Travel and term life insurance in Canada
Travel insurance and term life insurance both pay out when something goes wrong, but the policy wording decides what a claim covers. This guide explains emergency medical limits, stability periods, age rules and medical questionnaires for travel plans, then term length, renewal, conversion and no-medical options for life insurance, using details each insurer publishes on its official site.
Coverage checked October 14, 2026
Compare insurance providers
| Provider | Emergency medical | Trip length | Age limits | Pre-existing conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Blue Crosssingle trip medicalmulti-trip annualtrip cancellation and interruption3-in-1 package | Up to $5 million per trip | Annual: 4 to 180 days per trip; single trip not listed | Not listed; 3-in-1 package 54 or under | 3 months stable (under 55), 6 months (55+) |
| Pacific Blue Crosssingle trip medicalmulti-trip annualtrip cancellation and interruptionpackage | Up to $10 million | Up to 1 year with MSP approval; annual days not listed | Any age; health form may be needed at 61+ | 3 or 6 months stable by age; check the policy |
| TuGosingle trip medicalmulti-trip annualtrip cancellation and interruptiontrip interruption | Not listed | Not listed | Any age; questionnaire at 60+ sets your rate | Varies by age and trip length; check the policy |
| Allianz Global Assistance Canadasingle trip medicalmulti-trip annualall-inclusivetrip cancellation and interruption | Up to $10 million; Youth Plan $1 million | Up to 365 days (single trip); annual: 4 to 35 days | No age limit; questionnaire at 65+ | 90 days stable (64 and under), 150 days (65+) |
| RBC Insurancesingle trip medicalmulti-trip annual4-day getaway multi-trip annualall-inclusive | Unlimited (with provincial health coverage) | Up to 183 days (365 if eligible); annual: 4 to 60 days | Any age; health questions at 65+ | 90 or 180 days stable by age; check the policy |
| TD Insurancesingle trip medicalmulti-trip annual (medical)multi-trip all-inclusive (annual)trip cancellation and interruption | Up to $10 million per trip | Up to 182 days (single trip); annual: 4 to 60 days | No maximum age; questionnaire at 60+ | 90 or 365 days stable, by rate category or age |
| BMO Insurancesingle trip medicalsingle trip premium (all-inclusive)multi-trip annual (medical)multi-trip premium (annual all-inclusive) | Up to $5 million | Up to 183 or 212 days by province; annual: 4 to 23 days | Under 75; questionnaire at 60+ | 90 or 180 days stable, per your coverage letter |
| Desjardins Insurancesingle trip (emergency health care plus optional coverages)multi-trip annualtrip cancellation or modification (coverage option)baggage, accident and emergency return trip (coverage options) | Up to $5 million per trip | Up to 365 days (single trip); annual: 8 to 182 days | No maximum age for single trip; annual under 81 | 90 days stable (under 55), 182 days (55+) |
| Medipacsingle trip medical (snowbird)multi-trip annual (4-Season Annual Plan, 23 or 33 days)MedipacGOLD / MedipacMAX / MedipacPLUS enhancement endorsementsindividual underwritten plan | $2 million US; $10 million US with MedipacGOLD | Up to 212 days (single trip); annual: 23 or 33 days | No age limit; health questions at 56+ or 41+ day trips | 90 days stable and controlled |
| CAA Travel Insurance (CAA South Central Ontario)single trip medicalCanada plan (trips within Canada)multi-trip annual (medical)vacation package (all-inclusive, single trip) | Up to $10 million | Up to 365 days or your health plan limit; annual: 4 to 60 | No age limit; questionnaire may apply at 60+ | 3 months stable (under 70), 6 months (70+) |
Features from each insurer’s own site, checked October 14, 2026. Premiums depend on your age, health and coverage, so we don’t show prices; get a quote from the insurer. Hover a cell for the full wording.
Match travel insurance to your trip and health by checking the medical limit, day limit and stability period. For term life, set the coverage amount and term first, then compare renewal and conversion terms.
Suits you if
- You travel outside Canada without card or workplace medical coverage.
- You have a health condition and need clear stability terms.
- You have dependants or a mortgage that rely on your income.
Look elsewhere if
- You have card or workplace travel coverage; check its limits first.
- You have workplace life insurance that already meets your family’s needs.
- You have no dependants or debts that rely on your income.
