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From hiking trails in Ontario to traversing the slopes of the famous ski resort town of Whistler, there is no shortage of places to visit in Canada.
The vast North American country is a popular destination for travel-loving Aussies. In addition to a growing share of business travelers, more than 350,000 Australian tourists typically visit Canada each year.
While visitor numbers faded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the multitude of Australians heading to the Great White North has picked up in the last two years, particularly to experience the country’s stunning landscape.
1
Fast Cover Travel Insurance
Medical cover
Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance
Cancellations
Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)
Key Features
25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating
2
Cover-More Travel Insurance
Medical cover
Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental
Cancellations
Yes, amount chosen by customer
3
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Medical Cover
Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs
Cancellations
$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited
Do You Need Travel Insurance For Canada?
Travel insurance for Canada isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended to cover for any lost or stolen baggage, the possibility of your trip getting cancelled due to an emergency, illness such as Covid-19 or bereavement, and to cover medical expenses.
The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website recommends that travellers purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip.
As in any foreign country, medical care in Canada can be expensive for visitors, with a visit to a doctor potentially setting you back by hundreds of dollars.
The Australian government won’t cover these costs, and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Canada, so you aren’t covered by Australian Medicare either.
In addition, given the large geography of the country covering a variety of destinations from beaches to mountains to national parks, it is wise to hold insurance cover for a multitude of events and a variety of potential risks including natural disasters, crime or other types of emergencies.
What Type of Travel Insurance Do You Need?
International travel cover for Canada is generally available in the following ways:
Basic travel insurance
This type of policy is broadly focused on cover for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, but also includes insurance for luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those traveling on a budget or for single trips.
Comprehensive travel insurance
This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, and so on. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and more, depending on your policy.
Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips within a 12-month period.
Optional add-on policies
Given the growing number of Australians heading to Canada for cruises, road trips or to the ski slopes, some insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for a variety of adventure sports and transport options available. These include cruise packs, winter sports packs and even higher cover for rental vehicles.
Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
What Does Travel Insurance For Canada Cover?
Most international travel insurance policies will cover medical and hospital expenses, ambulance transportation, repatriation flights, as well as personal liability if you injure someone, or damage property while you’re in the country.
Policies will also cover, within limits, lost or delayed luggage and possessions, the costs of trip delays, interruptions or cancellations, and lost or stolen travel documents.
Comprehensive policies usually offer a broader cover to include personal accident cover in case of an injury during your trip that leads to permanent disability or death, and insurance excess payment if your rental car meets with an accident.
If you are planning to take advantage of Canada’s vast offering of adventure sports and activities, make sure these are covered by your policy—or that there is an option to add it on.
Most comprehensive policies will include popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, snow skiing or snowboarding will generally require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.
What Does Travel Insurance Exclude?
Most travel insurance policies to Canada will not provide cover in the following cases:
- Illegal activities: Insurers will reject any claims arising if you knowingly act illegally or dangerously.
- If you are under the influence: Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs.
- Unattended luggage: Insurers will ignore any claim for loss if your luggage is stolen while it was left unattended in public.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
- Extreme sports: International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like extreme sports, snowboarding or surfing. An optional add-on cover is required for these activities.
Best Travel Insurance For Canada
Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Canada. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and the type of cover.
It will also be determined by your specific needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.
An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our leading picks of travel insurance policies for Australians. However, always consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip, and any pre-existing medical conditions you would require cover for.
Featured Partners
1
Fast Cover Travel Insurance
Medical cover
Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance
Cancellations
Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)
Key Features
25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating
2
Cover-More Travel Insurance
Medical cover
Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental
Cancellations
Yes, amount chosen by customer
3
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Medical Cover
Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs
Cancellations
$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?
Travel insurance for Canada isn’t mandatory, but is highly recommended.
The Australian Government urges travellers to purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip, especially for medical cover.
Medical costs can be extremely expensive in a foreign country, especially if you have to visit a doctor, dentist or hospital in an emergency, so travel insurance is very handy.
Does my visa card have travel insurance?
Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. In addition, this may not cover all circumstances or emergencies. By comparison, a travel insurance policy will offer more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.
