Travelling can involve a lot of risks and these risks often require insurance. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to travel insurance and many Canadians don’t believe they need to invest in it. This can lead to hefty medical expenses if an emergency arises abroad.
Canadian provincial health plans only cover certain medical costs when travelling within the same province. When you venture out of the province, or out of the country, any medical expenses incurred might not be covered by insurance. This means that medical costs can quickly add up, leaving travellers with a hefty medical bill.
Take, for instance, the case of a Toronto woman travelling in Croatia who sustained serious head injuries after falling off a catamaran. Her family quickly found out that neither Ontario health insurance nor Foreign Affairs would cover the costs of an air ambulance to bring her back to Canada, leading them to crowd-source funds to pay for these significant expenses.
The reality is, oftentimes, travel insurance prevents serious financial burdens in the event of an emergency abroad. According to the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, in one year alone, Canadian travel insurance policyholders were paid a total of $620 million in claims. That’s an indication of just how effective and beneficial travel insurance is.
Even if you don’t plan on engaging in risky activities, travel insurance provides you with financial protection for sudden, unexpected expenses. A survey by the THIA also found that 38% of Canadians reported that a $1000-$5000 unexpected expense would be financially ruinous.
So if you are asking yourself whether you need travel insurance, consider the following:
- Do I have anyone who could cover my medical costs if something were to happen abroad?
- Do I plan on travelling to a country with a high cost of medical care?
- Will I be partaking in any activities that might lead to injury or health complications?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, purchasing travel insurance may be the best decision you ever make.