Snowbirds are individuals who migrate from colder northern regions like Canada to warmer southern areas during the winter months. Snowbirds are younger retirees or older adults from Canada who seek to avoid the severe winter conditions by spending time in places like Florida, Arizona, or even Mexico and the Caribbean. Snowbirds can also include younger people, like seasonal workers or those with flexible jobs, who travel south to follow the tourist season. Snowbirds return to their northern homes in the spring, staying connected with family and friends while enjoying the benefits of warmer climates during the winter.
Due to the high medical costs in the U.S., it is crucial for Canadian seniors visiting the USA to purchase the best Snowbird travel insurance through AmericanVisitorInsurance. Please feel free to contact us at (877)-340-7910 or email us to get help from one of our licensed agents in finding the best Snowbird travel medical insurance for the USA.
Here are some important tips for Canadian snowbirds:
AmericanVisitorInsurance can help ensure a safe, healthy, and enjoyable experience for Canadian snowbirds traveling to warmer destinations.
During winter, many Canadians particularly senior citizens travel to southern countries where the weather is warmer and more pleasant. These Canadian travelers are commonly known as Snowbirds.
Since domestic health insurance in Canada does not offer coverage outside Canada’s border, buying proper overseas travel insurance from Canada is recommended by the Canadian government authorities.
Healthcare expenses in the US and Europe is very high and it is risky to be uninsured while traveling in those countries.
Starting April 11, 2025, Canadians traveling to the US for more than 30 days are required to register with US immigration authorities and provide fingerprints. This will be a strict enforcement of an existing law which was previously applied inconsistently and aims to improve compliance with US immigration regulations.
This new rule, issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), applies to all foreign nationals crossing the US-Canada land border who are 14 years or older and staying for more than 30 days in the USA. This will impact close to 3 million Canadians annually, including around 1 million "snowbirds" who spend extended winters in the US.
Canadian professionals on long-term assignments in the US must comply with the new registration and fingerprinting requirements. However, short-term visitors to the US, such as tourists and cross-border shoppers should not be impacted.
The premium cost of the U.S. health insurance for Canadian snowbirds isn't fixed and varies based on several factors like the age of the individual, the duration of the travel and stay, coverage needed, policy maximum amount chosen, deductible chosen and hence is a variable factor. Each plan offers different benefits. Travel Insurance plans come in two types. One is a fixed benefit plan and the other is a comprehensive plan. Fixed benefit plans specify the charge for the specific limit while the comprehensive plans extend the coverage to policy maximum limit.
The most affordable Canadian medical insurance in USA starts from $20 per month with options up to $155 per month. The cost depends on the age of the visitor, medical maximum coverage and deductible. The average cost of fixed benefit visitors travel insurance for USA is based on quotes for one month.
| Plan Name | Plan maximum | Deductible | Age 40 | Age 60 | Age 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels Advantage | $25,000 - $150,000 | $0 | $20 - $58 | $39 - $102 | $60 - $166 |
| Visitors care | $25,000 - $100,000 | $100 | $21 - $45 | $40 - $75 | $66 - $148 |
| Safe Travels Elite | $25,000 - $175,000 | $0 | $26 - $76 | $50 - $134 | $109 - $155 |
Source: American Visitor Insurance®
The best travel insurance cost for USA ranges from $71 to $332 per month. The cost depends on the age of the visitor, medical maximum coverage and deductible. The average cost of comprehensive travel insurance for USA is based on quotes for one month with $250 deductible.
| Plan name | Plan maximum | Age 40 | Age 60 | Age 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Travels USA Cost Saver | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $71 - $117 | $139 - $250 | $237 - $299 |
| Visitors Preferred | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $77 - $144 | $148 - $301 | $253 ($50,000) |
| Patriot America Lite | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $78 - $146 | $137 - $274 | $234 ($50,000) |
| Patriot America Plus | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $78 - $147 | $177 - $307 | $355 ($50,000) |
| Safe Travels USA | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $80 - $157 | $147 - $295 | $252 - $332 |
| Diplomat America | $50,000 - $1,000,000 | $125 -$214 | $229 - $301 | $353 ($50,000) |
Source: American Visitor Insurance®
Given the high cost of healthcare in the U.S., it's important to choose a plan with comprehensive medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and benefits for pre-existing conditions. The best medical insurance for visitors to USA from Canada are:
Medical maximum
$50,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, $1,000,000
Period of Coverage
5 days to 364 days
Deductible options
$0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000
Medical maximum
$50,000, $100,000, $500,000, $1,000,000
Period of Coverage
5 days to 12 months
Deductible options
$0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500
Medical maximum
$50,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, $1,000,000
Period of Coverage
15 days to 365 days.
