arrival in Canada, coverage becomes effective on the day you arrive. The plan is also available for purchase within 30 days of arrival, and coverage commences 72 hours following the date of application.

Our Visitors to Canada travel plan covers costs related to emergency medical care resulting from an accident or sudden illness. The plan pays for expenses necessary for the stabilization of the medical condition that are over and above any benefits granted by the government programs of the person's country of residence.

Plan Highlights:

Hospitalization, medical and paramedical expenses.

• Hospitalization:   Hospitalization expenses for ward accommodation. Semiprivate or private accommodation are not covered.
• Physician fees:   The medical and surgical charges for the services of a physician, surgeon or anesthetist, up to the amount payable under the government fee schedule in the area where services are rendered.
• Medical appliances:   The purchase or rental cost of crutches, canes or splints, and the rental cost of wheelchairs, orthopedic corsets and other medical appliances when prescribed by the attending physician.
• The fees of a registered nurse (other than a relative) for private care while hospitalized and when medically necessary and prescribed by the attending physician.
• Diagnostic services:   The charges for laboratory tests and x-rays when prescribed by the attending physician.
• Drugs (when required as part of emergency treatment):   The cost of drugs requiring a physician's prescription, except when they are required for the continued stabilization of a chronic medical condition.
• Accidental Dental Care:   The fees of dental surgeons for treatment necessitated by an external injury (not as a result of deliberate introduction of food or an object into the mouth), only when natural and healthy teeth, which have had no previous treatment, are damaged, or to reduce a fracture or dislocation of the jaw.

Transportation Expenses

The following services must be approved and planned by Medi-Assist.

• Ambulance service:   We cover the cost of local ambulance or air ambulance service to the nearest accredited medical facility, including inter-Hospital transfer when the attending physician and Medi-Assist determine that existing facilities are inadequate to treat or stabilize the patient's condition.
• Repatriation to the residence:   Covers the cost of repatriation to your country of residence by means of appropriate transportation in order to receive immediate medical attention, following the authorization of the attending physician and Medi-Assist.
• Return of the vehicle:   We;ll cover the cost of returning a your vehicle, either private or rental, by a commercial agency or by any person authorized by Medi-Assist to your residence or nearest appropriate vehicle rental agency, when you are unable to return the vehicle due to Illness or accident.
• Return of the deceased:   The plan pays up to $5,000 for the cost of preparation and transportation of the deceased person (excluding the cost of a coffin) to the place of residence, or up to $3,000 for the cost of cremation or burial at the place of death.
• Subsistence allowance:   Covers up to $1,000 ($100 per day for a maximum of 10 days) for the cost of accommodation and meals in a commercial establishment, when a Covered person's return must be delayed due to Illness or bodily injury to himself or to an accompanying Member of the immediate family of the Covered person or Traveling companion.

Failure to contact Medi-Assist in the event of medical consultation or hospitalization following an accident or sudden Illness could result in refusal of the compensation requested.

Call us if an emergency strikes

Medi-Assist   is our 24/7 medical travel assistance line that will help you locate medical care, provide advisory services, refer you to interpreters, assist with transportation, contact relatives and more. It means you can focus on getting healthy and leave it to us to manage your care while in an unfamiliar environment.

If you do experience an unexpected emergency while travelling, we are here to help.

During your trip, you can call our   Medi-Assist   service to determine your level of coverage and receive help:

• In Canada or the U.S., call toll-free:   1-888-699-9333
• Outside of Canada or the U.S. or where toll-free is unavailable, please call collect to   1-604-419-4487   and we will pay for the call.

Claims Process

Out-of-Province Emergency Medical Claims  — Four simple steps

Trip Cancellation / Baggage Claim Form — Form for claiming Trip Cancellations or Lost Baggage [pdf]

Visitors to Canada Travel Plan Claim Form — Form for claiming against a Visitors to Canada Travel Plan contract [pdf]

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for Canada

Mandy Sleight

Alyce Meserve

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Heidi Gollub

Updated 5:04 a.m. UTC Jan. 25, 2024

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Lucky-photographer, Getty Images

• Travel insurance can cover injuries or illnesses while you’re traveling in Canada, as your domestic health insurance may not travel with you across the border.
• The best travel insurance for Canada will also cover costs associated with trip cancellation, delay and interruption.
• If you plan to travel with high-value items like a laptop, smartphone or camera, ensure the travel insurance you buy has enough per-item coverage for lost, damaged or stolen belongings.

