Travel
Insurance
For your next summer vacation or winter escape, let us find you the best prices for your travel needs fast! Whether it’s a week in the tropics or a month touring Europe, protect your trip with affordable travel insurance. Get a quote and policy below:
Pack your sunscreen. Pack your travel insurance.
Travel is supposed to be about sunshine, sightseeing and making memories, not hospital bills. When you leave Canada, your provincial health plan may provide little or no coverage for medical expenses outside the country. The Government of Canada recommends purchasing travel medical and trip interruption insurance before travelling outside Canada, including short trips to the United States.
And the U.S. is a great example of why this matters. A medical emergency south of the border can quickly run into the thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, particularly when hospitalization, surgery, ambulance transportation or emergency medical evacuation is involved. Even a relatively routine emergency can be a very expensive souvenir. Rather than relying on your credit card or hoping for the best, a dedicated travel policy is designed specifically for these situations.
At HMS Insurance, we'll help you understand your options and find travel coverage that fits where you're going, how long you're staying and what you're doing. Whether you're heading south for a weekend, taking a European adventure, escaping for the winter or travelling with the whole family, we'll help make sure your insurance doesn't take a vacation when you do.
What does travel insurance cover?
There are a lot of coverage options for travel insurance depending on your specific needs. Here are a few of them:
Emergency medical
No one ever plans to need medical care while away; but if you do experience misadventures on your trip, Emergency Medical Insurance covers hospital and doctors’ fees, prescriptions, emergency transportation and more.
Rental car protection
You want your rental car to be covered for damage or loss no matter where you’re headed. Rental car protection ensures a smooth road ahead. Often this coverage is a fair amount cheaper with a travel insurance policy too.
Trip interruption
110% sure you’re not going to cancel your travel plans? What if something happens while you’re already away? Trip Interruption Insurance will reimburse your travel costs if your plans are disrupted after the trip has begun.
Extreme sports
You can hike, zipline, bungee jump, back country ski or even para-sail over water and still be protected. We have optional extreme sports endorsements available.
Trip cancellation
Life is full of surprises and so is travel. You can’t predict a natural disaster, job loss or the death of a family member or friend. When an unexpected event prevents you from travelling, this coverage steps in.
Accidental death
Within Canada and abroad, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance protects your estate and beneficiary in the unfortunate event of your death or dismemberment.
Baggage coverage
Avoid getting caught with only the clothes on your back. No one wants to wear that gift shop shirt for a week until the bags arrive. With Baggage Insurance, you’ll be able to get the essential things you need, while on your trip.
Pre-existing condition
If you already have a medical condition, you can still get coverage. For example, you may have diabetes or be on medication for your blood pressure.
Credit card travel coverage
Many of us have credit cards that offer fun travel perks like redeemable travel rewards, no foreign exchange fees, airport lounge access, travel insurance and more. If you’re reading this, you probably already know how important it is to protect yourself with travel insurance. But not all credit cards and their perks are created equal; they’ll offer different limitations on travel insurance coverage, if they offer travel insurance at all.
While there are a handful of credit cards out there that do offer travel insurance, most credit cards offer very limited coverage. Before travelling, make sure you carefully read and understand the policy on your travel insurance, as they vary by card issuer. Chances are, you’ll find that you may not have as much coverage as you thought. It’s good to clarify beforehand exactly who is covered by your credit card. There are often restrictions that you may not to think of checking before leaving on vacation. Here are some important questions to ask:
Is coverage limited to only me, the cardholder, or can it also apply to family members travelling with me?
Do I need to purchase additional insurance for other travelers in my family?
Is travel medical coverage limited to certain ages?
Am I covered for pre-existing medical conditions? If so, what is the stability period?
What’s the coverage for unstable pre-existing medical conditions?
In the event of an emergency, would coverage be available to return my travelling companion, children or grandchildren, or accompanying pet home?
Frequently asked questions about travel insurance
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Your regular health insurance may provide limited or no coverage for medical expenses outside Canada. Travel insurance can help cover unexpected emergency medical costs, which can become extremely expensive in another country. It's worth checking exactly what your existing coverage includes before you leave.
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Travel insurance can provide coverage for emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost or delayed baggage and other travel-related emergencies. The coverage available depends on the policy you choose and the circumstances of your trip.
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Some travel insurance policies can provide coverage for travellers with pre-existing conditions, but eligibility and stability requirements can apply. It's important to answer the medical questions accurately and discuss your circumstances with your broker before purchasing coverage.
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It's a good idea to arrange travel insurance as soon as you've booked your trip. This can allow certain trip cancellation and interruption benefits to apply from the appropriate point in time, rather than waiting until you're about to leave. Your broker can help you determine what coverage makes sense for your trip.
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Some travel insurance policies include emergency transportation or medical evacuation when medically necessary. This can be particularly important if you're travelling somewhere with limited medical facilities or need to be transported to an appropriate medical facility.
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Some insurers offer coverage to Canadians who have already left the country, but restrictions, waiting periods and eligibility requirements may apply. It's generally best to arrange your coverage before you leave Canada.
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Yes. Travel insurance is available for seniors, although premiums and eligibility can vary based on age, trip duration, destination and medical history. Medical questionnaires or additional underwriting may apply.
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