Travel insurance in pandemic times
The most underwhelming element of any holiday is buying travel insurance. Unless you have a pre-existing condition necessitating special coverage (and yes, that includes sansluggagephobia, the intense fear of losing your bags), it often feels like a chore. Yet, buying travel insurance is critical to ensuring you’re covered abroad, particularly in the pandemic era.
“Thinking of travel insurance as just something to check off your list, along with packing toothpaste, can be a little problematic,” says Will McAleer, executive director of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA). “You need to make sure you’re getting the right protection for you.” Here are a few pointers to do just that.
Find a policy tailored to your trip
Before purchasing your policy, you’ll need your dates of travel and destinations, of course — but you’ll also need to know what’s on the agenda. Planning to lay on the beach? A basic plan will probably do you. But suppose you might want to spontaneously skydive or bungee jump? Your adventurous streak will cost extra. Special policies are typically required for activities such as skiing and cruising.
Don’t just rely on online quotes
McAleer says it pays to read the fine print and understand exactly what will and won’t be covered. For example, it may be difficult to determine the point at which “hiking” turns into “mountain climbing,” or when “off-piste skiing” becomes truly out of bounds (which is often illegal and therefore not covered).
Different insurers will also have different definitions of when a preexisting condition is considered stable. When in doubt, call the insurer’s toll-free number and ask for a custom quote.
Consider insurance even if you’re travelling domestic
Airport chaos is far from over, with delayed flights, missed connections and lost bags still plaguing travel. While Canadian airlines have some compensation built into their conditions of carriage, cashing in on them can be time-consuming. If you’ve got an international or domestic insurance policy and your flight gets cancelled, you can head straight to a hotel while everyone else lines up for meal vouchers and settles in for the night on the airport floor.
You’ll also get better coverage. WestJet, for example, only offers up to $250 for expenses incurred if baggage is delayed. In contrast, most insurers will offer upwards of $1,000, with the option to add on big-ticket items like engagement rings and sports equipment. Insurance can also be a saviour if, say, an airline attendant accidentally spills a drink on your laptop, and if you run into more serious situations not covered by your provincial health care plan, such as dental emergencies and evacuations.
Determine what level of COVID coverage you want
With pandemic-related requirements changing seemingly neardaily, one of THIA’s “golden rules” is to ask your provider about extended coverage options for COVID-19, recent policy updates, and whether you’re eligible for extended coverage if you’re vaccinated.