Emergency medical coverage: hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance transport and emergency treatment while travelling
Travel Insurance in Ontario
Travel Insurance in Ontario
Find travel insurance in Ontario with BrokerUnion. Compare coverage options for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and more with expert advice.
- Visitors to Canada & Super Visa
- Trip cancellation & interruption
- Emergency medical worldwide
- Pre-existing conditions options
What Travel Insurance Covers
Travel insurance policies are built from a few core coverage types, and most travellers combine more than one depending on the trip:
Trip cancellation and interruption: reimbursement if a trip is cancelled or cut short for a covered reason, such as illness or a family emergency
Baggage and personal effects: coverage for lost, stolen or delayed luggage
Flight delay coverage: reimbursement for reasonable expenses if a flight is significantly delayed
Visitors to Canada and Super Visa coverage: emergency medical insurance for visitors and Super Visa applicants who need to meet Canadian immigration requirements
Extended-stay and snowbird coverage: policies built for Canadians spending weeks or months outside the country, often over winter
Which combination makes sense depends on the trip: a weekend drive to the U.S. calls for different coverage than a six-month stay in Florida or hosting a parent applying for a Super Visa.
Why OHIP Isn't Enough Outside Ontario
OHIP provides only limited reimbursement for medical care received outside the province, and even less outside Canada, often covering a small fraction of the actual cost of treatment. A single hospital visit abroad can run into tens of thousands of dollars, and OHIP's payout typically doesn't come close to covering that gap. Travel medical insurance is designed to cover the difference, which is why most Canadian travel advisories and provincial health guidance recommend carrying it whenever you leave the province, and especially when leaving the country.
Single-Trip vs. Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
A single-trip policy covers one specific trip, from departure to return, and is priced for that trip's length and destination. A multi-trip (or annual) policy instead covers an unlimited number of trips within a policy year, up to a maximum number of days per trip. If you travel more than two or three times a year, an annual multi-trip policy is often more cost-effective than buying single-trip coverage each time, though the right choice depends on how often you travel and how long each trip typically lasts.
Travel Insurance for Snowbirds and Seniors
Snowbirds spending an extended period outside Canada, often several months over winter, need coverage built for longer stays, since many standard travel policies cap coverage at 30 to 60 days per trip. Seniors over 65 can generally still obtain travel insurance in Ontario, though pricing and available options are more sensitive to age and health history and a medical questionnaire is often part of the application. If you have a pre-existing condition, ask about stability period requirements. Many policies will cover a pre-existing condition as long as it has been medically stable for a defined period before the trip, but the specific terms vary by carrier.
Visitors to Canada and Super Visa Insurance
Visitors to Canada, including parents and grandparents applying for a Super Visa, are typically not eligible for OHIP and need private emergency medical insurance for the length of their stay. Super Visa applicants have specific insurance requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, including minimum coverage amounts and proof the policy is valid and paid for. As a broker working across multiple carriers, we can help identify the policy that meets Super Visa requirements and fits the applicant's health profile.
Why Work With a Broker
Buying directly from one insurer, or relying on a credit card's built-in travel benefits, means seeing only one set of terms. As an independent, RIBO-licensed brokerage, BrokerUnion compares policies across multiple Canadian carriers, so you can see how coverage, exclusions and pricing differ before choosing a policy. Our brokers can also help interpret medical questionnaires and pre-existing condition clauses, which are often where claims get denied if
How Travel Insurance Claims Work
If something happens during your trip, most policies require you to contact the insurer's emergency assistance line as soon as reasonably possible, ideally before receiving treatment where the situation allows, so the claim can be pre-approved and coordinated directly with the hospital where available. Keep all receipts, medical reports and documentation, and submit the claim with supporting paperwork once you're able to. BrokerUnion's claims support team can help guide you through the process if you're unsure what's needed.
Areas We Serve
BrokerUnion works with travellers and their families across Ontario, with offices in Pickering, Barrie, Mississauga, Whitby, Sudbury and Kitchener. Wherever you're based in the province, a licensed broker can help you compare travel insurance before your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does travel insurance cover in Ontario?
Most travel insurance policies cover emergency medical expenses, and can also include trip cancellation and interruption, lost or delayed baggage, and flight delays, depending on the plan selected.
Do Ontario residents need travel insurance when travelling outside Canada?
It's strongly recommended. OHIP provides very limited coverage outside Canada, and medical costs abroad, especially in the United States, can be far higher than what OHIP reimburses.
Does OHIP cover medical emergencies outside Ontario?
OHIP provides only partial reimbursement for care received outside Ontario, and an even smaller amount for care outside Canada. It's rarely enough to cover the actual cost of emergency treatment abroad.
How much does travel insurance cost in Ontario?
Cost depends on factors like the traveller's age, trip length and destination, the coverage amount selected, and any pre-existing medical conditions. There's no single standard rate; a quote comparison across carriers is the most reliable way to see actual pricing.
What is the best travel insurance for Ontario residents?
The right policy depends on the trip and traveller. A young, healthy traveller on a short trip has different needs than a snowbird spending months abroad or a senior with a pre-existing condition, so comparing options based on your specific situation matters more than picking a single 'best' policy.
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Many policies will cover a pre-existing condition if it's been medically stable for a set period before the trip, though the exact stability period and terms vary by carrier. It's important to answer any medical questionnaire accurately, since inaccurate answers are a common reason claims get denied.
Is travel insurance necessary for travelling within Canada?
It depends on your home province's coverage. Provincial health plans generally cover less outside your home province, so travel medical coverage can still be useful even for trips within Canada, particularly for longer stays.
What is the difference between single-trip and multi-trip travel insurance?
Single-trip insurance covers one specific trip. Multi-trip (or annual) insurance covers unlimited trips within a policy year, up to a maximum number of days per trip, and can work out cheaper for frequent travellers.
Does credit card travel insurance provide enough coverage?
It depends on the card and the trip. Credit card coverage often has lower medical coverage limits, stricter pre-existing condition rules, and shorter trip-length limits than a dedicated travel insurance policy, so it's worth checking the actual policy wording rather than assuming it's sufficient.
When should I purchase travel insurance?
Ideally as soon as the trip is booked, particularly for trip cancellation coverage, since some cancellation benefits only apply to cancellable events that happen after the policy is purchased.
Can I buy travel insurance after leaving Ontario?
Generally, travel insurance needs to be purchased before departure. Some multi-trip or extended policies allow adjustments once travelling, but starting new medical coverage after you've already left is typically not possible or is significantly restricted.
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Auto, property, business, travel and VIP client services are property and casualty products placed by brokers licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). Coverage, eligibility and pricing vary by insurer; policy wording governs in all cases.