The Best Trip Cancellation Insurance for Canadians | Ratehub.ca (2024)

FAQs

What does trip cancellation insurance cover in Canada? ›

A trip cancellation plan provides coverage if your trip is cancelled for a covered reason before you depart for your trip. The benefits could include reimbursing you for the cost of non-refundable travel expenses, like trip deposits and flight change fees, if your trip is cancelled because of a covered cause.

Trip cancellation insurance is often sold as an optional coverage to a base travel insurance policy, but some travel insurance companies sell trip cancellation as a standalone policy. Some basic trip cancellation policies allow you to purchase additional coverage types, such as “cancel for any reason” travel insurance.

The fact is provincial health insurance plans will only cover some medical expenses. Therefore, you should always protect yourself by purchasing medical insurance when travelling within Canada.

The short answer is: It's not too late! You absolutely can buy travel insurance after booking your trip. However, it's always best to purchase insurance as early in the process as possible. If you procrastinate, you may miss out on certain benefits.

It is advisable to purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your trip or holiday. For instance, travel insurance that includes trip cancellation benefits may help you recover non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel your travel plans due to a covered reason in the run-up to your trip.

Key Takeaways. Manulife Financial is the largest insurance provider in Canada and offers a broad range of financial services. Great-West Lifeco, Inc., the second-largest insurer, operates as a holding company for six subsidiaries.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team awarded Allianz Travel Insurance 4.1 out of 5 stars based on our provider review methodology. Named our pick for concierge services, Allianz offers 24/7 travel assistance through a multilingual team, which can help policyholders with travel and coverage issues while abroad.

What is the difference between trip cancellation and trip insurance? ›

In short, trip cancellation coverage provides coverage for the money you would lose, while trip interruption coverage provides payment for the additional money for covered reasons you would have to spend to return home or resume your trip.

Travel protection focuses primarily on trip cancellation and gives limited protection for unforeseen circ*mstances that may cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip. Travel insurance supplies broader coverage, protecting against a wider range of possible financial losses during your travels.

Medical Emergency Insurance and Emergency Medical Evacuation

However, U.S. government health insurance plans do not pay for hospital costs, medical expenses or prescription drugs for visitors to Canada. But if you have private insurance, you can check with your provider to see if you have coverage while abroad.

Many other private insurers in the US provide coverage in Canada for temporary durations of 30 to 90 days, depending on the insurance provider. It's also worth confirming that all your coverage transfers to Canada: liability, collision, and comprehensive (if you have it).

Here are some examples: The unexpected death, sickness or injury of you, a travelling companion, or a family member. You need to attend the birth of a family member's child. Travel carrier cannot get you to your destination due to a natural disaster or severe weather.

While coverage limits vary by policy, most Trip Cancellation plans will reimburse up to 100% of a traveler's trip costs if they need to cancel their trip for a covered reason. The most common covered reason is unforeseen illness, injury, or death of the traveler, a traveling companion, or a non-traveling family member.

What does holiday cancellation insurance cover? It covers pre-booked transport – so flights, transfers, train or ferry tickets, as well as accommodation. It will also cover the cost of any activities, excursions or tours you've paid for or are committed to paying for.

Trip Cancellation Insurance will reimburse you for the amount of pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses (e.g. airline, cruise, train, hotel, etc.) that you have insured, should you cancel your trip before departure for an unforeseen covered reason.