Skip to content

Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

Travel insurance allows you to visit those places on your Wishlist with peace of mind that you have protection in a medical or travel emergency. While insurance can’t prevent mishaps, it can provide assurances in dealing with medical costs, leaving you to focus on enjoying your trip be it work, adventure, or play.

What is Travel Insurance?

As the name suggests, travel insurance covers your bills if you need medical care while travelling. Beyond medical bills, it can also safeguard you from monetary loss if you have to cancel your trip, lose your baggage, or miss your connecting flight.

Not all travel insurance is alike, not all travel insurance policies cover lost luggage or flight cancellations. Not all travel insurance will cover you for existing issues or pre-known events. Speaking with our professionals will help you comprehend what your insurance covers, allowing you to make an informed decision.

There are two main types of travel insurance: travel medical insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Some insurance providers offer comprehensive coverage that includes a combination of both.

At James Campbell Insurance we work with your specific needs and budget to ensure you are not left wondering what you have purchased and if you might be covered correctly.

Travel Medical Insurance

Travel medical insurance covers the cost of medical bills if you are injured or fall sick while traveling. It can also include coverage for transportation costs if you are taken to a hospital in a foreign land.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

This type of insurance covers costs in case the trip has to be canceled or interrupted due to an unforeseen circumstance. Besides illness, this type of insurance covers trip cancellation or interruption due to bad weather.

Travel Insurance: How Does It Work?

You can purchase travel insurance in Ontario through a one-time lump sum payment. There are no recurring payments, only proof of loss to file your claim, no recurring payments.

After booking your travel tickets and accommodation, you should immediately look at getting travel insurance. It will help you cover the cost if you cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances. If not, you may bear the expenses if the booking is not fully or partially refundable.

Typical Coverage Under Standard Travel Insurance

The following are the elements covered under a travel insurance policy:

  • Emergency medical treatment for injury or illness
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • Prescription medication
  • Essential medical equipment
  • Ground, air, or sea ambulance service
  • Medical evacuation
  • X-rays and other lab procedures
  • Post-medical appointment follow-up
  • Meals and accommodation expenses while waiting for medical care

Things to Consider When Getting Travel Insurance

You must understand some things before finalizing your insurance provider and policy.

  1. Consider the destination, the length of the stay, and the activities you plan on doing. Go through the coverage and see if what you need is included. Some policies cover only medical expenses and not trip cancellations/ interruptions, so keep that in mind. There may also be time limitations to the coverage. So, make sure your policy covers the entirety of your trip.
  2. If you are a frequent traveler, look into multi-trip or annual policies, as this will save you from paying for a travel insurance policy for each trip.
  3. Only unforeseeable circumstances, like an accident or sudden sickness, are covered by travel insurance. Any avoidable circumstance before booking is foreseeable, which will not be covered. Additionally, your travel insurance policy doesn’t cover a change of heart. If there is no concrete reason why you had to cancel your trip, you will have to bear the monetary loss.
  4. While a standard travel insurance policy covers loss from sudden sickness or accidents, changing plans due to pre-existing conditions is not. Check the policy details or chat with your broker for what a pre-existing condition is.
  5. Travel insurance coverage in Ontario is calculated according to a certain percentage of your trip expense. It is usually between 4% and 10% of the costs, meaning the more expensive your trip is, the more you are covered.
  6. Some other elements you should consider are whether the policy is renewable or whether there is a deductible. Do you pay bills paid upfront/out of pocket, and does your policy cover COVID-related expenses?

Travel Insurance: Final Thoughts

It is just as important to understand the terms and conditions of travel insurance as it is to purchase travel insurance. Traveling with the assurance that unforeseen medical costs will not come out of pocket allows you to explore your destination with peace of mind. Peace of mind is paramount when you are traveling.

For more information about travel insurance and its coverage in Ontario, call James Campbell Insurance at 1-833-459-1065 or contact us here.