Are you planning to travel outside of Canada in the near future? If so, you should make sure that you have the appropriate coverage required in case you find yourself in need of medical attention while travelling. Your provincial health coverage will not apply once you’re outside Canadian borders.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get travel medical insurance, including through your credit card. If you plan to do a lot of travelling, you may want to consider taking out a credit card that comes with a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan so you’re adequately covered while abroad.
That way you don’t have to take out and pay for a separate policy, as coverage will be included with your credit card in exchange for an annual fee.
A travel medical insurance policy covers medical issues that you suffer while travelling abroad. If you get sick or are injured while on holiday, your travel medical insurance plan should cover the expenses related to medical care, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medical procedures, and medication.
Looking for even more coverage? Here’s our complete list of credit cards with travel insurance.
Travel medical insurance is designed to cover travellers in the event of a medical emergency while abroad. However, there may be several situations that are not covered under a travel medical insurance plan, including the following:
| Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Travel Insurance | |
| National Bank Platinum Mastercard | $70 | Earn the equivalent of $490 in rewards the first year when you reach the minimum purchase amount required. | – Comprehensive insurance coverage for up to 10 days – Out-of-province medical/hospital insurance – Departure flight delay insurance – Baggage insurance in case of delay – Baggage insurance in case of theft or loss – Vehicle rental insurance |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | Earn up to 40,000 points in the first year | – Travel emergency medical insurance – Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance – Flight delay insurance – Travel accident insurance – Delayed and lost baggage insurance – Rental car collision loss/damage insurance – Hotel/motel burglary insurance |
| BMO World Elite Mastercard | $150 | Receive up to 30,000 points | – Travel medical insurance – Travel accident insurance – Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance – Car rental collision loss/damage waiver insurance – Delayed and lost baggage insurance – Flight delay insurance |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite* Card | $139 | Earn up to 30,000 Aeroplan points | – Travel medical insurance – Trip cancellation/interruption insurance – Flight/ trip delay insurance – Delayed and lost baggage insurance – Rental car collision/damage insurance – Hotel/motel burglary insurance |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite* Card | $139 | Earn up to 40,000 bonus points | – Trip cancellation/ interruption insurance – Flight delay insurance – Travel accident insurance – Delayed and lost baggage insurance – Rental car collision/damage insurance – Hotel burglary insurance |
With the National Bank Platinum Mastercard, you’ll be covered for up to 10 days while travelling abroad. Plus, you can take advantage of other travel insurance coverage, including:
The National Bank Platinum Mastercard also allows you to collect points whenever you use your card for expenditures.
You can redeem your points for merchandise, gift cards, and travel. Get more for your accumulated points when you redeem them for travel, and claim any eligible travel expenses through the À La Carte Rewards site. Plus, you can pay down your credit card balance, invest in a financial product, or even pay your mortgage with your rewards points.
Earn the equivalent of $490 in rewards the first year when you reach the minimum purchase amount required.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express offers an in-depth travel insurance package, including coverage for travel medical insurance. You, your partner/spouse, and your dependent children are covered for up to $1 million in emergency medical coverage if you experience an unexpected illness or injury that occurs while travelling outside of Canada.
Coverage is provided for up to 25 consecutive days to those under the age of 65, and for up to 3 consecutive days for eligible people aged 65 years and older. If you are travelling for longer than 25 days or are over the age of 65 travelling for an extended period of time, there is a purchase extension coverage option available through Scotia Assist that can provide you with the coverage you need.
Coverage under the Scotiabank Gold American Express’s travel medical insurance plan includes costs associated with hospital care, nursing care, prescription medication, ambulances, and doctor’s fees.
The plan is subject to exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions.
Other travel coverage is also offered to Scotiabank Gold American Express cardholders, including the following:
This rewards card not only comes with travel medical insurance but also allows you to earn points with every expenditure made. With the Scotiabank Gold American Express, you will earn 5 points for every $1 spent on eligible groceries, restaurants, and food delivery. Then. you’ll earn 3 points for every $1 spent on gas and transit, and 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else.
As a welcome bonus, you can earn up to 40,000 points in the first year.
Plus, there are no fees on foreign transactions to pay when spending in foreign currencies.
With the BMO World Elite Mastercard, you’ll be covered for up to 31 days against medical costs incurred while travelling, for up to $2 million in eligible medical expenses. These medical benefits are available to cardholders under age 75 and are provided by the Canadian arm of Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company.
Other travel insurance coverage items included with your credit card include the following:
You can also earn points when you spend using your BMO World Elite Mastercard. This points card allows you to earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible travel, restaurants, and entertainment, and 2 points for every $1 spent anywhere else. And when you first sign up, you’ll receive up to 30,000 points and have the $150 annual fee waived in the first year.
Plus, you’ll get access to VIP airport lounges through LoungeKey.
As a TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite cardholder, you’ll receive comprehensive travel medical insurance coverage up to $1 million for the first 21 days of your trip if you’re under the age of 65. Those over the age of 65, you’ll be covered for the first 4 days of travel. You may also opt to purchase top-up coverage if your trip will be longer than 21 days or you’re over the age of 65 years.
Other travel insurance coverage is also available, including the following:
Being a TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite cardholder also allows you to earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. On every other purchase, you’ll earn 1 point. Plus, you can double your points when you pay with your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and give out your Aeroplan number at Aeroplan partners and at online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.
As a welcome bonus, you can earn up to 30,000 Aeroplan points and a Buddy Pass bonus as a first-time cardholder.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card comes with comprehensive travel medical insurance coverage. For cardholders under the age of 65, up to $1 million in emergency medical coverage is provided for up to 25 straight days of travel. And for those over the age of 65, coverage is provided for up to 3 consecutive days.
A purchase extension coverage option is also available through Scotia Assist which provides coverage for those over the age of 65 or who are looking to take extended trips.
Other travel insurance is also offered with this card, including the following:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cardholder, you’ll earn 2 points on every $1 spent on eligible groceries, dining, entertainment, and transit. For all other purchases, you’ll earn 1 point on every $1 spent.
During the first year, you can earn up to 40,000 bonus points, a value of up to $400 in travel.
And when you make purchases in currencies other than Canadian dollars, you won’t have to worry about paying any foreign transaction fees.
Want even more perks with your credit card? These cards offer airport lounge access.
If you suffer a medical mishap while on vacation and require medical attention, you will have to get in touch with your insurance provider to inform them of the situation and get started filing a claim. It’s important that you contact your insurance provider right away — no later than 24 to 48 hours after the incident — in order to ensure that you will receive full coverage. Otherwise, you may find yourself with limited compensation or a denied claim altogether.
You will need to provide your insurance company with as much information as possible, including the cause of your illness or injury. Once you are charged for your medical care, you will need to forward the invoice to your insurer so they will have all the information they need to approve the expenses.
As long as the incident in question is covered under your policy, your claim should be approved. Once it’s approved, you will receive the appropriate compensation shortly afterward.
With the right credit card in hand, there’s likely no need for you to pay for a separate travel medical insurance plan. The above-mentioned cards are some of the best in terms of medical insurance while travelling and also come with additional perks including the chance to earn points with every dollar spent.
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Priyanka Correia is a Marketing Coordinator and personal finance expert at Loans Canada. Priyanka completed her Bachelor's degree in Marketing at Concordia University and has published work that has been mentioned in various news media. She is passionate about money management and educating Canadian consumers about how to take control of their financial lives.
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