|
Why should a traveler buy travel insurance?
When you travel outside Canada, you leave up to 90% of your government health insurance plan behind. Government plans also typically cover only a limited portion of medical costs once you leave your home province or territory, even if you are still in Canada.
Travel insurance gives travellers coverage for unforeseen problems, from a serious illness to a cancelled flight or in rare cases, even an act of terrorism or the bankruptcy of a travel supplier. If an illness, accident, or other covered unforeseen circumstance forces a traveller to cancel or interrupt his or her plans, he or she faces two major financial losses-money invested in non-refundable prepayments, and medical expenses that in many instances may not be covered by health insurance. SecuriGlobe is your one-stop shop. We offer travel insurance plans tailored to specific types of travel, from modest trips to high-end luxury vacations. There are also products for last-minute getaways and extended trips, and specific coverage plans for cruise travelers, expatriates, students, visitors and much more. SecuriGlobe is also a well-known leader in snowbird coverage.
No matter where you are travelling, here are some excellent reasons to buy coverage.
Your government health plan does not cover any emergency medical expenses outside your province of residence
Most health insurance plans reimburse a very small portion of what a total bill could actually be, they do not provide payment directly to foreign hospitals, they may have a deductible, and/or will not cover the cost of emergency medical transportation.
The assistance hotline is there to help you in times of need-- to direct you to the right hospital and to ensure you are getting the proper medical care. Your Government Health Insurance Plan does not provide such extensive services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, nor does it provide upfront payment for emergency medical care, regardless of where you are. In addition, government plans do not guarantee coverage for special care (e.g. air ambulance or emergency dental services).
Your credit card coverage may be limited
Some credit cards provide emergency medical insurance when you are travelling outside Canada or your province/territory of residence; however, there may be important distinctions between what travel insurance covers and what your credit card's insurance plan covers.
For example, with a credit card, coverage might only apply to trips purchased on the card or be limited to a fewer number of travel days.
Before you take a trip, it is a good idea to review any coverage provided by your credit card, some of them may exclude any health-related conditions that existed prior to your departure date or will only cover you in case of accident.
Your retirement package/employee benefits plan coverage may be limited
As a retiree, you may not even have access to travel insurance coverage any longer and with health insurance under an employee benefits plan, out-of-country medical coverage may not be available, may not cover a spouse or dependents and often has limits on the number of travel days covered and amounts payable.
You may also find out that you are not covered in case of trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage loss, etc. It is a good idea for you to review your coverage prior to your departure.
You may need protection against a range of situations:
If you are travelling aboard an airplane, train, bus or other public transport, your flight or departure may be delayed (or cancelled altogether). You can be involved in an accident or suffer from an illness. Your luggage may be lost or damaged. Or you may have to cancel your trip or return home early due to a family emergency.
With SecuriGlobe, you can choose a travel insurance package that protects you against these types of situations and more. Or, if you do not need the all-inclusive protection a package offers, we offer stand-alone coverage, including:
- Emergency medical & hospital coverage
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
- Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance
- Rental Car Physical Damage Insurance
- Flight Accident Insurance
Our travel insurance programs will bring you peace of mind so that you can travel worry free. |
