Visitors to Canada are not covered by any provincial health insurance plan. Without insurance, a medical emergency — a hospital stay, surgery, or ambulance — can result in very significant out-of-pocket costs. Hospital care in Canada for uninsured patients is billed at full cost, which can range from several hundred dollars per day for a basic admission to tens of thousands of dollars for surgery, intensive care, or a prolonged stay.

While visitors insurance is not legally mandatory for most visa categories (unlike Super Visa insurance, which is a mandatory IRCC requirement), it is strongly recommended for anyone visiting Canada who does not have provincial health coverage. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also strongly encourages visitors to obtain health insurance before travelling to Canada.

Consider a practical example: a 68-year-old parent visiting from India suffers a heart attack two weeks into their visit. Without insurance, the family could face a hospital bill of $50,000 to $150,000 or more for emergency cardiac care, ICU admission, and a multi-week hospital stay. With a visitors insurance policy providing $150,000 in coverage, the insurer covers the eligible expenses directly.

Visitors insurance premiums depend on the applicant's age, health history, coverage amount, deductible, and the length of the policy. Age is the most significant factor — premiums increase substantially for older applicants, particularly those over 60 or 70.

As a general illustration: a healthy 35-year-old visitor purchasing $100,000 in coverage for a 30-day visit might pay a relatively modest premium. The same coverage for a 65-year-old with stable pre-existing conditions could cost several times more, and for a 75-year-old, premiums can be significantly higher still.

Choosing a higher deductible (the amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurer pays) can meaningfully reduce the premium. A $1,000 or $2,500 deductible option is available on most plans and can reduce the premium by 20–40% compared to a $0 deductible plan.

Some visitor insurance plans may provide coverage for certain stable pre-existing medical conditions, depending on the insurer, the medical questionnaire, the applicable stability period, and the policy wording. Not all pre-existing conditions are covered by all plans, and coverage is not guaranteed.

A stable pre-existing condition is one that has not changed in a specified period before the policy start date — no new symptoms, no change in medication or dosage, no new diagnosis, and no medical treatment or advice to change treatment. Common stability periods are 90, 180, or 365 days. If a condition is not stable for the required period, it may be excluded from coverage or a claim may be denied.

For example, a parent with well-controlled high blood pressure on a stable medication for over a year may qualify for coverage of that condition under a plan with a 180-day stability period. A parent whose diabetes medication was adjusted three months ago may not meet the stability requirement for a plan requiring 180 days of stability.

A stability period is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — provisions in a visitors insurance policy. It is the length of time a pre-existing medical condition must be stable before the policy start date for that condition to be eligible for coverage.

Stable typically means: no new symptoms or worsening of symptoms; no change in medication (including dosage changes); no new diagnosis related to the condition; no medical treatment, tests, or investigations ordered or pending; and no hospitalization or referral to a specialist for that condition.

Common stability periods are 90, 180, or 365 days. A plan with a 90-day stability period is more favourable for applicants with conditions that were recently adjusted, while a plan with a 365-day stability period requires a full year of stability.

If a condition is not stable for the required period, claims arising from that condition — or conditions related to it — may be denied. This is one of the most common reasons for visitors insurance claim denials. Understanding the stability requirements before purchasing is essential.

Visitor insurance policies can typically be purchased for durations ranging from a few days to 365 days, depending on the insurer. Most policies are available in daily increments, so you can match the coverage period precisely to the visitor's planned stay.

Some insurers allow extensions if the visitor's stay is prolonged — for example, if a flight is cancelled, a medical situation prevents travel, or the visitor decides to extend their stay. Extensions must generally be requested before the current policy expires and before any change in health status. If the visitor has already had a medical event during the policy period, an extension may not be available or may exclude the condition that arose.

For stays longer than one year, or for parents and grandparents visiting on a Super Visa, a Super Visa insurance policy (minimum one year, minimum $100,000 coverage) is required by IRCC. Visitor insurance is not a substitute for Super Visa insurance.

