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Health insurance for Canadians visiting the USA

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Canadians are very familiar with the challenges of the healthcare system south of the border, but did you know that if you visit the USA and don’t have travel insurance in place, you could wind up owing thousands of dollars for your medical care? Today we will talk about health insurance in the context of travel insurance when visiting America. If you have plans to cross the border for business or pleasure, be sure to read this first.

What is health insurance for travellers?

Health insurance is a policy that provides money to offset certain medical expenses. The details of the policies differ among insurance companies in Canada. If you travel frequently it is best to compare the quotes of several travel insurance providers and select the one that best covers your trip duration (some cap the number of days they will cover), your age (some only insure up to a certain age), and your specific risk factors (most exclude pre-existing conditions). While Canadian citizens are covered by our own national healthcare system, that grace is not extend when you leave the country.

Can’t I just return to Canada for treatment and avoid the cost of an American hospital?

Yes of course you can – but emergencies don’t follow this reasoning. If you are stung by a jellyfish on a beach, if you crash your rental car while driving and need medical treatment, if you have an accident on your resort, you won’t be in a position to say, “don’t treat me. I’m going to fly home.” Even if your condition is stable enough to return to Canada, there are still costs associated with cutting your trip short, rebooking flights, and getting home. This is called “trip interruption” and it is also an insurable risk. Consider this when looking for insurance quotes in Canada.

Breaking down health insurance for travellers

The following lists risk factors that may be covered depending on the policy. Getting a variety of insurance quotes in Canada will help you select the policy that best covers your needs:

  • Hospital fees – operating, room stay, medical care
  • Doctor’s care – examination, lab tests, x-rays, anesthesia
  • Medication
  • Emergency dental care (for accidents, not routine cleaning or pain from an abscess)
  • Ambulance/medivac
  • Emergency medical evacuation to your home country

Note that coverage is for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. If you become intoxicated and engage in risky behavior, your accident may not be covered. If you do something dangerous like white water rafting or heliskiing, accidents from those activities may not be covered. Pre-existing conditions are very rarely covered. Be sure to understand the limits of your policy so you aren’t saddled with a nasty surprise of a medical bill along with your broken bones.

What’s the cost of travelling without health insurance?

There are many stories online from travellers that discovered just how much it can cost to visit the States without travel health insurance.

  • A 78-year old man developed pneumonia and required three days of hospitalization and medication. The cost was $36,562.72.
  • A gymnastic coach from Ontario suffered a fall in a Michigan gym. The accident rendered him a paraplegic. His American medical care cost him $168,000.
  • A Canadian was hurt in the Las Vegas mass shooting. Costs to care for a gunshot wound in the States can easily top six figures.

Where to get health insurance in Canada

Health insurance in Canada is offered directly through insurance companies (agents, online, phone), brokers, and credit cards. Note that travel insurance on credit cards can be very unreliable as it is not medically underwritten and comes with very severe limitations on age, what is covered, and trip duration. To find the best travel health insurance for your needs, work with a broker.

What is a broker?

A broker works for you, not any one insurance company. Upon becoming licensed, a broker can “freelance” by having access to a variety of Canadian insurance policies. So, if you need health insurance Ontario quotes, or quotes from any other company in your province, you simply call up a broker and they find the quotes for you.

This is very handy for a variety of reasons. The insurance industry, especially as it relates to travel during the pandemic, changes frequently. A broker is going to know what the new rules are because they have advisor portals and receive updates. Brokers also have contacts within insurance companies – unlike you they don’t have to call a toll free number and wait on hold! Brokers spend time looking at and comparing policies, so they know which ones cover your specific risk factors. It’s not just about getting the lowest price – a low quote won’t help you if it doesn’t actually cover you.

Insurance can be confusing and overwhelming – brokers do all the hard work for you, leaving you to only say yes or no to the options they show you.

It doesn’t cost anything to use the services of a broker. They are compensated by the insurance company when they sell a policy. They don’t have quotas or obligations to any single insurance company, so they are always acting in your best interest.

LSM Insurance

LSM Insurance is a brokerage firm with a long history of helping Canadians coast to coast with their insurance needs. Each LSM broker has access to 25+ insurance companies, from the most well known to the boutique firms offering specialized coverage. Don’t leave your health and safety to chance when travelling from Canada to the United States. A broker is ready to help you right now get the coverage – and peace of mind – you deserve.

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