Published on this website: October 19, 2026
A-Z Insurance · Information checked: 2026-10-11 · Original publication date unknown
When visiting family or taking a holiday in Canada, plan how you would handle an unexpected illness or injury. Visitors without Canadian government health-plan coverage should not assume local medical care is free. Visitor medical insurance can help with eligible expenses, subject to its terms. Check eligibility, dates, pre-existing conditions and procedures before travelling. Manulife's visitor-insurance overview
1. Emergency care comes first
For a life-threatening situation or an immediate need for emergency assistance in Canada, call 911 and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Do not delay treatment to obtain a claim number, contact a broker or wait for insurer permission. Ontario emergency-care guidance
Use an ambulance according to medical need. It is not a way to bypass an emergency-department queue; arrival by ambulance does not guarantee earlier assessment by a doctor. Brockville General Hospital's explanation of emergency triage
Once circumstances allow, you or a family member should contact the assistance provider listed in the policy. Both medical care and insurance notification matter, with safety first.
2. Confirm eligibility and any visa-related requirements
Tell your broker your age, arrival and departure dates, health information, government health-plan status and any side trips to other countries. A product for Canadian residents travelling abroad is not automatically suitable for a visitor to Canada.
Parents and grandparents applying for a Super Visa must meet IRCC's specific health-insurance requirements. Coverage must be valid for at least one year from entry, from a Canadian insurer or a qualifying foreign insurer. IRCC's Super Visa eligibility requirements
IRCC requires at least CAD100,000 in emergency coverage, including health care, hospitalization and repatriation. The policy must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit; a quote is not accepted. Carry valid insurance evidence for each entry and make it available to border officers on request. Foreign-issued policies must include the required Canadian-business issuance statement. IRCC's insurance-document checklist
A foreign insurer must be OSFI-authorized to provide accident and sickness insurance, appear on the federal financial-institution list and issue the policy while conducting insurance business in Canada. This does not make any overseas policy acceptable. IRCC's foreign-insurer requirements
3. Check waiting periods and effective dates
Buying after arrival may involve a waiting period for sickness. Length, age rules, continuity provisions and waivers vary. There is no universal two-to-fifteen-day rule.
Arrange insurance before departure where possible and confirm the actual arrival and effective dates. An illness that starts during a waiting period does not automatically become covered because treatment happens later. Never postpone needed care for insurance reasons. An example of waiting-period wording in Manulife's standard visitor plan
4. Review pre-existing conditions accurately
Answer health questions fully. Ask how the policy defines pre-existing conditions, stability, medication or treatment changes, pending investigations and undiagnosed symptoms. Buying early does not itself satisfy a stability requirement, and a doctor's opinion that you can travel is not an insurer's coverage confirmation.
Have a health professional clarify medical facts when needed, then ask the insurer to explain the wording and provide written answers. Government of Canada guidance on pre-existing conditions and travel insurance
5. Contact assistance promptly under your policy's rules
When doing so will not delay necessary care, contact the assistance provider as required. Ask about treatment arrangements, follow-up approvals and payment procedures. A family member can help notify it if you cannot.
“Notify within 24 hours” and “pay 20% if you do not” are product-specific provisions, not universal rules. Check your policy's requirements, consequences and exceptions when contact is impossible. A claim number alone does not approve every expense. An example in Manulife's basic visitor policy
6. Keep documents and check separate deadlines
Keep your policy, claim number, itemized bills, payment receipts, medical reports, prescriptions and relevant travel evidence. Submit the requested forms and supporting documents, retaining copies. Allianz's claims-document checklist
Notification, the claim application and proof of loss may have different deadlines. Ninety days is not a universal cut-off, and returning home does not automatically prevent a claim. Report promptly and ask how to provide outstanding documents if your file is incomplete. An example of notification and proof-of-loss rules in an Allianz emergency medical policy
7. Understand deductibles and refunds before buying
A deductible is the amount you bear under the policy. Its application may depend on an event, related condition or policy period. Adding together several medical bills does not establish the reimbursement: eligible expenses, limits and other terms also matter.
Refunds for visa refusal, non-arrival, an early return or obtaining government health coverage depend on the product. Evidence, deadlines, fees and claim history may affect eligibility. Before cancelling or seeking a refund, Super Visa holders should confirm how it affects the valid coverage required for their stay and any later entry. Manulife's standard visitor-plan cancellation and refund wording
Share the information before departure
Save the policy and emergency assistance number where travelling family members can find them. To discuss visitor-insurance options, contact A-Z Insurance at 905-707-2929 or info@azinsure.ca. For a medical emergency, call 911 or the local emergency service directly.
This is general insurance information, not medical, immigration or individual claims advice. Insurer examples illustrate product differences; your purchased policy version governs. Confirm current Super Visa requirements with IRCC.