Coverage for COVID-19 varies by insurer and policy, and has evolved since the pandemic. Some plans currently include emergency medical coverage for COVID-19 as an unexpected illness, treating it the same as any other acute illness. Others may have specific exclusions or limitations — for example, excluding COVID-19 if the visitor travelled to a destination with a Government of Canada travel advisory in effect at the time of travel.

The Government of Canada's travel health notices and advisories can affect coverage under some policies. It is important to check the current policy wording and any applicable travel advisories before purchasing.

In a medical emergency, call 911 for immediate assistance. Emergency services in Canada are available 24 hours a day, and calling 911 will dispatch an ambulance, fire, or police response as needed.

As soon as possible — ideally before or immediately after seeking emergency care — contact your insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line. The number is printed on your insurance card and in your policy documents. The emergency assistance line can: pre-authorize treatment (which may be required for non-emergency procedures); coordinate direct billing with the hospital or clinic so you do not have to pay out-of-pocket and seek reimbursement; arrange medical evacuation or repatriation if necessary; and help navigate the Canadian healthcare system.

Always carry your insurance card and policy documents — either physical copies or accessible on your phone. If you are arranging visitors insurance for a parent or family member, make sure they have the emergency assistance number saved and understand how to use it.

Yes — Oracle RMS Insurance London North regularly assists Canadian families arranging visitor insurance for parents visiting from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries. The policy is typically purchased by the Canadian family member sponsoring the visit, on behalf of the visiting parent.

Parents visiting from India are a common profile for visitors insurance in Canada. Key considerations include: the parent's age (premiums increase significantly for applicants over 60 or 70); any pre-existing medical conditions and whether they meet the stability requirements of the chosen plan; the coverage amount (a minimum of $100,000 is generally recommended; $150,000 to $200,000 is common for older applicants); and the deductible.

If your parents are visiting on a Super Visa, they require Super Visa insurance specifically — minimum $100,000 in coverage, valid for at least one year, from a Canadian insurance company. Super Visa insurance is a mandatory IRCC requirement and is different from regular visitor insurance.

Visitors to Canada insurance and travel insurance are related but serve different purposes and different travellers.

Visitors to Canada insurance is specifically designed for people coming to Canada who are not covered by a provincial health plan — tourists, family visitors, new immigrants during their waiting period, and returning Canadians not yet covered provincially. It focuses on emergency medical coverage in Canada and is purchased by or for the visitor.

Travel insurance is a broader category designed primarily for Canadians travelling outside Canada. It typically includes emergency medical coverage for illness or injury abroad, trip cancellation and interruption coverage (reimbursing prepaid travel costs if the trip is cancelled for a covered reason), baggage loss and delay coverage, and flight delay coverage. Some travel insurance products also cover Canadians travelling within Canada to provinces other than their home province.

No — visitors to Canada insurance covers emergency and unexpected medical events only. It is not a substitute for provincial health insurance and does not cover routine check-ups, elective procedures, pre-planned treatments, dental care (except emergency dental resulting from an accidental injury), or medical care that is not the result of a sudden, unexpected illness or injury.

For example, a visitor who develops a sudden fever and requires emergency hospital care would typically be covered. A visitor who schedules a routine physical examination, a planned surgery they have been waiting for, or ongoing treatment for a known chronic condition would not be covered under a standard visitors insurance policy.

This distinction is important for visitors with known medical conditions. If a visitor has a condition that requires ongoing treatment or monitoring, that ongoing care is generally not covered — only a sudden, unexpected worsening or complication of the condition may be covered, subject to the stability requirements.

Yes, Oracle RMS Insurance – London North is licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).

We operate through A Bajaj Financial Services Inc., which holds FSRA Insurance Act Licence No. 41867M in Ontario. Our licensing authorizes us to offer life and accident and sickness insurance products, including visitor insurance, Super Visa insurance, and travel insurance, through our relationships with multiple Canadian insurance carriers.

As an independent insurance brokerage, we work with leading insurers. This allows us to compare available plans, benefits, and premiums to help individuals and families find coverage suited to their needs and budget.

Our goal is to make finding the right visitors insurance simpler, with personalized guidance, access to multiple insurance providers, and support in understanding your options.