Are you planning on going on a trip or vacation in the near future? If so, it's imperative that you take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your family out of harm's way.

One of the most effective tactics that you can use to keep your family (and wallet) safe during your trip is by purchasing travel insurance.

But, due to current events (Covid 19), traditional travel insurance doesn't cover expenses that could potentially occur. That's why many Canadian travellers are choosing to switch to a new alternative — Covid travel insurance.

Continue reading if you'd like to learn what Covid 19 travel insurance is, why it's important and where you can find it.

A brief reminder

At the time of writing this blog, the Canadian government has currently set the travel risk level to Level 3. Because of this, current travel health warnings will include:

"a warning to avoid non-essential travel in order to protect the health of Canadian travellers and the Canadian public". 

The Canadian government has also stated the following:

"The notice outlines specific precautions to take when visiting the region and what to do if you become ill during or after travel. A notice at this level would be issued during a large-scale outbreak in a large geographic area, or if there is increased risk to the traveller and an increased risk of spreading disease to other groups including the Canadian public."

Please keep this in mind while making travel plans in or outside of Canada.

What is Covid travel coverage?

Covid travel coverage is a type of travel insurance that financially protects travellers from Covid 19-related medical expenses, trip interruption and trip cancellations.

Covid 19-related medical expenses — Medical expenses that a traveller incurs due to Covid 19 while travelling within Canada or in another country.

Here's an example:

You and your family travel to a tropical country for a week. On the final day of the trip, one of your family members realizes that they have Covid 19 and need to be hospitalized. Instead of paying for the hospital bills out of pocket, your Covid travel coverage would help cover the expenses.

Trip interruptions and cancellations — A type of non-medical travel coverage that provides financial protection if travellers need to cancel or pause their trip due to a Covid 19-related issue.

Here's an example:

You and your family booked a trip to a tropical country for a week. A few days before you depart, one of your family members catches Covid 19 and needs to be quarantined. Because of this, you need to cancel your trip. In this scenario, your Covid travel coverage would cover any losses that you incurred due to the cancellation.

Why is Covid travel coverage important for Canadian travellers?

Covid travel coverage is crucial for Canadian travellers that want to financially protect themselves from Covid 19-related issues and expenses throughout their vacation.

If you or one of your family members falls ill, you won't have to bear additional trip-related losses. Instead of worrying about how you're going to cover these expenses, you can focus on helping your loved one recover. Check also this post about high-risk travel insurance.

What are the requirements for Covid travel coverage in Canada?

The specific requirements will vary from provider to provider. But, in most cases, you need to have one vaccine dose in order to qualify for Covid travel coverage.

For instance, the insurance provider TuGo doesn't require policyholders to be vaccinated if they are travelling within Canada.

But, they do require policyholders to have one dose in order to travel outside of the country. TuGo also requires policyholders to wait 14 days after getting said dose before travelling outside of Canada (this rule doesn't apply to travellers who cannot receive a vaccine due to their age).

If you're travelling abroad, please note that in order to qualify for travel insurance Covid provincial/territorial Health Authority protocols need to be met (more on the below).

What does "meet provincial/territorial Health Authority protocols" mean?

In this context, it means that Canadian travellers need to have done their due diligence to obtain subsequent doses (secondary doses, booster shots, etc.). You may be able to receive coverage if you haven't received your secondary doses but have booked (or attempted to book) an appointment. Please reach out to a licensed insurance advisor for more information.

Who offers travel insurance Covid coverage in Canada?

There are only a handful of Canadian insurance carriers that offer travel insurance that covers Covid, one of the best being TuGo. Whether you're planning on crossing the border or venturing to another province, you can rely on TuGo's Emergency Medical Insurance Worldwide or Excluding USA policy plans.

TuGo's ​​Emergency Medical Insurance Worldwide or Excluding USA policy covers travellers from Covid 19 related risks and expenses, allowing you to worry less about what could happen and spend more time living in the moment.

Additionally, if you and your family like to travel more than once a year, you may want to ask your licensed insurance advisor about TuGo's Multi-Trip Travel Insurance. TuGo's Multi-Trip Travel Insurance offers a long list of benefits, some of which include:

• Savings
• Convenience
• Flexibility

Want to save on Covid travel coverage in Canada?

The past few years have been trying times for everyone, so we understand why you want to fill your suitcase and go on a relaxing vacation. But, during these unprecedented times, it's best to be prepared. That's why we suggest that you should reach out to a Surex insurance broker today.

At Surex, we want to help you save on insurance — that's why our advisors work with the top insurance companies in Canada, like TuGo. Having a close working relationship with these carriers allows us to find you the best coverage at an unmatchable price.

Call or click today to get in contact with one of our licensed insurance advisors and start saving today.

Covid travel coverage gives you peace of mind

If you're worried about your upcoming trip, then you should chat with your insurance advisor about getting Covid travel coverage.

Getting this fantastic type of travel coverage will minimize the Covid-related financial risks you may face on your next trip. If you have any unaddressed concerns or questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with a Surex insurance advisor at your earliest convenience.