Travel insurance is one of those trip essentials you hope you never need, and are very glad to have if something goes wrong. For Canadian travelers, it is especially important, because your provincial health coverage does not travel with you the way many people assume it does.

Why Canadians need travel medical insurance

Provincial health plans cover only a limited amount of emergency care outside Canada, and often far less than what a foreign hospital actually charges. A hospital stay, emergency surgery, or medical evacuation abroad can cost far more than provincial coverage reimburses, leaving you to pay the difference. Travel medical insurance is designed to cover that gap, so an illness or injury abroad does not turn into a major financial setback.

Coverage rules vary by province and by policy, so always read the fine print and confirm what applies to your destination, trip length, and any pre-existing conditions before you buy.

What a good policy covers

• Emergency medical care: hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance services, and prescription drugs related to a covered emergency.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation: transport to a suitable hospital, or back to Canada, when medically necessary.
• Trip cancellation: reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable costs if you must cancel for a covered reason.
• Trip interruption: extra costs if your trip is cut short, delayed, or disrupted for a covered reason.
• Baggage: coverage for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage and personal items, up to the policy limit.

Look closely at coverage limits, deductibles, exclusions for adventure activities, and whether the policy covers the full length of your trip, including any side trips.

When to buy

Buy travel insurance as soon as you start booking, not the week you leave. Trip cancellation coverage usually only applies to bookings made after the policy starts, and some benefits are tied to how soon after your first deposit you purchase. Buying early also means you are covered if something happens before departure. For frequent travelers, an annual multi-trip plan can be simpler and cheaper than buying a separate policy for every trip.

Get a quote

When you are ready to buy — ideally as soon as you start booking, as described above — Get a travel insurance quote from SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, TravelBookingNow’s affiliate partner for travel insurance. You can also start planning the rest of your journey on our Flight and Hotel pages.

Why Book With Us?

Why book with us? Because we keep it S.A.F.E.

TravelBookingNow is a Canadian travel site based in Alberta. We’re an Ambassador for SafetyWing, the travel medical insurance we recommend — booking through our link costs you nothing extra: SafetyWing pays us a commission, never you.

S

S — Secure Booking

You sign up on SafetyWing’s own secure website, so your payment and policy details stay protected — with an established insurer covering travellers in 180+ countries.

A

A — Affordable, With Nothing Added

Your price is shown before you pay — flexible, subscription-style cover — and booking through us adds nothing to it.

F

F — Friendly, Real-Person Help

We’re a real Canadian business in Blackfalds, Alberta. Email info@travelbookingnow.com or call (403) 825-0888 and you’ll reach a person, not a bot.

E

E — Easy Cover, Easy Changes

Arrange cover before you fly and you’re protected from day one — and if plans change, SafetyWing lets you extend your cover while travelling or cancel when you come home, all online.