Deductible options
$0, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000
Medical maximum
$50,000, $100,000, $250,000
Period of Coverage
90 days up to 12 months.
Deductible options
$250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000
Naturally, the first thing one thinks about when planning a trip is not how much a trip in that country’s ER will cost you. However, we do suggest you consider the high costs of health care in the US and arrange to have yourself and your loved ones covered in case something does happen.
Emergency room expenses and hospital stays are extremely expensive and regularly impoverish under-uninsured and uninsured people in the US. It is not a great state of affairs, but at the moment, this is a reality.
The cost of a routine physician's visit is significantly higher in the U.S., where it might be $176. An echocardiogram can cost around $1,000 in Massachusetts and around $3000 in New Jersey depending on the provider. The cost of common ailments like Diabetes Mellitus with Hyperglycemia admitted to an emergency room would cost around $2,500 - $5000. Stroke resulting in ICU for about 10 days would cost $120,000, Heart attack treatment with medical bills for ambulance, hospital emergency room, ICU, EKG and MRI heart scans and continuing care from cardiologists would cost about $20,000, the average treatment cost of acute kidney failure in the USA was over $22,000.
While there are several reasons for high healthcare costs, the fact remains that one cannot afford to be uninsured while visiting the US. In US hospitals the cost for any treatment is much lower if you have insurance and the hospital is part of the PPO network when compared to getting the same treatment without any insurance. This is beyond the actual insurance coverage itself, so simply having visitors insurance reduces the bill substantially. This high price without insurance is unimaginable for visitors to pay out of their pocket. It is important for Canadians to realize the importance of health insurance while visiting the US.
You must be very careful and bring any prescription medication as well as a prescription or copy of such so that you can show that you have good reason to have medications with you. There are lower cost “Urgent Care” centers that can be used for sudden, non-life threatening situations that will be cheaper and quicker than trying to visit a hospital emergency room. They can assess the situation and often treat the situation quickly and efficiently. They also are open beyond “normal” doctor hours (why do these things seem to always happen on Sunday afternoons?) which can be helpful to be aware of.
Here at AmericanVisitorInsurance, we have many Canada to USA travel insurance plans from reputable US insurance companies who help travelers from Canada receive the care they need! Let us help you find the right travel insurance for Canadian citizens visiting the United States.
If you are not sure of the type of snowbird travel medical insurance you should get, it is important to know about the different types of coverage options available to you. The most common snowbird health insurance coverage in the US are.
Compare and Buy Best US Single trip travel Insurance for travel within the US and overseas
Know more »Compare Single trip vs multi trip insurance plans offered by US insurers.
Know more »The United States of America attracts hundreds of thousands of Canadian snowbirds each year. Canadian Snowbirds are travelers who migrate to the US during winter from northern parts of North America to warmer southern locations. These snowbirds travel south, mainly to warmer regions in the United States like Florida, Arizona, California and Texas.
They spend their winter months in the US and return to Canada afterward. Traditionally, snowbirds are retirees seeking to avoid the cold and snow of winter, while still maintaining connections with family and friends by residing in Canada for the remainder of the year. The snowbird lifestyle is evolving, with an increase in snowbirds across various age groups, including some businessmen.
In recent years, younger groups with jobs often migrate southward and business men also have their second home in warmer locations. The report from Statistics Canada confirms that there are at least 375,000 Snowbirds who go to the United States and Mexico each year. The travel pattern holds true for many Canadian snowbirds travelling back and forth multiple times during the winter.