Many U.S. travelers flock to our northern neighbor to take in Canada’s cultural experiences and stunning remote landscapes. While travel insurance isn’t a requirement to enter Canada, it may be worth purchasing for the benefits, like medical insurance, trip cancellation and baggage coverage.

“Even if Canada doesn’t feel too far from the U.S., being out of the country can be stressful, and any unexpected costs that get in your way, from lost baggage to getting sick or injured, can make any mishaps even more upsetting,” said Daniel Durazo, spokesperson for Allianz Global Assistance. “With the right travel insurance policy, you can ease your mind from unexpected travel scenarios or outrageous out-of-pocket bills.” 

Here’s what you should consider when buying travel insurance for Canada.

Understanding travel insurance for Canada 

Understanding Canada travel insurance can make choosing a policy easier. Compare plans to see which policies meet your travel needs. For example, some plans have exclusions for adventure activities, such as rock climbing without equipment, but may offer an adventure sports bundle as an upgrade. 

There are also various limitations on medical coverages, trip delay, trip interruption and trip cancellation benefits that could make one policy better than another for your Canada trip.

It’s best to buy travel insurance soon after making your first trip deposit. This way you’re covered for a longer period, at no additional cost. 

“Travel insurance policies typically only cover unknown and unforeseen situations, from unexpected injuries or illness to flight cancellations and weather-related events,” said Durazo. “If you wait until you have a problem, you likely won’t be covered.”

Buying travel insurance coverage within 14 days of your first trip deposit ensures you get the most benefits. Depending on the plan, buying early could also make you eligible for a pre-existing condition waiver. This means the insurance provider won’t look back at your medical records if you file a claim for a medical condition you already had before buying the policy.

But if you have a trip coming up soon, don’t worry — you can buy a travel insurance policy up to 24 hours before your departure date.

Key coverage considerations for travel insurance in Canada 

The best travel insurance plans bundle together several types of insurance, from trip cancellation insurance to travel medical insurance. No matter what your plans are once you enter Canada, consider these key coverages when researching travel insurance to Canada. 

Trip cancellation insurance  

Sometimes, things happen that require you to cancel your trip. Maybe a family member was going to watch your kids while you’re gone, and they’re now too sick to take care of them. Or severe weather impacts the airline, grounding your flight for the days you planned to be in Canada.

Trip cancellation insurance will reimburse up to 100% of prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, like a flightseeing tour in the Yukon or a Johnston Canyon tour in Banff, if you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason. Other reasons you might have to cancel include family emergency, job loss, severe injury or sickness, terrorism or military deployment. 

However, you can’t cancel for any reason — like a falling out with your travel companion — and get reimbursed, unless you upgrade your travel insurance plan to “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. Although CFAR can add around 50% to your travel insurance costs, the ability to cancel for any reason and receive up to 75% of your nonrefundable expenses can make the extra expense worth it. Just make sure you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure date and time to get this benefit.

Delays in your Canada trip  

If you’re headed to Canada during winter, severe weather could shut down the airport or cause flight delays. If you’re flying from Baltimore to Whistler with a connection in Chicago, but a winter storm causes delays in Baltimore, you might miss your connecting flight to Vancouver.

Most travel insurance plans will reimburse for meals and hotel accommodation expenses you incur from a travel delay. But to be eligible, the delay usually has to be at least six hours, with some policies requiring 12 consecutive hours before trip delay coverage kicks in. Seven Corners, for instance, will reimburse up to $250 per day per person to a maximum of $2,000 for a delay of at least six hours.

Trip insurance with delay benefits will also reimburse for prepaid expenses you miss out on because of a covered delay. So, if you miss out on your first two days at the ski lodge and can’t transfer or exchange prepaid snowboarding lessons, you can file a claim.

