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Health insurance for Canadians in USA

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Travel insurance to USA from Canada

USA travel insurance for Canadians visiting USA

US health insurance for Canadian citizens

Many Canadians travel to the US for various reasons, such as escaping the winter, visiting family, studying, or working. Health or travel insurance is a crucial requirement when traveling outside of Canada. The Canadian government advises purchasing US travel insurance for short visits to the US to ensure adequate coverage.

We often get queries from many Canadian residents particularly from Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, in particular from the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary,

Travel Insurance for Canadians

Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton who visit the southern states of the US (Florida, Texas, California, Arizona ...) to enjoy warmer climes during the winter months.

Whether you are visiting for a few days, staying as a student for several years, or spend part of the year in a winter home, we can find the perfect US travel insurance from Canada plan for you!

Canadians coming to the US regularly, or living either in the US or Mexico for part of the year might want to consider our Global medical plans. The applications for travel insurance for Canadians visiting USA are however reviewed by an underwriting team and applications can have riders or exclusions for certain existing ailments.

These global plans offer superior coverage including preventive care and pre-existing condition coverage and can be renewed for longer periods compared to the shorter-term visitor insurance plans. These global insurance plans can be purchased annually, with payment options available on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.

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Travel health insurance plans that provide international coverage for Canadians

  • Safe Travels USA Comprehensive Insurance

    • Safe Travels USA Comprehensive is available for Canandians traveling to the USA.
    • Covers Acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to 69 years the limit is up to the medical maximum and for any coverage related to cardiac disease, coverage is limited to $25,000.
    • This includes coverage for medical accident and sickness, emergency medical and political evacuation, repatriation of remains, trip interruption, baggage, and accidental death & dismemberment.
    • Covers optional sports coverage.
  • Patriot America Plus Insurance

    • The Patriot America Plus is designed for Canandians traveling to the United States
    • Covers acute onset of pre-existing conditions till maximum limit up to 70 years.
    • The plan offers a benefit of co-pays of $25 for urgent care centres and $15 for walk-in clinics which are paid INSTEAD of the deductible each time these facilities are used (when the $0 deductible is selected.)
    • This also offers optional riders provide additional coverage for a minimal charge.
  • Diplomat America Insurance

    • The Diplomat America plan is designed to cover Canandians traveling to the United States
    • Minimum purchase is 15 days.
    • The plan covers 80% of eligible expenses up to $5000 and then covers 100% after the deductible.
    • College volleyball players and other sports players can buy Diplomat America plan with the College sports rider.
    • Covers pre-existing condition after 24 months of waiting period.
  • Visitors Protect Insurance

    • Availble for visitors traveling from their home country to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
    • The plan offers temporary medical coverage with pre-existing conditions up to 99 years.
    • Care Clix consultation is a new benefit under this plan where you can get access to a doctor by different means like a video chat, mobile app, phone... and consult about non emergency issues.
    • Minimum purchase is 90 days.

Visitors health insurance USA cost

US visa medical insurance cost is has increasingly reduced the disposal income with a major portion of the income going to health care deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance. 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's no simple explanation for the high costs, an important contributing factor is the significant administrative expenses in healthcare and given the litigious nature of US society, the cost of medical-malpractice legal expenses. Employing numerous billing clerks by both hospitals and physicians, as well as by private insurance companies is a requirement in the US insurance system. In addition to that, the system's reliance on advanced technology, costly labor and the steep price of malpractice insurance in the US also contributes to the overall expenses.

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.

Tourists, friends and family from Canada visiting America

Given their geographical proximity and long border, travel between the US and Canada has been on going since the 19th century. The United States with its multi-cultural society, famous monuments and natural wonders make it among the most desired tourist destinations. The US remains the most significant destination for work and leisure for Canadian emigrants. According to the 2016 U.S census data, over 750, 0000 Canadians live in the United States with 47% Canadians becoming naturalized US citizens in 2016.

Given this strong and long standing relationship between the citizens of both countries, we often have family members of naturalized Canadian–Americans visiting the United States. Along with reuniting with family members millions of tourists also travel to the United Sates from Canada.

In 2010, there were approximately 20.72 million visits to the US from Canada. By 2013, this number had increased to 23.41 million. In 2019, Canada topped the list of countries from which the most visitors arrived in the US.

Meet family, friends and relatives in the US is always thrilling and pleasing. However one must note that the US health care system is not government supported and is very expensive. Traveling to the US with long travel hours and in different weather conditions, food and culture can be risky. This is particularly true for older travelers as it increases the risk for unforeseen medical emergencies.

