Will You Risk Not Having Health Insurance When Traveling To Canada?
Canada has a universal public health insurance program (Medicare) that usually covers the cost of most injuries and illnesses for citizens, meaning that individuals requiring dental or medical attention can visit doctors and hospitals with no bills to pay.
However, some
areas of health care aren’t covered by the governmental plan and travellers
from other countries or new residents may not have access to the free health
care, making short-term insurance a must.
Suffering a
medical emergency in a foreign country, even one as close as Canada, can empty
your wallet very quickly.
Most short-term
health insurance providers offer insurance for periods from as little as a few
days to up to a year. Considering that many travellers to Canada can visit for
only six months per year, health insurance coverage for longer periods may be
unnecessary.
However,
individuals planning to enter and leave the country frequently over the course
of a year should look into coverage that is as long as possible.
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If you have
health insurance in your own country, you can check with the insurance provider
to see if your current coverage will also cover any accident or illness while
travelling abroad, as you may not need a separate short-term insurance while on
vacation or business.
United States
insurance companies can provide extra insurance for travellers to Canada based
on the time spent out-of-country and the limits of coverage required.
While health care
costs in Canada are relatively lower than costs in the United States, you can
estimate that a hospital stay in Canada might average $3,000 a day and having
insurance coverage limits of approximately $50,000 is a good idea.
Compare costs
between insurance companies and find out ahead of time what medical needs are
covered and what aren’t. Never assume that the worst won’t happen, as it’s
always better to be safe than sorry.
Also, do work
with an insurance company that is professional and that carries a strong
reputation. While unknown companies may have cheaper rates, choosing an insurance
provider with a name most people recognize is the best decision.
Be careful of deductibles, as they’ll affect the overall cost of the insurance coverage.
Higher
deductibles lower rates and while paying out of pocket may seem feasible at the
time you agree to take short-term insurance coverage, you may find yourself in
serious medical straits without the available cash or funds required for
treatment.
A consideration
about requiring short-term health insurance for Canada is whether the
individual has a pre-existing condition, as most short-term insurance plans
will not cover costs relating to existing situations.
Short-term health
insurance is for emergencies only and for medical attention that is sudden or
unplanned. Evacuation is something to look into, should you need to return to
your home country or place of residence quickly.
Many insurance
providers don’t offer the option of covering costs of evacuation, and the
procedure could be expensive. Also, include dental insurance in your coverage
if possible, as many people overlook this aspect but find themselves requiring
emergency oral care.
Always carry
identification on you, as well as information or a policy card that lets
emergency attendants know that you have insurance coverage. Your identification
should include the provider and policy name, effective dates, and as much
pertinent coverage information as possible. (*)