Travel insurance
Travel with peace of mind: emergency care, repatriation, cancellation and baggage.
In brief
Travel insurance
A fracture in Cancún, appendicitis in Florida, an air-ambulance flight home: medical costs abroad, especially in the United States, can reach tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your health insurance card protects you very little once you cross the border.
How it works
In an emergency during your trip, you call the insurer's assistance service, open day and night. It directs you to a facility, often pays the hospital directly and arranges repatriation if needed.
The policy can cover a single trip or all your trips for the year, up to a maximum length per trip. Trip cancellation and interruption, baggage and travel accident are separate coverages added depending on the trip.
The advantages
A bill that won't ruin you
Hospital costs abroad are paid according to the contract.
Assistance 24/7, in English or French
A team guides you when you are at your most vulnerable.
Repatriation arranged
A return to Québec with medical escort if needed.
Your travel spending protected
With cancellation coverage, an unexpected event does not cost you the price of the trip.
Who is it for?
- Snowbirds
- Who spend the winter down south: a policy suited to long stays and a carefully completed medical questionnaire are essential.
- Families
- Family coverage for every trip of the year.
- Business travellers
- Annual coverage for frequent trips.
- Those travelling within Canada
- Even in another province, some costs are not covered by the RAMQ, such as ground ambulance depending on age.
A real-life example
Gilles and Monique, 68 and 66, spend three months in Florida every winter. In February, Gilles has a cardiac episode: emergency room, three days in hospital, then a flight back to Montréal under medical supervision.
Their travel insurance pays the hospital directly and arranges the return. The RAMQ reimburses only a small fraction of these costs outside Canada. Without private insurance, the bill could have far exceeded several years of premiums.
The options available
| Single trip or annual | Depending on how often and how long you travel. |
|---|---|
| Emergency medical care | The basic coverage, essential. |
| Cancellation and interruption | For prepaid trips. |
| Baggage and personal effects | For lost, stolen or delayed baggage. |
| Credit card insurance | Useful, but check the age, duration and amount limits. |
Key terms
| Emergency medical care | Hospital, doctor, drugs and transport in case of sudden illness or accident. |
|---|---|
| Pre-existing condition | A health problem known before departure. It often has to be stable for a period set in the contract. |
| Stability period | No change in treatment, medication or symptoms during a defined period before departure. |
| Cancellation and interruption | Reimbursement of prepaid costs if you must cancel or cut short the trip for a covered reason. |
| Annual multi-trip insurance | Coverage for all your trips during the year, up to a number of days per trip. |
What to watch for
- The medical questionnaire: a mistake, even an honest one, can lead to a denied claim.
- The stability period for pre-existing conditions.
- The maximum length per trip, especially for long stays.
- Excluded activities: extreme sports, alcohol use, travel to a region under an official advisory.
- The limits of insurance included with credit cards.
The right questions to ask
- How many days per trip and per year will I travel?
- Have my medical conditions been stable long enough?
- Does my credit card really cover me?
- Do I need cancellation coverage?
The complete guide, free
Everything you need to know, illustrated and explained in plain language, with a worked example and the pitfalls to avoid. No sign-up or email required.
Let's talk about your situation
A 30-minute meeting, in person in Montreal, by Google Meet or by phone. I compare the products of several insurers, at no cost and with no obligation.
Other protections
Sources :
- Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec, services covered outside Québec
- Government of Canada, travel.gc.ca — travel insurance
- Standard insurer contracts, reviewed in October 2026
General information: this content is not personalized advice. Guarantees, exclusions and premiums are those of the insurer's contract. Images: Pexels photographs (Pexels licence) and illustrations generated by artificial intelligence; the people shown are models or fictional characters.