Did you know ?
Travel insurance: an ounce of prevention
You put a lot of time and energy into planning your trip. But what about your travel insurance?
Fortunately, when it comes to cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost baggage, peace of mind is just a phone call away.
According to The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA), in 2013 nearly 40% of Quebecers travelled to the U.S. or another Canadian province without travel insurance coverage.
Why buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance protects you against unexpected emergency expenses associated with medical care as a result of an illness or accident, or even expenses incurred as a result of a death outside the country.
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) doesn’t always provide full reimbursement for expenses incurred in these types of situations. What’s more, healthcare costs are typically higher outside Quebec than they are here at home.
It is therefore essential to purchase private travel insurance to cover all or part of any expenses not reimbursed by the Régie. Taking out travel insurance before you leave will spare you any unpleasant or unexpected surprises.
A few examples
Medical treatment in the USA
| Urinary tract infection Billed in CAD $600 + prescription drugs Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ 25 $ Amount payable by uninsured patient 575 $ |
Food poisoning Billed in CAD 750 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ 25 $ Amount payable by uninsured patient 725 $ |
| Ear infection Billed in CAD 1 250 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ 25 $ Amount payable by uninsured patient 1 225 $ |
Fall with no broken bones Billed in CAD No surgery required 30 000 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ 50 $ Amount payable by uninsured patient 29 950 $ |
| Pneumonia Billed in CAD 35 000 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ $400/day or $2,400 /6-day hospitalization Amount payable by uninsured patient 32 600 $ |
Stroke Billed in CAD 62 000 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ $400/day or $2,000 /12-day hospitalization Amount payable by uninsured patient 57 200 $ |
| Heart attack (without bypass) Facturés en $ CA 100 000 $ Maximum remboursé par la RAMQ 400 $/jour ou 2 000 $/séjour de 5 jours Facture à payer par le patient sans assurance voyage 98 000 $ |
Heart attack (with bypass) Billed in CAD 305 000 $ Maximum reimbursed by RAMQ $400/day or $9,200 /23-day hospitalization Amount payable by uninsured patient 295 800 $ |
I am a Quebec resident. Why purchase insurance for travel within Canada?
All Canadians have health insurance. However, coverage under public plans varies from one province or territory to the next. Therefore, coverage for medical care and prescription drugs may not be the same.
When you compare the minimal cost of travel insurance to that of receiving medical care outside Quebec, it’s hard to imagine doing without. So be sure your packing list includes travel insurance with emergency medical coverage, and enjoy your trip!
Source: AssuranceVoyages.ca
Note: This blog post is provided for information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional legal, financial or fiscal advice. For advice specific to your personal situation, always speak with your advisor. AssuranceVoyages.ca cannot be held responsible for any decision made as a result of reading this blog post.
Travel insurance advice is provided by the advisors of AssuranceVoyages.ca, a subsidiary of SSQ Insurance.