Tackling trip interruption  

The last thing you’d expect while taking in the Halifax, Nova Scotia sites is to have a family emergency back home. If you get a call that your mom fell down the stairs and is in the hospital with a broken leg, you’ll probably be ready to catch the next flight home to be with her.

Luckily, travel insurance includes trip interruption benefits, which can help you get there without a large out-of-pocket expense. Trip interruption coverage will pay for your one-way ticket back home and cover any prepaid accommodations and tours you’ll miss from having to shorten your trip.

Dealing with lost bags and belongings  

Travel insurance will also cover baggage loss and personal items that get damaged, stolen or lost while you’re traveling. So if you check your hiking poles and boots and they get damaged or lost during the flight, your travel insurance will reimburse you for the depreciated cost of those items.

You’ll also have coverage if someone steals your backpack while you’re sightseeing in Toronto. If you’re traveling with high-value items, make sure you have enough coverage. Many travel insurance plans have a $500 to $1,000 cap on certain items like cameras, watches and computers. Some policies also exclude coverage for smartphones.

Making plans for medical bills in Canada

Don’t be surprised if your health insurance provides little to no coverage in Canada or requires you to pay a large out-of-pocket deductible, said Carol Mueller, spokesperson for Berkshire Hathaway. Canada doesn’t accept Medicare from the U.S., and your health insurance won’t cover you unless you have global coverage. The Government of Canada will also not cover hospital and medical expenses for visitors, including American tourists.

Whether you’re planning to hit the slopes, go hiking or just take advantage of what the swanky resort you splurged on has to offer, you never know when you might fall ill or get hurt. This is where travel medical insurance can help. 

Allianz’s OneTrip Prime single-trip plan will pay up to $50,000 for your medical expenses, such as X-rays, prescriptions, doctor’s visits or a hospital stay. Other plans, such as as some in our rating of the best travel insurance for seniors cover up to $500,000.

Even if you’re up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines, you might still want to consider a travel insurance plan that covers COVID-related medical treatment, like those in our rating of the best COVID-19 travel insurance .

Evacuation for serious medical issues   

Travel health insurance with medical evacuation coverage is critical if you plan to travel to remote areas of Canada. The nearest trauma facility equipped to treat your medical emergency might be hundreds of miles away, requiring a medevac to get you there.

If you don’t have medical plan coverage, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical costs and private medical transportation. Travel insurance provides emergency medical evacuation coverage . 

The Allianz OneTrip Prime and Berkshire Hathaway’s ExactCare travel plans will cover up to $500,000 for emergency medical transportation and repatriation of remains. Travel Guard and Seven Corners plans will each provide up to $1 million. 

What is the cost of Canada travel insurance? 

There are several factors insurers use to determine the cost of a travel insurance policy , including age, trip cost, destination and length of the trip. In general, you can expect travel insurance to cost about 5% to 6% of your total trip cost.  

When calculating the trip expenses to insure, only include those that are nonrefundable. If your prepaid, nonrefundable flights, accommodations and tours total $5,000, you can expect to pay around $275 for travel insurance. You may pay more if you choose a plan with higher coverage limits and upgrades.

Companies use different criteria and weigh factors differently than other providers, so comparing travel insurance policy quotes can help you find the most comprehensive plan for the best price. You can use travel insurance comparison sites like Squaremouth to compare coverage limits and add-on coverage such as rental car, “cancel for any reason” and adventure sports. 

Key benefits of having travel insurance for your Canada trip  

Even though you’re not flying across an ocean, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a travel insurance plan. Some of the key benefits of having travel insurance for your Canada trip include:

• Not stressing or worrying about not having government health insurance plan coverage since you’re not a Canadian resident.
• Not losing out on your nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs if something unforeseen occurs and you have to cancel your trip or head home early.
• Knowing that if your trip is delayed or canceled, or you lose a bag or get something stolen, you have coverage to recoup at least some of your out-of-pocket costs.

The right travel plan can provide peace of mind, and many policies will pay for themselves if you need to make a claim for a covered reason.

