The recent easing of border restrictions has triggered a surge not only in travel-thirsty Canadians heading overseas but also in the sales of travel insurance, which is designed to keep them protected during their trips.
An analysis of comparison website RATESDOTCA of insurance quotes from the first quarter of 2021 to the same period this year has revealed a significant year-on-year rise in interest across all travel insurance plan types.
Annual travel insurance plans posted the biggest increase at a whopping 1,229%, followed by trip cancellation policies at 1,175%. All-inclusive coverage, the most comprehensive plan type, also registered a massive spike in interest, with inquiries climbing 1,032% year-on-year.
“While travel intent may be up, the COVID-19 virus remains active – and many Canadians have the foresight to consider travel insurance to mitigate risks,” RATESDOTCA noted in its analysis. “As Canadians plot their next getaway or travel to see family overseas, they’ll want to ensure they protect themselves financially if there are cancellations or travel guidelines change.”
Industry insiders, however, have observed a shift in how Canadian holiday goers purchase travel insurance since the pandemic began.
“Before [COVID-19], the focus was often on premium,” Louiselle Landry, business development manager for TuGo, a British Columbia-based travel insurance company, told RATESDOTCA. “But we’re starting to see that people have a bit more awareness that travel insurance goes beyond that. People are now looking into what they are purchasing and making sure they have the proper coverage to have that peace of mind when they’re travelling.”
Most travel insurance policies in Canada are designed to cover costs incurred from health-related emergencies and disruptions to the travel itinerary. Here are the common travel insurance plans that Canadians can access, according to the comparison website.
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Travel insurance type |
Features and benefits |
|---|---|
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Single-trip emergency medical travel insurance/single-trip travel insurance |
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Annual emergency medical travel insurance/multi-trip travel insurance |
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Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance |
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Top-up travel insurance |
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All-inclusive travel insurance |
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Source: RATESDOTCA
The good news for Canadian travellers is that unlike at the onset of the pandemic when COVID-19 coverage was rare, travel insurance providers have since stepped up their game and have started offering protection against disruptions related to the coronavirus.
Tourists, however, also need to consider a few points before buying travel policies, according to insurance comparison website HelloSafe.ca. These are:
Read more: What COVID-19-related cover do Canada's top travel insurers provide?
RATESDOTCA, meanwhile, listed the common COVID-19 protections that insurance companies offer as part of, or as an add-on for, emergency medical travel insurance. These include:
According to RATESDOTCA, with “travel getting more expensive, all the more reasons [for Canadian vacationers] to insure it.”
“Though we hope we’re in the tail end of the pandemic and coming out of it now, you never really know what could potentially happen,” said Tanisha Kishan, RATESDOTCA expert and chartered insurance professional. “If you don’t purchase travel insurance and a government travel advisory changes, or you get sick, you may not qualify for particular products or reimbursement for your trip.”
Several factors impact travel insurance premiums, including the number and age of the travellers, the total length of the trip, and the type of coverage needed.
The comparison website calculated a travel insurance quote for a non-smoking 35-year-old male traveller on a 10-day trip abroad with no pre-existing condition and who is taking out a policy with $2 million in coverage and $0 deductible. The best average per trip the company found was $25.35.
Rising travel prices are prompting many international travellers to find ways to cut costs to be able to afford their dream vacations. Among these expenses is travel insurance. To find out how holiday goers can effectively save on premiums, Insurance Business checked out the websites of several industry specialists for practical tips and advice. Here’s what they say Canadian travellers should do to get the best coverage at the cheapest possible rates.
Some credit card providers already offer travel insurance as part of their package. This is the reason why experts recommend that card holders check if the travel policy included in their credit card purchase provides enough coverage.
“Two insurance contracts cost more money, and you won’t be allowed to file two claims if ever there’s a problem,” national insurer CAA noted. “Don’t tick the ‘travel insurance’ box on your checklist too soon, though. You need to make sure your existing policy provides sufficient coverage.”
For those who travel several times a year, it is better to purchase an annual travel policy, also called multi-trip insurance, rather than a single-trip plan every time they leave.
“You have one contract covering the whole year, so you only have to go through the purchase process once,” CAA explained. “You don’t need to contact your insurer again before every departure. You can also choose from various maximum lengths of stay.”
Group rates are typically cheaper than those for individual travellers, according to Toronto-based travel insurance specialist Ingle International. The firm added that even groups as small as five can avail of big discounts. For families, premium prices can be lower for those with three or more members.
“Typically, rates are only two times the price of the oldest family member’s policy and some plans do not limit the number of family members who can be included under one policy,” the company noted.
Just like when bundling auto and home insurance, combining travel coverage with other plans can result in cheaper premiums compared to buying each type of coverage separately.
“If you already have one policy with a given company, there’s a good chance they’ll give you a discount on the second,” CAA said.
A higher deductible means travellers will pay lower premiums. But this also increases the amount they need to pay before their travel insurance picks the tab in the event something goes wrong on their trip.
“You can save a whopping 75% of what your travel insurance would cost with no deductible at all,” Ingle International shared.
The specialist insurer added that snowbirds can avail of early bird discounts, especially in July, August, and September.
For those travelling within the country’s borders, they can lower their travel insurance premiums by purchasing Canada-only plans.
“For an insurer, someone travelling within Canada is less of a risk than someone travelling elsewhere in the world,” according to CAA Québec. “For example, healthcare costs here at home are much lower than in the US, [with] the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec reimbursing a portion.”
“The cost to the insurer for a Québecer who falls ill in Ontario will therefore be less than that for another Québecer in the same situation, but who is vacationing in Maine,” the firm added.
Vacationers planning to extend their holidays can save money by purchasing a top-up travel insurance policy rather than buying a whole new plan for the remainder of the trip, according to Ingle International.
“If you already have sufficient coverage for part of your trip through your group benefits or a credit card, it’s as simple as topping up with some additional days,” the company explained.
CAA advised travellers to purchase travel insurance in advance, especially if the discount is available only before a specific date. This will also protect them from any sudden increase in premiums.