Along with Snowbirds many Canadians travel between the US and Canada in search of goods and deals across the border for most goods mainly alcohol and gasoline. The US also welcomes the cross border shopping by Canadians and it’s quite popular even before online shopping.
90% of Canada’s population lives within 100 miles of the US border making it is very easier for people to just hoping to the car for cross border shopping. According to October 2018 “Cross-Border E-Commerce Shopper Survey” 53% of cross-border buyers in Canada obtained goods from the US.
Travelling back and forth multiple times as snowbirds and travelling for cross border shopping one must be cautious, travelers must keep in mind the medical emergencies that might arise while traveling. The healthcare system in the US is expensive, in particular its healthcare system which in case of an injury or illness can cause huge financial loss.
Health insurance for Canadian in US will cover you for all unforeseen medical emergencies that may occur during travel to the US. Purchasing travel insurance is very important for a stress free travel. You can view insurance quotes from some of the best US insurance providers and make the best choice according to your requirements. For any assistance you can call our customer service or email us and we will be glad to help you.
There are no restrictions related to Covid to US visitors and the ban to US visitors has been lifted and travel industry has regained its strength to travel from Canada to the US.
Get quote »YES! Canadians CAN purchase US travel insurance policies from American Visitor Insurance to cover the remainder of their stay (as long as they like).
Health insurance for Canadians in USA cannot be used if you are living outside of Canada for an extended period or permanently. Consider taking a good look at the insurance needs in case you are living abroad, or you are planning to live abroad. Local Insurance laws might need you to have a travel medical insurance as a proof with your visa application
Note that our policies are generally renewable, so if plans change (as they so often do these days), the policies can be extended (minimum of 5 days and up to 12 months). Policies are available up to $100,000 for persons in their 70s and up to $50,000 for persons in their 80s. You can use our search engine to determine the best prices for you based on age and deductible you'd like.
The deductible on a comprehensive travel insurance USA policy is generally a one-time payment if there are any medical expenses (doctor visit, ER visit, medications, etc). A higher deductible will give a lower premium cost, so it is a balance of what you feel you can pay out in the unlikely event you will need medical attention, and how much the policy costs you per month and day.
When you purchase the US travel insurance policy, you will enter your Canadian address as your "home" or "residence" address regardless of whether you own a home in the US or not. The "residence" country and the "destination" country CANNOT be the same. Then, you can choose the start date (even if it says trip start date) as the first day you need the policy. And, even though you choose an "Trip end date" you can always extend most policies without issue (just do not wait until they have expired).
Unfortunately, insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions is very limited on most US visitor policies for foreign visitors. Some policies will cover "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions which should mean life-threatening emergencies due to pre-existing conditions, but they have all recently excluded chronic and congenital disorders from that coverage. As a non-medical person, I'm not sure what illnesses/disorders that leaves that WOULD be covered. The Safe Travels Elite (a fixed plan) and Safe Travels Comprehensive offers some coverage $25,000 or $15,000 for a cardiac issue. The Elite insurance, Elite Plus insurance, Elite 90 insurance, Premier Plus insurance and Premier insurance are cheaper per month if you purchase at least 90 days the first time you buy them.
While there will always be some risk involved while traveling and staying in the US, travelers do have travel insurance options for visiting the US. Compare US travel insurance for Canada and buy the plan that best fits your needs.
As ever, we wish you safe and happy travels!
At AmericanVisitorInsurance, we offer travel health insurance plans for Canadian snowbirds coming to the US enduring harsh winter conditions keeping in mind the important list of factors mentioned above. Customers can visit our visitor medical insurance where you can find pre-existing travel health insurance and senior travel insurance pages to get good insight on the travel medical insurance plans including annual multitrip plans for Canadians visiting the US during Winters.
Mexico is a very attractive destination for Canadian snowbirds. The warm weather, beautiful sandy beaches, comparatively affordable cost of living and good access to travel back home to Canada makes Mexico very popular with Canadian Snowbirds.
Mexico is a beautiful vibrant country with a great cuisine and cultural diversity. The country is also home to many historic and cultural attractions. The Yucatan peninsula with some amazing Mayan ruins is very popular. While all of this is attractive, older Canadians should be aware of the need for good Snowbird travel insurance for Mexico to shield them from unanticipated health emergencies.
