Best Travel Insurance for Canadians: What to Look For in 2026
by Grant Marsten - March 2025
Retirement often means having more freedom to travel. Whether you're planning a winter escape, visiting family overseas, taking a cruise or finally checking destinations off your bucket list, travel can be one of the most rewarding parts of retirement.
But travel also creates a financial risk that Canadians sometimes underestimate: medical care outside Canada can be extremely expensive.
Provincial and territorial health plans generally provide limited coverage outside Canada, and the Government of Canada does not pay your foreign medical bills. That's why travel insurance can be particularly important for retirees, snowbirds and anyone travelling with a pre-existing medical condition. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
What Is the Best Travel Insurance for Canadians?
There isn't one travel insurance company that is best for every Canadian.
The right policy depends on your age, destination, trip length, health history, activities and the amount of money you've committed to the trip.
For example, a healthy 35-year-old taking a one-week vacation has very different insurance needs from a 72-year-old snowbird spending four months in Florida.
Instead of choosing a provider based solely on price, compare the actual policy terms and make sure the coverage matches the risks of your trip.
What Should Travel Insurance Cover?
Before comparing insurance companies, understand the types of coverage that may be available.
Emergency Medical Coverage
This is arguably the most important component of travel insurance for Canadians travelling outside their province or country.
Emergency medical coverage can help pay for eligible expenses such as hospital treatment, physician services, ambulance transportation and other emergency medical care.
The Government of Canada recommends making sure your policy provides adequate coverage for medical treatment and emergency evacuation. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Medical Evacuation
Medical evacuation is easy to overlook until you need it.
Your policy should explain whether it covers transportation to Canada or to the nearest appropriate medical facility and whether a medical escort is covered.
Don't assume that being able to get home on a regular commercial flight means your insurance will automatically pay for it. Read the evacuation provisions carefully.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
This is especially important for older Canadians and retirees.
A policy may impose a stability period or other requirements related to a pre-existing condition. Changes in medications, symptoms, treatments or health status can potentially affect eligibility.
The Government of Canada recommends understanding the policy's definition of a pre-existing condition and obtaining written confirmation when appropriate. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Medical coverage protects you after an emergency happens. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage can protect some of the money you've already spent on your trip.
Depending on the policy, covered reasons can include certain medical emergencies, deaths in the family and other specified events.
Remember that cancellation insurance generally isn't the same thing as "cancel for any reason" coverage. Always read the covered reasons and exclusions.
Baggage and Travel Delays
Baggage loss, theft, baggage delay, missed connections and travel delays may also be covered depending on the plan.
These benefits can be useful, but they shouldn't distract you from the most important question: How much medical and evacuation protection do I actually have?
Adventure and Recreational Activities
Planning to ski, scuba dive, hike at altitude or participate in another higher-risk activity?
Check whether the activity is covered. Some policies exclude particular activities or require an additional benefit or specific conditions to be met.
10 Travel Insurance Providers Canadians May Want to Compare
The following companies are examples of established providers Canadians may want to investigate. They are not presented as a universal ranking, and policy availability, prices and coverage can change.
1. Manulife Travel Insurance
Manulife's CoverMe travel products include emergency medical, all-inclusive and multi-trip options. Current offerings include plans with up to $10 million in emergency medical coverage, as well as options specifically designed to address approved pre-existing conditions through medical underwriting. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
2. Blue Cross Travel Insurance
Blue Cross organizations offer travel insurance products across Canada, with options that can include emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage and other travel benefits. Availability and policy details vary by province.
3. Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz is another major travel-assistance provider offering Canadian travel insurance products. Compare its emergency medical, cancellation, interruption and assistance provisions against competing policies rather than assuming the broadest package is automatically the best value.
4. TuGo Travel Insurance
TuGo offers travel insurance products for Canadians with different combinations of emergency medical and trip-related coverage. It can be worth considering for travellers who want flexibility around the type of coverage they purchase.
5. CAA Travel Insurance
CAA offers travel insurance products through its regional organizations. If you're already a CAA member, compare the member benefits and policy terms with other quotes rather than assuming membership automatically makes one plan the cheapest.
6. TD Travel Insurance
TD offers single-trip, annual and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Its current travel medical offerings can provide up to $10 million in emergency medical coverage for eligible expenses, with 24/7 emergency assistance. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
7. RBC Travel Insurance
RBC offers travel medical, travel package and cancellation and interruption products. Current RBC travel medical plans include options with unlimited coverage for eligible emergency medical expenses, subject to the policy terms. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
RBC also has TravelCare products designed for older travellers, including plans for travellers age 65 and over. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
8. Medipac Travel Insurance
Medipac is particularly associated with Canadian snowbirds and travellers who spend extended periods outside Canada. For retirees planning longer stays, the maximum trip duration, medical eligibility rules and extension provisions deserve particular attention.
9. GMS Travel Insurance
GMS offers travel insurance options for Canadians, including emergency medical coverage. Compare its policy wording, eligibility requirements and coverage limits with other providers before purchasing.
10. Other Specialty and Comparison Options
Don't limit your search to the largest banks and insurance companies. Specialty insurers and licensed insurance brokers can sometimes provide options that better fit older travellers, snowbirds, people with pre-existing conditions or travellers taking longer trips.
