About TIF
TIF is published by Milan Korcok, a long time advocate for Canadian snowbirds and out- of-country travelers. It is designed as an independent, unbiased resource for Canadians wanting to make informed choices when buying travel insurance.
Milan Korcok, veteran medical journalist and lecturer is a leading authority on international healthcare and travel insurance. Chief North American correspondent for the International Travel Insurance Journal (ITIJ), a long-time contributor to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and author and publisher of consumer travel guides, Milan is a dual Canadian/U.S. citizen who has been covering the evolution of health insurance systems in Canada and the United States since the late 1960s. Milan was a founding editorial team member of The Medical Post, Canada’s first newspaper for doctors, contributing editor for American Medical Association publications, author, editor and publisher of professional publications for health professionals in the United States. Since 1991, Milan has been a staunch consumer advocate for Canadian senior travelers and was instrumental in the founding of the Canadian Snowbird Association (a consumer advocacy group representing senior travelers) as well as the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (a professional organization representing travel insurers and supporting industries). In addition, Milan has been providing ombudsman services, reviewing and resolving claims disputes between consumers and travel insurers since 1997.
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Hi Milan
Read your most recent column with interest. I am looking at renewing a policy with TD Life Insurance (World Travel Protection) and wondered if you had any comments on this organization in terms of the quality of their coverage?
Thank you.
Shaun
Hello Milan
I am a superannuate reriree and I am medically covered for the first 40 days of travel outside of Canada. Which insurance plans would take my first 40 days into consideration for additional coverage up to 180 days? I am aware that Medipac does. Any other onesm that you would recommend?
Don
Don:
Topping Up Superannuates Plans
Most Canadian travel insurers can top up your initial 40 says of superannuate coverage but you must tell them you have those days. Don’t just start other coverage from day 41 without telling the top up insurer. And be aware of a few contingencies: It’s always best to deal with the same insurance company that underwrites your initial pension/retiree policy but that’s not always possible. When you get a top up there is always the chance that if you sustain a medical emergency that showed its first symptoms on on Day 39, the top up insurer may consider that a pre-existing condition and you might not be covered for it. Discuss that with your top up insurer. Also many pension/employer plans do not have the same extensive coverage that single trip travel insurance plans have so make sure you know what you have in that initial plan. Also, some have lifetime caps on medical coverage and each time you draw down that “bank” of benefits (say $100,000), it is not replenished. Ask your administrator for details of how much coverage you have in that plan. Most single trip travel insurance plans have at least $1 million of coverage. Many pension plans don’t come close to that. In a case like this it’s always best to work with a broker to get the plan that best dovetails with your initial plan.
But ask that agent about the points I have raised. Sometimes it is worth while to leave the initial 40 day plans for future use and start fresh with a single trip plan from Day 1. Manulife, etfs, Travel Underwriters, TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators, are among travel insurers who offer top ups to superannuates. If you have any other questions, let me know.
Milan
Milan Korcok
Publisher, Travelinsurancefile
have been told that the USA rules for Canadian snowbirds have changed
the 182 days used to be from 1 Jan to 31 Dec but appararently that has changed.
have you any idea where one could go ( on the web ) to find out what the actual changes are
leaving USA for Christmas ( say 10 days or so ) could be deducted but now I understand that you have to leave the USA for at least 30 days .
I cannot find anything that explains the new law
thanks
How Long Can I Stay In the U.S.? See the new posting.
Milan
Your recent article “Snowbird border crossing alert” in On Guard (Winter 2011) states “For the most part you are not allowed to bring foodstuff acroos the border. Period.” This is totally incorrect.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website has an extensive list of food items that are allowed into the U.S., posted here:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/82/session/L3NpZC9aYWpILWtLaw%3D%3D/search/1
I can’t understand why you would intentionally mislead such a vast audience.
Judy:
My intention in that item was to awaken people to the fact that they must always declare that they are taking food items and they should not take for granted that their picnic hampers or lunches or gift foods are free of sanction. Yes, the Customs and Border Patrol and the Agriculture Department allow many food items into the country but they also prohibit many and the lists of those prohibitions can vary from day to day and they certainly are not consistent, so they require some investigative referencing. For example, some vegetables, depending where they are grown (potatoes, for example), are OK, some are banned. Some cheeses are OK, others are not. The same for meat products.
And regardless which are OK and which are banned, you must declare that you have foodstuffs on board, even apples or oranges you take for the trip. I find it more convenient to carry no foodstuffs across the border, thus avoid having to declare that I am carrying any, which often means pulling out of line and going through an inspection. The only thing I want to do at a border is get through it quickly and get on my way. The fewer variables you throw at the border agent, the easier the crossing. And there’s no food available in Canada you can’t get in the U.S. or vice versa.
Milan