The popular Snowbird travel health insurance plans that provide coverage for Canadians traveling to Mexico are
The travel health insurance for Canadian citizens above cover medical emergencies and unexpected sickness and injury. They however have little coverage for trip interruption, baggage delay and loss.
To bridge that gap we also have trip cancellation insurance plans which provide trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed flight connection coverage...
Popular Trip Insurance plans for Canadians going to MexicoCanadian snowbirds, typically retirees or semi-retirees, often migrate to warmer destinations like the Caribbean to escape the harsh Canadian winters. These are some of the Caribbean countries popular among Canadian Snowbirds.
Buying best travel insurance for Canadian snowbirds to the Caribbean is important to ensure they are covered for medical emergencies, medical evacuation and other unforeseen events.
The popular Snowbird travel health insurance plans that provide coverage for Canadians traveling to Caribbean are
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No, Please note that the Canadian Government website clearly states that Canadian health insurance is not valid outside Canada and it is recommended to buy U.S. health insurance for Canadian snowbirds.
Yes, there are some health insurance plans available for Canadian visitors to the USA offered by INF. To find the best travel insurance for seniors or Canadian snowbirds, relevant information can be found at older traveler US health insurance for Canadian snowbirds plans.
The Travel insurance for Canadian seniors visiting usa with pre existing medical conditions includes the medical maximum health insurance for Canadian seniors travelling to the USA available for their age in these Snowbird destinations. It is important to understand the different US health insurance for Canadian snowbirds and to make an informed decision while buying snowbird health insurance for Canadians traveling into US.
For Canadians who want to visit the US multiple times within a year, they can consider buying the Annual multi trip plan which will provide coverage for the whole year with a specific time period limit for each trip like 30, 45, 60... days depending on the plan. This option is cheaper than buying US health insurance for Canadian citizens snowbirds for every single trip and is most suitable for people making multiple trips for business.
If an individual is a dual citizen with Canadian and US citizenship, then the person can buy insurance for visiting US from Canada by entering Canada as the home country and US as the country of citizenship in order to buy US travel insurance for his/her sojourn in the US.
A standard US travel insurance plan offers protection for all unexpected travel and medical illness or injury during the trip. Trip cancellation insurance provides coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip interruption, delays and medical evacuation, lost -damaged, or stolen of the luggage.
Yes, travelers can buy travel insurance if the traveler has already started a trip. However travelers should keep in mind that the cover is provided for any illness or injury that occurs after the inception of the policy.
The sole purpose of Snowbird travel medical insurance is to cover your medical expenses (and some related travel costs) if you suffer an illness or injury while outside Canada that requires immediate medical attention and can not wait until you are able to return to Canada.
Yes. Snowbird Visitors and tourists can all buy travel health insurance in the US. We recommend the travel insurance for Canadian snowbird visitors to be purchased from the day they leave their home country until they return, however, most companies allow you to purchase it even after the traveler has already started their journey.
Snowbird travel medical insurance is for unexpected medical expenses while on your trip. Many travel insurance for Canadian Snowbirds also cover baggage loss/ delay, trip delays, and have other benefits to help travelers with unexpected problems (loss of documents, etc). Since they are meant to be used in an emergency, you can use any doctor/hospital. In a non-emergency situation, you should consult your documentation and try to stay in-network (if applicable) while in the US since this will likely help defray your out-of-pocket cost.
Often health insurance from a home country will not cover Snowbirds while they are traveling in a different country. If they are in a country with high medical costs such as the US, they should consider purchasing international travel insurance in case they should need any medical care. The travel health insurance for Canadian Snowbird tourists will help defray costs and also often has many travel benefits (trip delay, trip interruption, baggage loss) that will also assist a traveler in getting back on track with their trip.
The maximum of the health insurance for Snowbird travelers will depend on where they are going. For example, if they are headed to Europe or the Philippines, $50,000 may be enough for your trip. If they are going to the US, you may opt for a much higher maximum ($500,0000 or $1 million) if possible due to the higher potential cost of health insurance for Canadian snowbirds.