Tips for choosing the best travel insurance provider for your Canada trip  

Comparing travel insurance companies can help you make the right choice when choosing a travel insurance product. Check customer reviews and complaints on websites like Trustpilot. Travel insurance comparison sites like Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip can also help you identify the best travel insurance company and most generous policy.

Don’t be afraid to call an insurance company to ask them “what if?” questions to ensure you’re getting the right policy. “You should feel confident in the coverage you purchase and trust you will receive the level of claims service you deserve if you need to file a claim,” said Mueller.

You should always read the fine print to know your policy’s limitations and exclusions. This includes restrictions on trip delay, cancellation and interruption benefits, and understanding what you’ll need to file a claim for baggage damage, loss, or medical care. 

Tip: Most travel insurance companies offer a 10 to 15 free look period, which allows you to review the policy and cancel it for a full refund if you decide it’s not the best choice.

Other insurance considerations for Canada 

If you’re planning to participate in adventure activities, like dogsledding in the Yukon, kayaking the Johnstone Strait to see orcas or surfing and hiking in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, you want to make sure you’re covered. 

World Nomads Explorer travel insurance plan covers more than 200 adventure activities. You can also get extreme sports coverage, license fees and equipment delay coverage with Berkshire Hathaway’s AdrenalineCare travel plan. Travel Guard offers an Adventure Sports Bundle optional upgrade, which waives benefit exclusions for adventure and extreme activities.

We mentioned CFAR coverage above, but some policies also offer optional “interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage. It works like CFAR, allowing you to end your trip early for any reason, not just those listed in your policy. Seven Corners offers a CFAR and IFAR upgrade for up to 75% of nonrefundable trip costs as long as you purchase it within 20 days of your first trip payment.

Road trips are also a popular way to see Canada’s beauty. If you plan to rent a car, it may be worth getting rental vehicle coverage if your credit card doesn’t offer it. World Nomads will cover up to $35,000 in collision damage waiver, while Travel Guard’s rental vehicle damage coverage will pay up to $50,000 in damage to your rental vehicle. Note that this coverage does not include liability insurance , if you are at fault for an accident that results in injuries or damage to others’ property. Check with your car insurance company to make sure your U.S. auto insurance coverage extends to driving in Canada. 

Travel insurance for Canada FAQs

Travel insurance is not a requirement to travel to Canada. However, travel insurance will provide travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage, as well as benefits for lost or delayed baggage, trip delay, cancellation or interruption and sometimes missed connections. 

The average cost of travel insurance is around 5% to 6% of your travel costs to Canada. Your age, trip cost and other factors determine how much you’ll pay for travel insurance.

To find the best travel insurance for Canada, fill out a brief online form on an insurer’s website with your name, age, address and details about your trip, like the total cost and number of travelers. A travel insurance comparison site like Squaremouth allows you to fill out one application and get multiple quotes at the same time. 

The best travel insurance in Canada depends on where you’re going, what activities you’re doing and the types of coverage you need. After comparing dozens of providers, we found WorldTrips , Travel Insured and TravelSafe are among the best travel insurance companies .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Alyce Meserve is an experienced insurance, personal finance and travel writer. Alyce is a licensed insurance professional in life, health and property and casualty, and holds an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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* The above rate categories are based on one’s medical condition, as determined by a series of medical questions on the application . Coverage is the same for all categories. ** For a more detailed quotation, please visit our detailed quote page, where you can enter additional information, such as your province, discount, etc. *** All quotations are subject to change without notice.

MEDIPAC TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance trusted by canada’s most experienced travellers*, new to medipac or this is your first time buying travel medical insurance.

Many Canadians are simply looking for travel insurance that provides “peace of mind” at the lowest cost. While this may be important things to consider, understand that your true goal when buying travel medical insurance is to ensure that you are properly covered and have a trusted company beside you with the necessary medical resources and expertise to help manage your medical emergency. A company that is both reliable and reputable, on a grand scale, and has a proven track record of excellence.

That company is Medipac.

*Medipac Travel Insurance is endorsed by the Canadian Snowbird Association and the Royal Canadian Legion .

Medipac provides comprehensive coverage, up to $5 million USD, including coverage for COVID-19. And, together with Medipac Assist, Medipac has the necessary medical resources to properly support our clients during a medical emergency while travelling.

