What You Need to Know About Insurance When You Travel to the States
All things considered, Canada is a pretty great place to live. If you ask any Canadian what makes this vast and frosty dominion one of the greatest countries on the planet, I’m sure they’ll have plenty to say.
Maybe it’s the diverse blend of cultures and the wide open outdoors. Maybe it’s Tim Hortons. No matter what you think makes Canada great, everyone likely agrees that the universal health care system is by far one of the best things about living here.
Unfortunately, that wonderful government care doesn’t have your back when you step below the border. The way healthcare is handled in the United States, going there without travel insurance is just asking for trouble. Here’s what you should know about travel insurance when you travel to the States.
What kind of coverage is there?
Canadians travel to the States for a variety of reasons and for varying periods of time. Someone might just be popping across for some retail deals, while another may be visiting family. Others are snowbirds, escaping the icy winter by living in down south for a few months. These different needs can be met with different coverage plans. There are two basic types: single-trip plans and multi-trip plans
As the names imply, single-trip plans are good for people who need infrequent or long-term trips. If you know your travel to the States will take longer, you should consider a single-trip plan.
Multi-trip insurance plans usually cover an unlimited number of short-term trips per year. Aside from those categories there are specific things different policies will cover including basic medical care and emergency evacuation. Make sure you understand the coverage you can expect when you travel to the States, and get a policy that fits your needs.
Travel insurance is getting more expensive
For a fairly long time, the value of the Canadian dollar was pretty close to the U.S. dollar. Unfortunately, those days are gone. As a result, the cost of medical care has jumped for those who travel to the States. The price you pay is more expensive to reflect the lower value of the loonie as compared to the greenback. You need to be aware of that before you make your travel plans. Be on top of the situation, and be realistic about what you can expect to pay.
So, how can you save?
The best way to make sure you aren’t overspending is to know what kind of coverage you need. Avoid getting coverage for things you don’t need while you travel to the States. Additionally, it also helps to shop around. You can use a broker or an online aggregator to get multiple quotes on your insurance. Choose the plan that works best for you, at the lowest price.
No matter your plans while you visit our southern neighbours, you want to make sure that you are getting the best bang for your insurance buck.