Question from multiple elderly Canadian travelers:
Canadian travel insurance is too expensive. These companies need more competition. Why can’t we buy insurance from American insurers if we are traveling to the United States? Couldn’t they offer a better deal in their own country?
Milan says…
You would think so. But the short answer is NO. First of all, most American-licensed companies can only sell to American residents. You need insurers who are not only licensed to sell in your home province, but who have out-of-country travel plans that are supplemental to the benefits offered by your provincial health insurance which pays some—albeit quite little—of the cost of your emergency medical care in foreign hospitals. Your Canadian plans can also file for reimbursement from your provincial health insurance, and are prepared to repatriate you to a hospital back in Canada by air ambulance or commercial flight if medically necessary and not just evacuate you to a nearby hospital and leave you to your own devices to get back home. Getting a hospital bed in Canada is no easy task so you need so you need an assistance service that normally deals with Canadian hospitals. In short, Canadian travel insurance is designed specifically for Canadian travelers in foreign countries and covers only emergency medical care. American travel plans are designed for Americans who have more limited basic health insurance coverage. And as for the cost, unless you’re very, very sick, or very, very old, Canadian travel insurance, is a bargain.
I had a difibulator implant on April 26th,2010. My cardiologist tells me it is even better than he expected and see’s no reason why I cant go to Florida for two months, Feb., and March of 2011. Can I get insurance ?
Jean:
If you can show a six -month cardiac stability on your implant, with no other changes in your health status, such as changes of medication or other symptoms, you should be able to get a medically-underwritten policy. Since you are not going until February, you should be fine. Most of the insurance products listed on this site (click on the blue line Snowbird Insurance Plans) and any of these can help you. You may find what you need most easily by clicking on ETFS and looking up the Medi Select plan. You can buy it now and activate it in February, so long as you alert etfs prior to that date if you have any changes in your health status. They are quitre liberal about stable pre-existing conditions. Good luck.
Milan Korcok
Editor, Travelinsurancefile.