Snowbird Travel Insurance

Seniors Planning To Travel To Warmer Countries This Winter Must Buy Travel Medical Insurance

Aug 10th, 2010 - Our phones lines are busy once again with our wonderful snowbird customers looking to purchase medical insurance for their upcoming winter retreat. Lets review some quick tips to help Canadian snowbirds get medical insurance coverage for snowbird season 2010.

Pre-existing Conditions

Will I be covered for my pre-existing medical condition? This is the most asked question from our traveling senior customers. Seniors should carefully understand how pre-existing condition exclusion clauses work and how they apply to their in their travel insurance plan. ...read more

Top-ups

Already covered by a multi-trip annual plan but planning a trip longer than the maximum number of coverage days allowed? Then you can use our quote system to get rates on top-up coverage that will cover the days that your multi-trip plan will not cover. ...read more

Single Trip, Multi-trip, Annual, Blended Medical Insurance

In most cases, purchasing single trip coverage is the least expensive option but not always! If you are a Canadian snowbird who takes several more shorter trips through the remainder of the year it may be more economical to combine (or blend) a multi-trip plan plus extra top-up days to cover your long snowbird trip. Then once you return your annual plan will continue to cover you through the remainder of the year. ...read more

Medical Underwriting

In most cases, our powerful travel medical insurance quote system will find coverage for senior customers with pre-existing medical conditions. If you do no qualify for one of the plans available from our quote system then you may still be able to obtain coverage by completing a medical underwriting application. On request we can supply you the necessary applications. ...read more

Extensions

What happens if you decide to stay longer then expected? If you have not had a claim then most companies will extend your trip. Although some companies may not extend beyond a maximum trip length (normally 6 months). If you are delayed due to weather or transportation delays most medical insurance policies have an automatic grace period from 42-72 hours. Please check the policy booklets for more details.

Refunds

If you purchase medical travel insurance and your trip gets cancelled prior to departure then you can apply for a refund of the premiums paid. There may be a nominal administrative fee applied to refunds. Please check you policy booklet for details.

Iceland Volcano Erupts Travel Across the Globe In Chaos

What to know about trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance when natural disasters hit!

Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance will cover you for natural disasters like the current disruption happening in Europe. It is important that you learn about the limitations and exclusions of trip cancellation and interruption policies prior to purchasing a plan. Each insurance company will have different wordings dealing will events like volcano ash clouds or hurricanes, but generally speaking they are designed similar.

So how does this apply to the current Volcanic natural disaster?

Generally Speaking - If you purchased your Cancellation/Interruption travel insurance policy prior to the eruption (and no other exceptions or limitations are in effect) then you would be eligible to claim under the cancellation/interruption benefits in your plan. If you purchased your plan after the Volcanic eruption then you would not be eligible to claim against your Cancellation/Interruption benefits in your travel insurance policy.

As always, TravelInsuranceQuotes.ca urges customers to read the policy booklets closely prior to purchasing any travel insurance plans.

Read more on Trip Cancellation Insurance and All Inclusive Travel Insurance

Important Notice For Travelers To Cuba

Beginning May 1st, 2010 all travelers to Cuba will require valid medical insurance.

Update - April 13, 2010 - TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators has confirmed they have received confirmation from the Cuban Tourist Bureau (on referral from the embassy) that there is no approved list of travel insurers, that any travel insurance policy issued by a bona fide travel insurance company in Canada will be acceptable.

Feb 25th, 2010 - Foreigners and Cuban emigrants must carry a travel insurance policy with medical coverage in order to enter Cuba. Policies must be purchased from either foreign insurance companies approved by the Cuban government or Cuban firms at points of entry into the country.

Cuba's approved medical insurance plan list has yet to be published. We will update the approved plans as they become available.

Newsflash - H1N1 Swine Flu, Are You Covered?

Update - May 15, 2009 - H1N1 Travel Advisory to Mexico has been removed

Educate yourself prior to traveling to an unsafe country

With the recent H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic and ongoing political strife in popular travel destinations it is more important now than ever to ensure you are adequately covered by your travel insurance policies before you depart on your trip.

We have prepared an article that explains different types of travel insurance and how each travel insurance company deals with travel advisories and warnings from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Read more on Traveling to Dangerous Countries