Medipac Assist provides dedicated emergency assistance lines to travellers, staffed with in-house medical professionals who are there for you, from application to assistance.

In terms of the cost of travel insurance, Medipac rates often are lower than those of other plans, almost certainly in the long-run, when it’s more important. With our Claim-free, Loyalty and other discounts many clients save upwards of 20% , every year.

Now that you have made the right choice, be sure to visit our “ How to Save ” section. Most new clients can save 3-5% in their first year, with our Claim-free Advantage discount. You may need to call to qualify. (1-888-633-4722)

For your reference, and to help you make an informed choice, be sure to download the Medipac Travel Insurance Guide , which includes helpful tips and a complete copy of the Medipac Travel Insurance Policy.

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STEPS TO PROPER TRAVEL COVERAGE

Travel Insurance Policy

• Download and read Travel Emergency Medical Insurance Policy.
• Pay particular attention to sections that discuss what is not covered: General Limitations, Exclusions, Pre-Existing Conditions, etc.
• Call us if you have any questions.

Medical Questions

• Download and read the Travel Medical Insurance Application .
• Review questions and answers with your doctor, if you are unsure.
• Determine your rate category: Preferred Plus, Preferred or Standard.

Travel Insurance Application

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• New to Medipac? You may qualify for savings. CALL US.
• Get Quick Quote .
• Apply online or request an application package .

An informed traveller makes a safe traveller. If you need help, CALL US!

If your health or medication changes before you leave, call us, have a pre-existing medical condition call us, not eligible, or have questions about the application call us.

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Meal and vehicle rates used to calculate travel expenses for 2023

The rates for 2024  will be available on our website in 2025 . If you are an employer, go to Automobile and motor vehicle allowances .

Meal and vehicle rates for previous years are also available.

The following applies to the 2023 tax year.

To calculate meal and vehicle expenses, you may choose the detailed or simplified method. Your total travel expenses equal the total of the value of travel assistance provided by your employer and the travel expenses incurred by you. Include any travel expenses paid by your employer.

Detailed method – This method allows you to claim the actual amount that you spent. Keep your receipts in case the CRA asks to see them at a later date.

Simplified method – This method uses a flat rate for meals and vehicle expenses. Although you do not need to keep detailed receipts for actual expenses if you choose to use this method, the CRA may still ask you to provide some documentation to support your claim.

Meal expenses

If you choose the  detailed method  to calculate meal expenses, you must keep your receipts and claim the actual amount that you spent.

If you choose the  simplified method , claim in Canadian or US funds a flat rate of $23 per meal , to a maximum of $69 per day (sales tax included) per person, without receipts. Although you do not need to keep detailed receipts for actual expenses if you choose to use this method, the CRA may still ask you to provide some documentation to support your claim.

Vehicle expenses

If you choose the detailed method to calculate vehicle expenses, you must keep all receipts and records for the vehicle expenses you incurred for moving expenses or for northern residents deductions during the tax year; or during the 12-month period you choose for medical expenses.

Vehicle expenses include:

• operating expenses such as fuel, oil, tires, licence fees, insurance, maintenance, and repairs
• ownership expenses such as depreciation, provincial tax, and finance charges

Keep track of the number of kilometres you drove in that time period, as well as the number of kilometres you drove specifically for the purpose of moving or medical expenses, or for the northern residents deductions. Your claim for vehicle expenses is the percentage of your total vehicle expenses that relate to the kilometres driven for moving or medical expenses, or for northern residents deductions.

For example, if you drove 10,000 km during the year, and half of that was related to your move, you can claim half of the total vehicle expenses on your tax return.

Although you do not need to keep detailed receipts for actual expenses if you choose to use the simplified method , the CRA may still ask you to provide some documentation to support your claim. Keep track of the number of kilometres driven during the tax year for your trips relating to moving expenses and northern residents deductions, or the 12-month period you choose for medical expenses. To determine the amount you can claim for vehicle expenses, multiply the number of kilometres by the cents/km rate from the chart below for the province or territory in which the travel begins.

Table of 2023 kilometre rates for the province or territory

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