Escape Winter Prepared – Purchase Travel Insurance!

Purchase travel insurance before you leave to ensure your vacation isn’t ruined by a mishap or accident – it could be extremely costly without it!

Why is it important to include travel insurance in your travel plans? Purchasing travel coverage ensures you and your loved ones are protected if, when you’re out of the country or the province, an accident or mishap occurs.

Many of us are traveling, escaping the cold, ice, and snow to warmer climes, at this time of year. Don’t forget, as you’re planning your flights, deciding on an itinerary, renting a car, and laying out clothes to pack, to make sure you’ve purchased adequate travel insurance, too.

Be prepared for the possibility of the unexpected. Even if it’s just a quick weekend trip to the United States!

In a recent report from Allianz Global Assistance Canada (AGAC), it’s suggested that we Canadians are choosing to go without travel insurance when we head off for quick getaways. Without realizing that, for only tiny savings, the risks can actually be quite significant.

The information in the report identifies that less than 1.4% of single-trip policies purchased by Canadians were for trips lasting a couple of days. A staggering statistic considering that Statistics Canada reports that, last year, over 12.5 million Canadians traveled across the border for at least one night.

That’s a huge number of Canadians traveling largely uninsured, particularly with the exorbitant costs associated with medical care in the United States.

Given the proximity for many of us to the border, quick trips across occur quite frequently. As a result, travelers often don’t consider purchasing travel insurance for their quick getaways leaving them painfully vulnerable in the event of the unexpected.

And while your provincial health plan coves a small percentage of medical expenses south of the border, it won’t be nearly adequate considering the possibility of thousands of dollars that can be incurred. Even just a few stitches in an American hospital can cost upwards of $3000, or a sprained ankle, approximately $2000. Let’s not even think about the costs associated with a serious injury requiring a hospital stay, or what might be sustained in the event of an auto accident.

To ensure you’re protected from expensive medical charges abroad or beyond the borders of British Columbia, we can help you get the coverage you need.  As a broker, we’re able to access packages offered by a range of different insurance companies, through whom we can provide you with different types of travel insurance coverage:

Emergency Medical Insurance: A more comprehensive option that includes everything from licensed ambulance to emergency medical transport to emergency dental expenses to prescription drug reimbursement to family transportation expenses as well as board and lodging for the insured person(s) or the traveling companion while confined to a hospital, and escort home of insured children and more.

All-Inclusive Holiday Package: Emergency Medical Insurance – Worldwide, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption, Baggage Insurance.

Non-Medical Package: Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Baggage Insurance.

Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance: Unexpected sickness, injury and/or death of the insured traveler or traveling companion, the insured traveler’s immediate family or the traveling companion’s immediate family; natural disaster, travel advisory, subpoena, involuntary job loss, missed connection, the non-issuance of a travel visa.

Additionally, Emergency Hospital, Annual Multi-trip Insurance, and others, as well as various trip lengths are available to choose from.

We can also provide insurance that allows you to travel around the world as often as you want or need, provided that the duration of your travel does not exceed the maximum number of days selected.

Relying on insurance provided by your credit card?

It’s important to note that credit card plans can often have limits to benefits and coverage. We know we can provide travel insurance to give you the most appropriate coverage for your needs. Questions? Ask us!

Your travels are meant to be enjoyed – you’ve worked hard to take the time for a trip!  But, it’s impossible to anticipate what might happen while you’re on the road or abroad. As such, it’s imperative that you consider all potential risks, no matter how short the trip.

Insurance to protect beyond that of your provincial medical plan

You may be planning a quick road trip south of the border. Perhaps it’s a more extensive trip to enjoy several months in the sun during the depths of our Canadian winter. No matter where you’re going beyond provincial borders, protecting yourself with travel insurance must be part of your travel preparations.

It’s very important that you understand that most provincial health plans will only cover you for expenses within your home province or territory. When you buy travel coverage, you protect yourself regardless of where you travel.

For instance, the provincial health plan we enjoy here in British Columbia will likely only cover a fraction of any healthcare expenses incurred outside of BC or Canada. Your plan’s coverage will be limited when traveling to another province and medical expenses outside of BC could be financially overwhelming.

The additional types of coverage you can purchase include Emergency Hospital and Medical Single trip Insurance, Snowbird coverage, Family Plans, Visitors to Canada, and non-medical plans including Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption, Flight Accident, Baggage coverage and more.

Planning to travel, out of Canada or British Columbia? Contact us or call 250-368-9188 for more information. Or get a FREE QUOTE.