Insurance?

[lee-annl]

Thoughts, experience? We are heading for our first trip and have 3 small kids. What would I need? I have no clue on this.

 

[Oshawa]

Do you mean medical or trip cancellation?

 

[lee-annl]

Do you mean medical or trip cancellation?

Sorry medical.

 

[Oshawa]

We always get medical insurance. You just never know. Our last trip my hubby had to help a young teen that slipped on the wait washroom floor of MK and broke his collar bone.
Do you have a CAA membership? We get the yearly family plan that covers you for even short day trips. I think I paid $148.00 for the four of us.
We do have coverage through both of our employers also but with that you have to pay upfront and then claim it when you get back home. It could be quite expensive. My friend had to bring her daughter to the hospital when they were there. They were at the hospital a total of 5 hours and the bill was over $800.00 USD.

 

[casper_jj11]

We have annual medical/trip cancellation insurance through Meloche Monnex. About $10 a month is deducted from our bank account and covers all 5 of us.

 

[KingstonGirl77]

We always buy single trip medical from coverme.com which is Manulife Financial. I have always found their rates reasonable.

 

[MikeyNS]

I always tend to chime in on these things with the "If you have an infinite VISA then you are automatically covered.". As well, some (most?) company medical plans include travel medical (mine does).. but I do not think you can be over-covered travelling abroad. Better to have too much than too little!

 

[Northstar]

You want "primary" medical insurance. That means, if you have to get medical care on your trip, that medical insurance is the FIRST payer. Most plans that you buy for a specific trip, or travel insurance that covers you when you travel for a whole year, are primary.

We have coverage through work for international travel. The trouble is, it's secondary insurance. Before they pay, they want you to submit claims to your provincial medical (which is a lot of paperwork). Then they'll pay what the provincial medical plan won't (which is usually just about the whole bill). You end up paying up front and seeking reimbursement later. Not good.

We use RBC insurance because we bank with them. Haven't needed to use it so can't rate them.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

We got reasonable rates through BCAA. You may want to check CAA. There's a small discount if you are a member.

 

[lee-annl]

I never even thought to look into my work insurance. I guess I will check that out first and go from there.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[homebug]

You want "primary" medical insurance. That means, if you have to get medical care on your trip, that medical insurance is the FIRST payer. Most plans that you buy for a specific trip, or travel insurance that covers you when you travel for a whole year, are primary.

We have coverage through work for international travel. The trouble is, it's secondary insurance. Before they pay, they want you to submit claims to your provincial medical (which is a lot of paperwork). Then they'll pay what the provincial medical plan won't (which is usually just about the whole bill). You end up paying up front and seeking reimbursement later. Not good.

We use RBC insurance because we bank with them. Haven't needed to use it so can't rate them.

RBC is primary insurance - if you need medical care, you call them first - many times they can find doctors that can come to you instead of you going to sit in a clinic or emergency room - unless the emergency room is warranted. When it comes time to filing the claims, they take care of everything including your provincial medical plan.

The most important thing to make sure of in your medical insurance plan is whether or not it will automatically extend in the case of an emergency - some work/credit card plans will cover for a certain number of days only and when that time is up, the insurance is done. Say you have insurance for 7 days but on day 7 you have appendicitis, RBC will continue to cover you until you are stable enough to travel home, right up until you are in your door.

I work for a travel agency that sells only RBC Travel Insurance - your best bet is to find an agency that sells it because the travel agent will be more educated on the insurance plans than the bank employees and the rates will be the same.

I am a firm believer in travel insurance and I cringe everytime someone nonchalantly says they don`t need it, nothing will happen to me. Things change in the blink of an eye!!

 

[averysmom]

We've always used dh's through work and last year we needed it when Lily rolled out of bed and cracked her head on the night stand!

Disney ended up sending the Rady Creek ambulance (no charge for Disney guests) to bring her to the hospital in Celebration - where she got 4 staples. They then sent a hotel mini-van (with an installed carseat) to pick us up.

Total charge for the hosptial visit and 4 staples???? $1900.00 Remember - the ambulance was free!!!

Thank goodness we had that medical insurance. And we didn't pay a dime up front - all they did was photocopy dh's card and out we went. We didn't even have to call anyone (insurers, etc)

 

[minnie56]

I also am a big supporter of RBC Insurance.

We have Travelwell 30 added to our Homeowners....the cost is $82 per year for our family of 4 and covers us up to 30 days each trip..unlimited trips per year. I believe there is a $200 deductible but we also had a 'Disney' medical experience that turned into $17,000 (!!) in as many hours so now..we are the MOST insured we can be!

 

[Binoo]

RBC is primary insurance - if you need medical care, you call them first - many times they can find doctors that can come to you instead of you going to sit in a clinic or emergency room - unless the emergency room is warranted. When it comes time to filing the claims, they take care of everything including your provincial medical plan.

The most important thing to make sure of in your medical insurance plan is whether or not it will automatically extend in the case of an emergency - some work/credit card plans will cover for a certain number of days only and when that time is up, the insurance is done. Say you have insurance for 7 days but on day 7 you have appendicitis, RBC will continue to cover you until you are stable enough to travel home, right up until you are in your door.

I work for a travel agency that sells only RBC Travel Insurance - your best bet is to find an agency that sells it because the travel agent will be more educated on the insurance plans than the bank employees and the rates will be the same.

I am a firm believer in travel insurance and I cringe everytime someone nonchalantly says they don`t need it, nothing will happen to me. Things change in the blink of an eye!!

Laura, I used RBC insurance for my last two trips since I booked my trips with travel agency. My DD got fever and rash in the 2nd day of our first trip and RBC did a good job. They sent the doctor to our hotel 2 or 3 times and RBC took care of all the bills. We didn't need to pay upfront.

My question is: I booked everything on my own this time and I don't have a RBC account, can I still buy RBC insurance through travel agency? Will they just sell insurance (cancellation and medical) alone? I checked RBC website and they don't sell insurance to non RBC client.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

A lot of travel agencies sell RBC insurance, you do not have to be a RBC client.

 

[Binoo]

A lot of travel agencies sell RBC insurance, you do not have to be a RBC client.

If I didn't book the trip with the travel agent, do they still sell me RBC insurance?

 

[minnie56]

Yes

 

[Binoo]

Yes

Great! I don't need to shop around. I like RBC insurance. I thought I can't buy it without booking a trip with travel agent.

 

[Sue M]

I have always used BCAA insurance- yearly policy, have Visa Infinite, so have decided to only use that. They give 2 weeks coverage per trip, and whole family is covered. They say even if someone in the family doesn't travel with me (card holder). they are covered. Say daughter wants to go across the boarder for a shoppin day she would be covered.
Sounds good, but is it too good to be true? Has anyone had experience with needing this coverage? Was it easy to claim? They don't issue any travel medical card, you just have to be sure to take the phone # you need to claim I guess? I'm a little nervous about only relying on it.

 

[minnie56]

I know the Visa Infinite only covers the primary cardholder for the first 15 days of a trip, can't speak for the other insurance mentioned.

No first hand experience using it...