Snowbird medical insurance for visitors to USA from Canada

During the winters the US welcomes many Canadian snowbirds to travel to the US to enjoy the summer months and many of these live in the US. According to the Statistics of Canada there are at least 375K Snowbirds who go to the US each year. Often these family members of these Canadian–Americans visit the United States to meet their closed ones. Along with reuniting with family members millions of tourists arrive in the US from Canada.

An good international travel insurance plan provide one with the coverage required for any unexpected medical and travel emergencies. It is therefore of vital importance for Canadian travelers to buy good travel insurance USA from Canada offered by some of the finest US insurance providers offered by American Visitor Insurance. For any assistance travelers can call the customer service or email us and we will be glad to help you.

Popular Snowbird destinations »

Medical insurance for visitors to USA from Canada

Annual Multi-trip travel insurance for Canadians to USA

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 Annual Multi trip 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.

What does visitors medical insurance cover?

  • Health care expenses: Covers hospital expenses for sickness or accidents.
  • Doctor visit: Insures Doctor visits for sudden injury or sickness.
  • Pharmacy drugs: Doctor prescribed eligible pharmacy drugs expenses.
  • Medical evacuation: Medical evacuation expenses to nearest facility included.
  • Repat of remains: Repatriation of remains to home country included.
  • Pre-existing conditions: Some plans insure acute onset of pre-existing conditions.

US health insurance for Canadian citizens

Different types of US Visitors travel insurance

Fixed Benefit travel insurance

A fixed benefit or scheduled benefits travel insurance plan is the cheapest US travel insurance plan, however this is because the Fixed benefit travel insurance have a fixed limit of coverage for different medical benefits. Fixed benefit international travel medical insurance works well for small ailments but can be inadequate for more serious medical conditions involving hospitalisation.

Comprehensive travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance provides flexible coverage for medical expenses up to the policy medical maximum limit compared to a fixed benefits medical expense as it is much more expensive when compared to fixed benefit plans but also provides significantly superior coverage especially in case of a serious medical emergency or hospitalisation.

Types of travel insurance

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Single Trip Travel Insurance

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Single Trip vs MultiTrip Travel Insurance

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Steps to buy
US visitor travel insurance online

search 1: Finding the best health insurance for foreigners

Complete the travel insurance quote request form by providing details of the traveller and insurance requirements.

balance 2: Compare the different travel insurance options

Compare the price and the benefits of the different travel insurance options to identify what fits your needs best.

attach_money 3: Buy the US travel health insurance that you like best

Purchase the plan that fits your needs and budget best by using a credit card and completing the online application.

description 4: Review insurance plan documents received by email

Review the international travel health insurance policy for coverage details and relevant contact numbers

Travel insurance for us visitors insurance online

Factors to buy best travel medical insurance USA

Age of the traveler

The cost of medical insurance for travelers is directly proportional to the age of the traveler. The older the traveler and greater will be the cost of the visitors health insurance.

Type of US travel health insurance

Comprehensive insurance provides exhaustive coverage but is more expensive than fixed benefit insurance which has a specified limit for each treatment.

Medical maximum coverage

The price of visitors insurance is directly dependent on the maximum medical coverage and inversely proportional to the deductible of the plan chosen.

Region of coverage

Travel insurance depends on the coverage region. The cost for visitor insurance for the United States is most expensive when compared to Europe or Asia.

Duration of travel insurance

The cost of trip insurance directly depends on the length of travel. The longer the duration of visitor medical insurance required, the higher will be the cost.

Any add on benefits

Additional add-on benefits to the basic insurance for tourist plan like adventure sports coverage, coverage for pre-existing conditions… will add to the overall cost.

INF travel insurance Canada to USA

INF offers visitors from Canada excellent travel medical insurance in the United States which includes adequate coverage for dental, loss of checked luggage, medical emergencies and accidents incurred while traveling. Buying health insurance for Canadians in the United States works ideally for Canadian Snowbirds during their travel to the USA. Following are the best US travel insurance for Canadian Snowbirds.

Compare INF Canadian travel insurance to USA
Compare INF visitor insurance
Compare pre-existing coverage

Trip insurance vs Travel health coverage vs Global medical insurance

Confused whether to buy trip, travel or global health insurance? Understand the differences!