Snowbird Tourists can use Urgent Care clinics, make appointments at a doctor's office or go the the hospital, if needed. However, they will have to pay out-of-pocket for any and all medical care they receive. This is why we recommend getting a travel or US tourist health insurance for Snowbirds for the duration of their stay.
Snowbirds must be physically present in Canada for at least 183 days in a 12-month period. It is however important for Snowbirds to consult a qualified immigration or legal professional to understand the full requirements.
Canadian Snowbirds can stay outside Canada for up to six months at a time without losing their status as a Canadian resident. It is however important to have good travel medical insurance while outside Canada since your Canadian health insurance will not be available outside the country. This is particularly true for travel to the United States where the cost of healthcare is very expensive.
Yes, you can get snowbird travel insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition, the coverage for the pre-existing condition will depend on the specific condition and the insurance plan and provider. Some insurance providers offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, others offer coverage only for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, while some others may have exclusions or limitations on coverage related to pre-existing conditions.
The travel health insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions have clear definitions of what is a pre-existing condition, the look back period for pre-existing condition, whether the travel insurance coverage is limited to acute onset of pre-existing conditions, and if it provides full coverage for pre-existing conditions the coverage limit within the policy for pre-existing conditions. Any travel health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will depend on all these.
Unfortunately, this simple question has a fairly complicated answer. The answer is: it depends. Firstly, it depends on whether you are a US resident traveling outside the US or a visitor to the US. US residents can purchase trip cancellation insurance that can cover pre-existing conditions and even plans that are travel medical only without cancellation often are more generous in their coverage of pre-existing conditions. These plans may have specific requirements in order to waive the usual exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions (like purchase them within a certain number of days of your initial trip deposit or that you have a primary domestic insurance plan in the US), so you should check these details carefully if this is important to you.
Non-US residents or US residents traveling into the US have much more limited options to insure their pre-existing conditions are covered. Some plans offer coverage for "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions. However, this is misleading, since a careful look at their definition excludes chronic or congenital disorders from such coverage. Chronic illnesses are those that worsen over time and congenital disorders are issues one is born with. They exclude emergencies due to chronic illness because they will say that is not "acute" it is simply a worsening of your condition.
Compare and buy best pre-existing plans
There are many Canadians who travel to the US and elsewhere outside Canada regularly. These travelers can be businessmen or corporate travelers or those who live close to the US border and travel overseas often.
While there are many top rated travel health insurance plans for multiple trips worldwide, the Patriot Multi-Trip travel insurance is an ideal plan for Canadian travelers. Every trip duration can be limited to either 30 days or 45 days with a medical coverage maximum of $1 million. Travelers up to the age of 76 years can buy this plan. The plan is renewable up to 3 years and also offers coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Find out the best insurance for your budget and needs
Know more »Claims process for expenses due to injury or sickness
Know more »Compare the best travel insurance plan for your needs
Know more »Provides coverage for multiple trips within a specified period, typically one year.
Read more »Travel insurance designed for older individuals, often referred to as "snowbirds".
Read more »Provides coverage for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, particularly for "snowbirds".
Read more »Corporate/business travelers who travel frequently outside Canada.
Know more »Covid19 travel restrictions for travel to Canada.
Know more »Travel tips for international travelers – Safety, Comfort and Wellness
These travel insurance to USA from Canada plans have limitations for travelers or students located in Canada:
LIMITATION: These plans are not available to individuals who are physically located in Canada at the time of purchase. However, you can buy this plan or arrival in the US (if for example, you stay longer than expected, the Atlas plan can be purchased to cover you until your return to Canada).
LIMITATION: If physically located in Canada, you are prohibited to purchase these plans.
LIMITATION: Seven Corners offers these plans. However these plans do not accept an address in Canada. Customer may use overseas home country address.
Snowbird travel insurance
Canadians to USA
Canadians student insurance
Canadian Seniors travel insurance
Expatriate insurance
Canadian Annual travel insurance
Pre-existing conditions
Green Card holders insurance
Canada Cruise insurance
