Travel Insurance costs for Canadians

[moisheh]

I have noticed an increase in prices for Travel Health Insurance (Canadians). Much of this is probably due to the rising costs for emergency health care in the USA. Costs in Mexico have risen as well. Specialists and ER Drs. in Hermosillo private hospitals were $50 in 2012. Last season they had risen to $60 to $70. Doesn't sound like much but other medical care costs have also risen. Medications are far higher than in Canada . The result is higher costs for the insurers. My Companies health plan covered us for 180 days until 2011. In 2012 it was 120 days. This year due to age it is 60 days. Top up with TIS for my wife was $650. Still not excessive but many travelers are on fixed incomes and every increase hurts. I know some who have gone from 160 days in the south to 120 or less to control the cost. My wife and I can answer all the questionnaires with almost all "no's" . I do have controlled BP with one medication and many insurers will maintain lower rates in these cases. How do those with more serious health issues handle traveling SOB? Maybe a mild heart attack 5 years ago. Or GI problems? More and more insurers are following the strict questions as per Manulife. Going south with only Provincial health coverage coverage is not an option. Any thoughts?

Moisheh

[Linda_from_Cana]

Mostly to Crandle- about insurance premiums being tax deductible: if you have a supplimentary policy in Canada, like Manulife or Blue Cross- the premiums are a deduction.
We now have med insurance here in Mexico through GNP, which also covers us for 3 months/year internationally. We didn't get coverage for the everyday stuff...just for major things-that keeps our premiums to around $2500./year for the both of us.
When hubby parted with his gallbladder 2 years ago, the cost was below our deductible, so we just paid it...less than equiv.$4000.Cdn. and with excellent care. It works for us.

[crandle]

Cuba is another country where medical expenses are low enough to be covered by our Canadian Government plan. A friend spends her winters in Havana and takes out no additional medical insurance.

[John___Angela]

Another option is to travel to a country with comparable procedure and hospitalization costs as Canada. That way you don't need insurance. Just a receipt and a detailed list of procedures performed. Spain falls under this category. We spoke to a couple of snowbirds in Spain this year. They too had to cross that bridge (they are in their 60s) and after a little research talking with other snowbirds Spain is their solution. Only problem is you can only spend 90 days there unless you buy property and get a longer residency type visa. Still for those who want to hang around Canada until Christmas and then get a few months of sunshine in a super nice country. If you really want to stay longer then you can take the ferry to Tangiers but the health care is not to the same level as Spain's. We enjoyed Morocco though.

Just an idea. It is part of our long term plan. We will still get a repatriation policy though. Por si las moscas. :).

[scorpion]

My medical costs will be $3500 for wife and self for 4 1/2 months. I have never heard of the premiums being allowed as a tax deduction. Guess I will have to check on that.

Scorp

[moisheh]

Crandle: WOW that is horrible! You obviously love Mexico!

Moisheh

[bob_nestor]

Please don't take this as a political slam on Obamacare here in the US, but the rules are pretty minimal for qualification. I think a foreign national qualifies if they spend at least 31 days in the US in the current year and a total of 183 days over the past three years (60 days per year).

[crandle]

This is a major expense for us travelers who are aging (69/72). I am delaying the inevitable and have not called yet but am expecting the cost this year to approach $3500 for six months. That is about $20 per day for the two of us. Ouch

Don't forget though that this is a medical expense and can be claimed on your income tax as such.

[Mountaineer42]

Agree that traveling with only Provincial medical insurance is NOT an option. Everyone seems to have their own favorite for travel insurance, and they all seem to be "the cheapest of all the ones we looked at". We have used Travel Insurance Office for the past several years and been quite satisfied with their costs and coverage.
Travel Insurance Office

[Linda_from_Cana]

We found TIC through Co-operators to be the best for us.

[Tequila]

We are both fully covered, even with pre-existing conditions as long as my wife is technically employed. (she has a platinum coverage since her job requires foreign travel, 365 days a year, 100% coverage. 5 more years, after that we may have to endure winter.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

There comes a time when one just stops going especially when pre-existing conditions are not covered.