Comparing Travel Insurance Features
Rather than publishing a single "best" ranking, this comparison shows what to investigate when evaluating different providers. Actual limits and eligibility depend on the specific policy.
| Provider | Potential Strength | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Manulife | Broad range of Canadian travel plans | Medical limits, stability period, trip benefits |
| Blue Cross | Provincial travel insurance options | Province-specific coverage and exclusions |
| Allianz | Travel assistance and comprehensive options | Medical, cancellation and activity exclusions |
| TuGo | Flexible travel insurance options | Eligibility and activity coverage |
| CAA | Travel coverage through CAA organizations | Member pricing and policy benefits |
| TD | Single-trip and annual plans | Medical limits and trip-duration rules |
| RBC | Strong medical and mature-traveller options | Age requirements and pre-existing conditions |
| Medipac | Snowbird-focused options | Long-stay coverage and medical eligibility |
| GMS | Canadian travel insurance options | Medical limits and exclusions |
Travel Insurance for Canadian Snowbirds
Travel insurance becomes particularly important if you're spending several months outside Canada.
A snowbird heading to Florida, Arizona, Mexico or another warm destination should pay close attention to the maximum trip duration and extension rules.
Don't assume an annual policy means you can stay outside Canada for an entire year. Annual multi-trip policies often specify a maximum number of consecutive days for each trip.
If you plan to stay away for several months, compare a dedicated long-stay policy with annual multi-trip coverage.
Travel Insurance and Retirement Planning
Travel insurance isn't just a travel expense. For retirees, it's part of managing financial risk.
Imagine spending years building a retirement portfolio and then facing a large uninsured medical bill because of an emergency abroad.
Insurance can help transfer some of that potentially devastating financial risk to an insurer in exchange for a premium.
That's especially important if your retirement plan depends on maintaining a predictable withdrawal rate from your savings.
You can explore your retirement income needs with the Retirementize retirement calculator .
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
There is no reliable single price for Canadian travel insurance.
Premiums can vary substantially based on:
- Age
- Destination
- Length of the trip
- Number of travellers
- Coverage limits
- Deductible
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Trip cancellation coverage
- Adventure or special activities
- Medical underwriting requirements
This is why comparing a $100 policy with a $200 policy isn't particularly useful unless you know what each policy actually covers.
Should You Buy Travel Insurance Through Your Credit Card?
Some Canadian credit cards include travel insurance, which can be valuable. But don't assume that having the card means you're fully insured.
Check:
- How many days are covered?
- What medical limit applies?
- Are pre-existing conditions covered?
- Does the trip need to be paid for with the card?
- Are trip cancellation and interruption included?
- Are there age restrictions?
- What exclusions apply?
If your credit-card coverage ends before your trip does, you may be able to purchase a top-up or separate policy. Some insurers specifically offer top-up products for travellers who already have partial coverage. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Questions to Ask Before Buying
Before purchasing a policy, ask the insurer or broker:
- What is the maximum emergency medical coverage?
- Is emergency evacuation included?
- What happens if I need to return to Canada?
- How are pre-existing medical conditions defined?
- What is the stability period?
- What happens if my health changes before I travel?
- How long can I stay outside Canada?
- Are my planned activities covered?
- What are the cancellation and interruption benefits?
- What deductibles or exclusions apply?
- How do I contact the insurer during an emergency?
- How do I make a claim?
The Government of Canada recommends that travellers understand the policy's duration, restrictions, exclusions, emergency assistance and claims process before leaving Canada. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Fun Facts
- Your provincial or territorial health plan may cover little or none of the cost of medical care outside Canada. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Medical evacuation is one of the most important provisions to check because getting to appropriate medical care can involve significant transportation costs.
- Some Canadian insurers offer annual multi-trip policies, while others offer single-trip coverage, giving frequent travellers different ways to structure their protection.
- A travel insurance policy can be especially important for snowbirds because longer trips create a longer period of exposure to unexpected medical expenses.
- Having travel insurance doesn't necessarily mean every medical event is covered. Pre-existing-condition clauses, stability periods, exclusions and other policy conditions can determine whether a claim is eligible.
What Is the Best Travel Insurance for a Retiree?
For retirees, the cheapest policy isn't necessarily the best policy.
Instead, focus on the risks that could seriously affect your retirement finances.
For many retirees, that means prioritizing:
- High emergency medical coverage
- Medical evacuation
- Clear pre-existing-condition rules
- Adequate trip duration
- Emergency assistance available 24/7
- Reasonable cancellation and interruption protection
- Coverage for planned activities
If you're travelling for several months, pay particular attention to the maximum number of days allowed outside Canada. A policy that works perfectly for a two-week vacation may not be suitable for a four-month snowbird trip.
Don't Let Travel Insurance Become an Afterthought
Travel is supposed to be one of the great rewards of retirement. Insurance can't eliminate every risk, but the right policy can help prevent one unexpected medical emergency from turning into a major financial setback.
The best travel insurance for Canadians isn't necessarily the provider with the biggest advertising budget or the lowest quoted premium. It's the policy that provides appropriate protection for your age, health, destination, trip length and travel plans.
Conclusion
Canadians have many travel insurance choices, from major insurers and banks to specialty providers and brokers.
Start by determining what could financially hurt you most: medical treatment, evacuation, cancelling an expensive trip, returning home early or losing your baggage.
Then compare policies based on those risks rather than simply choosing the cheapest premium.
For retirees and snowbirds, travel insurance should be viewed as part of the overall retirement risk-management plan. Protecting your retirement savings from a potentially enormous uninsured expense can be just as important as choosing the right investments.
Before you travel, review the policy carefully, understand the exclusions and make sure the coverage lasts for your entire trip.