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Travel insurance for acute onset of pre-existing conditions

Visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions

A pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that existed before the start of the visitors insurance cover. One of the biggest concerns for travelers is to buy travel health insurance for pre-existing conditions. Good visitor insurance with Pre-existing conditions coverage is particularly important for older travelers and parents. Only some visitors insurance offer coverage for pre-existing ailments and even there the coverage is mainly for acute onset of pre-existing ailments. Some other international travel insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage will pay for medical expenses after the first year of coverage or a waiting period.

Some travel health insurance plans like Atlas America, Patriot America Plus offer coverage for the acute onset of a pre-existing conditions, ie, when there is a sudden medical emergency without any prior symptom that needs to be treated immediately. The coverage typically includes emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and evacuation expenses related to the acute onset of the pre-existing condition. INF insurance however has the INF Elite insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions going beyond the acute onset coverage. It is important to compare visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions both for the price as well as the specific details for pre-existing conditions coverage as well as review the policy brochures for exclusions and coverage limits before making a decision.

Student insurance for Canadian students in the US

There are over 25K Canadian students studying in US universities, make Canada the fifth highest source of international students in the country. Nearly half the Canadian students are in undergraduate programs, while the other half are in Graduate programs and in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) status. The number of Canadian students in the US has remained for nearly a decade now.

Travel insurance for canadian students in the US

Canadian students in the US should buy proper student medical insurance given the high cost of healthcare in the US. While most Universities insist that students buy the University insurance, some universities allow students to buy insurance outside the college as long as it satisfies certain guidelines.

The international student insurance plans that we offer are cheaper than most University plans while being comparable in coverage. Canadian students on the OPT status will find our OPT student insurance plans particularly attractive given their affordability and coverage.

USA visa health insurance, Visitor visa health insurance USA

Canada travel insurance, Health insurance for Canadians in US - FAQ's

1. How does one find the best travel insurance to USA from Canada?

There are different factors for buying best health insurance for USA visitors. Visitors should compare fixed benefits and comprehensive visitor insurance plans. Foreign visitors to USA travel insurance customers should understand the concepts of deductibles and co-insurance and Pre-existing conditions travel health insurance. A prudent and well informed traveler will make the correct choice while buying tourist insurance in USA for his or her unique needs.

There are many international health insurance for Canadian travelling to US plans for coverage both in the USA as well as around the world. Given the several international travel insurance options, it can be confusing to find the best health insurance for international travel. What is very useful in making this decision is to compare US visitor travel insurance available on American Visitor Insurance.

The compare Canada to USA travel insurance tool allows travelers compare prices as well as coverage benefits in an objective manner.The traveler can change relevant factors like the medical maximum coverage and the deductible and coverage for pre-existing ailments or hazardous sports. After finding the best health insurance for travel to USA for your needs, travelers can buy it by completing an online application and paying using a credit card. One completing the purchase the travel insurance plan is emailed to the customer.

2. Why is travel insurance from Canada to USA so expensive?

There is no denying that travel insurance to USA from Canada is unfortunately very expensive. The main reason for this is simply because the cost of healthcare in the USA is very expensive and the travel insurance USA costs are directly related to the healthcare costs. Additionally, some US travel insurance plans for older travelers tend to be more expensive due to higher medical coverage as well as some plans with coverage for pre-existing ailments.

3. What are the factors to consider for travel health insurance for Canadian in US?

The best travel health insurance Canada to US depends these factors:

  • The coverage for accident and sickness related medical expenses
  • The coverage for medical and evacuation expenses
  • The coverage for pre-existing conditions
  • The deductible and co-payment options
  • The network of hospitals and providers
  • The customer service and claim process

Resourceful tourist insurance USA information

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How does travel insurance work?

Claims process for expenses due to injury or sickness

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How to buy travel insurance?

Guide to buying the best international travel health insurance
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Travel insurance glossary

Commonly used international travel medical insurance terms
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Travel insurance for specific groups

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Travel Insurance information for travel to Canada from US

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Travel medical insurance USA resources
International travel insurance resources for USA visa holders.

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Factors for travel insurance USA online
Factors for the best health insurance for travel to USA.

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Types of USA tourist insurance online
Different types of tourist insurance for USA.

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Trip insurance claims process for getting medical care.

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Overseas travel insurance for US residents

Find the best US visitor insurance coverage - Blogs and Articles

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Affordable travel insurance Online

Fixed benefit or scheduled benefit plans are the most affordable international travel insurance plans.

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Best international travel insurance

International travel insurance plans covering pre-existing conditions which many older travelers look for.

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Compare quotes online for best travel insurance online, Fixed vs comprehensive travel insurance USA.

