Assurance voyage

Travel Insurance for Snowbirds


Make the most of your next long duration trip with an insurance solution designed for you.

Coverage Designed to Suit Your Needs

Ontario Blue Cross travel insurance for Snowbirds is designed specifically for Canadians who prefer to head south when winter arrives. You can choose coverage for a single trip, or for an unlimited number of trips with an annual plan. Our flexible travel insurance includes emergency travel assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Advantages That Make All the Difference

  • Optional deductibles on Emergency Medical Care coverage.
  • When possible, we arrange payment directly with the healthcare provider.
  • Some pre-existing conditions may be covered to improve your travel experience.
  • Access to a wide network of healthcare providers that includes 96% of U.S. healthcare facilities, covering the entire country, including Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
  • Travel assistance available 24/7 for any emergency, anywhere you travel.
Couple a velo

Discover Our Medical Coverage

Whether you spend the winter under the Florida sun or travel through Arizona or Mexico, our Emergency Medical Care coverage protects you in case of unforeseen events.

Soins médicaux d'urgence

Emergency Medical Care

This coverage insures common and reasonable expenses incurred as a result of a medical emergency resulting from an accident or illness that occurs during your trip.

Maximum coverage per traveller: $5,000,000

planet

Do you plan to travel several times during the year?

Our Multi-Trip Annual insurance plan covers you for an unlimited number of trips over a 12-month period. Choose the automatic renewal option so your plan never lapses, for hassle-free coverage1. All you have to do is choose your next destination!

  • Covers an unlimited number of trips in a 12-month period
  • Becomes effective at the start of your first trip2
  • Choice of base duration (17 or 31 days)3
  • Extension offered for trips exceeding purchased duration

Additional Coverage

Annulation ou interruption de voyage

Trip Cancellation or Interruption

This coverage insures the services described below if a serious or unforeseen event forces you to cancel, modify, interrupt or extend the planned trip.

Maximum coverage per traveller: $15,000

Décès ou mutilation accidentels

Accidental Death or Dismemberment

Covers you in the event of death or loss of use of one or more limbs as a result of an accident during your trip.

Maximum coverage per traveller: $300,000

Bagages

Baggage

Covers you for delayed, lost, stolen or damaged baggage during your trip.

Maximum coverage per traveller: $1,500

To add additional coverage to your travel insurance

Included with your travel insurance

flight delay service

Flight Delay Service

In the event of a flight delay, you could have access to an airport lounge or hotel room, depending on the duration of the delay.

assistance

Privileged access to the U.S. healthcare network

Our healthcare providers represent 96% of the healthcare facilities in the country. That gives you access to simple claims management for care received in the United States.

accessibility

24/7 Travel assistance

Our experts are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you anywhere in the world.

Frequently asked questions

Medical insurance is essential the moment you leave Ontario. The Canada Health Act requires provincial public health insurance to cover your medical costs in Ontario only; the public plan is not required to cover any medical costs outside the province. In fact, public health insurance covers only a small portion of medical and hospital costs incurred outside Ontario. For example, it may cover $50 for a medical consultation and $100 per day for hospitalization. Because medical costs are significantly higher abroad – particularly in the United States – without travel insurance, your financial security is at risk. Some fees abroad may be very costly.

If you become sick or injured while you’re away, your travel insurance can cover:

  • Accommodation costs and meals for your spouse or travel companion
  • Transportation costs if your return is delayed due to accident or illness when you have purchased trip interruption with medical coverage
  • Cost of medical evacuation by land or air ambulance, or by commercial flight
  • Repatriation costs for your children if you are hospitalized
  • Transportation costs to bring a loved one to you if you are hospitalized for seven days or more
  • Vehicle return costs to drive your vehicle or motor home to your home if you cannot drive due to accident or illness


These are costs the Ontario public plan does not cover and that you would be responsible for if you do not have travel insurance. Take a look at the products we have to offer.

The coverage provided by your credit card company may have limitations or restrictions. It is important to review your policy thoroughly for coverage details. It is often recommended that you purchase additional coverage for complete protection.

Check your credit card coverage for the following:

Travel duration
Travel insurance cannot be purchased once you depart from Ontario. It is important to check the length of stay covered by your credit card company, as well as any restrictions based on age.
Emergency medical care coverage
There are often strict eligibility and stability requirements based on your current health. Make sure you understand the exclusions in your coverage prior to your departure. You could be quite unhappy to learn that a health condition is excluded right when you need emergency medical care. Also make sure the coverage amounts are enough, and inquire about any deductibles you may have to pay.
Trip cancellation or interruption
If you incurred fees up front, make sure the amount covered under trip interruption/cancellation is enough to save you from financial losses. Most credit card companies do not cover trip interruption or cancellation, and when they do, the maximums are not sufficient to fully cover your costs. Blue Cross can provide you with coverage that protects you in the case of unforeseen situations.

Protect yourself and your family. Don’t risk your financial security with incomplete coverage. With Blue Cross travel insurance, you enjoy complete medical coverage by a travel insurance company recognized around the world.
 

Blue Cross travel insurance offers several deductible amounts if you wish to reduce your insurance premium, but they are not mandatory. If you do choose a deductible, you are responsible for any costs up to the chosen deductible amount.

That’s only partially true. Medical costs are covered across Canada, but provincial health plans:

  • do not offer the same services to non-resident travellers as they do to residents (even though you are Canadian, you are considered a non-resident even if you live in a neighbouring province)
  • vary from one province to another and do not pay the same rates in all provinces


Below are some examples of costs you may need to pay in a neighbouring province:

  • Return of vehicle
  • Air ambulance
  • Relatives visiting when you are hospitalized


There are billing agreements between certain provinces, but not all. Since medical costs vary from one province to another, what may be sufficient to cover a medical service in one province may not be enough to cover the same service in another.
 

An illness that already exists at departure is pre-existing. You must declare any pre-existing conditions when purchasing travel insurance to verify whether they are covered. For more information, please read the Travel Insurance Policy or contact one of our agents.
If you have any additional questions regarding travel insurance coverage for your health condition, please contact one of our agents.

A pre-existing medical condition is a health condition, illness, or injury that already existed before purchasing your Blue Cross travel insurance policy. To be covered by travel insurance, the pre-existing medical condition must be stable for a specified period as outlined in the policy. For more information, please feel free to contact one of our agents or read our blog article on the topic.

Travel advice

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Travel Insurance, an Essential Part of Your Family Vacation!

Planning your next family trip and wondering if you’re properly covered in case of accident or illness? You may have coverage through your group insurance or credit card… So, why would you need individual travel insurance? 

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Here are five myths about travel insurance

For many travellers, getting insurance before leaving is not on the list of priorities. Since unexpected issues can happen at any time, having insurance to protect you while travelling is very important.

9_errors

9 common mistakes when buying travel insurance

It may seem hard to decide and navigate all the travel insurance options out there for protecting yourself in the event of an accident or an unforeseen event. To protect yourself with the best available coverage...

1. The automatic renewal option is offered depending on the age of the travelers and the duration of the trip.
2. Cancellation coverage takes effect upon purchase of the insurance.
3. The base durations offered may vary depending on the age of the travelers and the duration of the trip.