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Advantages of buying travel insurance online

Compare and buy the best travel medical insurance plans online.

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Buy cheap travel insurance

There are many cheap international insurance plans also known as visitor insurance plans.

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How does travel insurance work?

Coinsurance & Deductible - How visitor travel insurance works.

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Best International travel insurance

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Travel Insurance - Pre-existing conditions coverage

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International travel insurance resources

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Trip cancellation insurance for Non US residents

Canadians planning to visit Mexico

Mexico is a beautiful vibrant country with warm weather and a great deal of diversity in cultures, landscapes and activities available for tourists. The Yucatan peninsula, made famous by Cancun also has the Tulum beach which is a place to have fun in the sun. Then there is the Yellow city of Izamal, the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan, these are just some of the popular places in Mexico to experience wonderful diverse landscapes.

While this is the fun aspect of international travel, one should pay attention to make sure that they are insured in case of unexpected incidents like sickness and injuries or trip delays and loss of luggage.

While the Mexican Government does not mandate travel health insurance for tourists visiting Mexico, things have however changed dramatically due to the pandemic. Given the fluid situation, it is prudent to buy international travel insurance for Mexico from Canada, and this is reflected in the number of international travelers buying travel health insurance which has increased three times when compared to the period before the pandemic.

Travel Health Insurance is of vital importance to get medical care for emergencies or unexpected sickness and injuries. Canadian health insurance does not provide sufficient coverage outside of Canada. Apart from these, in case you need to cancel the trip due to the pandemic or any other reason, insurance to cover the trip costs is a key requirement.

Here is a list of things to consider while traveling to Mexico:
  • Coverage for medical emergency (sickness or injury)
  • Coverage for trip cancellation to cover the trip costs in case of cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Baggage delay and Trip Delay

The popular travel health insurance plans that provide international coverage qualify for Canadians traveling to Mexico:

These travel health insurance plans mentioned above cover medical emergencies and unexpected sickness and injury. They have coverage for trip interruption, baggage delay and loss but there are some things that are not covered under these plans.

To bridge that gap we also offer trip cancellation insurance plans. Trip Insurance plans provide trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed flight connection...

Popular Trip Insurance plans for Canadians going to Mexico are listed below:
  • Travel Insurance Select: Travel Insurance Services administered Travel Insurance Select covers for trip cancellation and interruption. Trip Cancellation, baggage loss, emergency evacuation.

Travel Insurance Select plan has three versions namely Basic, Plus and Elite with Elite version has comparatively more benefits compared to the other two.

Make your travel full of fun and stress free by making a suitable choice of the travel/trip health insurance plan according to your needs. Never compromise on insurance as it can end up being an expensive trip in case of unanticipated mishaps.

Europe travel insurance for Canadian residents

Schengen visa information for Canadian citizens

Canadians Citizens with a valid Canadians passport can travel to the Schengen states up to a maximum of 90 days without the need of a Schengen visa.

Requirements for traveling to the Schengen region:
  1. A valid Canada passport with a minimum of three months validity beyond the departure date from the Schengen area.
  2. Valid reason for travel.
  3. Proof of adequate financial resources to support oneself during the entire stay in the Schengen region.
  4. Any compliance or entry requirements specific to the country of travel or transit.

Canadians residents but non Canadian citizens visiting Europe (Schengen region)

Most Non Canadians citizens need to apply for the Schengen visa. Please check Nationalities who need Schengen visa. Canadians residents but Non Canadians citizens need to provide the proof of resident status in the Canadians to apply for a Schengen/short stay visa. The visa and the Canadians resident status must be valid for at least 3 months after the last day of stay in the Schengen area.

Long Term Europe visa - Long stay in the Schengen Region (More than 90 days)

If you want to stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days you must apply for a residence permit and not a Schengen visa. One of the requirements for Long Term Europe stay visa is the mandated Schengen visa insurance. Specific instructions for residence permit is available on the respective embassy/consulate's website.

Please note that it is prudent to give adequate processing time while applying for the Schengen visa. This is particularly true during the peak travel months in Summer and in Winter.

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What are the US travel insurance plan limitations for travel from Canada?

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.

Popular outbound destination among Canadian travelers

List of best visitors insurance companies in USA

You can find reliable US insurance providers like International Medical Group(IMG), Seven Corners, WorldTrips, Global Underwriters, Travel Insure, GeoBlue, HTH Worldwide and INF insurance.

List of best visitors insurance companies in USA

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