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What to know before you choose
Travel insurance plan types
Plan names differ, but most fall into a few groups. Some providers are narrower: BMO sells only to BMO Financial Group customers, and Medipac sells emergency medical cover only, with no trip cancellation.
- Single trip medical: cover for one trip. Allianz and Desjardins list trips of up to 365 days.
- Multi-trip annual: every trip in a 12-month period, up to a per-trip day limit you choose, such as TD’s 4, 9, 16 or 30 days.
- All-inclusive packages: emergency medical plus trip cancellation, interruption and baggage. TuGo’s is for Canadian residents 59 and younger, and CAA’s packages have an age limit of 84.
- Trip cancellation and interruption: non-medical cover for prepaid costs, to a maximum of $50,000 on TD’s plan.
- Visitors to Canada: Desjardins says its plan also covers newcomers awaiting provincial coverage, foreign workers and international students.
- Top-ups: extra days on top of card or annual plan coverage for a longer trip.
Emergency medical limits and trip length
The emergency medical maximum is the most a plan pays for covered care on a trip. Listed limits include $5,000,000 per trip at Ontario Blue Cross, $5 million per insured person at BMO and Desjardins, and $10 million at Allianz, Pacific Blue Cross and TD. RBC calls several of its medical plans unlimited, but caps them at $20,000 if you don’t have valid government health insurance coverage. Medipac quotes in US dollars, from $2,000,000 USD on its base policy to $10,000,000 USD with MedipacGOLD.
Trip length matters just as much. TD lists single trips of up to 182 days or what your province allows, and BMO lists 183 days, or 212 in some provinces. On an annual plan, the day limit applies to each trip, so pick one that covers your longest trip, or check whether you can add days for it.
Pre-existing conditions and stability periods
A pre-existing condition is a health issue you had before coverage starts. Most plans cover it only if it was stable for a set window before departure or the policy start. Stable generally means no new symptoms, treatment or medication changes, but each policy defines it in its own words. Desjardins notes its exclusion applies even if you disclosed the condition on the questionnaire or a doctor said you could travel. Examples listed on official sites:
- Ontario Blue Cross: 3 months for ages 0 to 54 and 6 months for 55 and over, with an optional Reduced Stability Period.
- Desjardins: 90 days under 55 and 182 days at 55 or older, though its Stable for 3 months option keeps a single trip at 90 days.
- CAA: three months up to age 69 and six months from 70, plus an optional rider for conditions stable within 7 days, up to $300,000 per insured, per trip.
- Allianz: 90 days at 64 and under and 150 days at 65 and over, as listed on its seniors page.
- BMO: your Declaration of Coverage Letter sets one of three exclusions; the strictest excludes any condition present in the 180 days before coverage.
- TuGo: a 2021 blog post describes 7 to 365 days by age and trip length, so confirm it against current wording.
Age limits and medical questionnaires
Allianz, CAA, TuGo and Medipac list no maximum age for emergency medical cover, and Pacific Blue Cross says it covers people of any age. Others set caps: BMO lists under 75 on its plans page, and Desjardins’ annual plan is for those under 81.
Medical questionnaires start at 60 at TuGo, TD and BMO, and at 65 at Allianz, while Pacific Blue Cross may ask for a Health Declaration from 61. TuGo says its questionnaire determines your rate, not your eligibility, and RBC’s Classic Medical plan asks no health questions for ages 0 to 64.
Answer every question accurately, since a wrong answer can put a claim at risk. TuGo’s blog describes a $15,000 USD deductible that applies if answers are found to be incorrect. Medipac lets travellers skip its medical questions only if they are under 56 and away for less than 41 days.
Credit card travel insurance vs a standalone plan
Many credit cards include travel medical insurance, and our credit card travel insurance page compares that cover. It can suit short trips, but card coverage often has shorter day limits, age cut-offs and conditions such as charging the trip to the card. The certificate of insurance sets the rules. If the day limit is the only gap, a top-up can cover the extra days, and TD, Medipac, TuGo and CAA all list top-ups. Compare these points:
- Days covered per trip, against your longest trip.
- Age limits that end or shorten cover.
- The medical maximum and the pre-existing condition wording.
- Whether trip cancellation, interruption and baggage are included.
- Assistance rules. Desjardins says you may pay 30% of eligible expenses, up to $3,000, if you don’t call its Assistance Service first, and CAA says benefits drop to 80%, to a maximum of $25,000.
Term life insurance basics
Term life insurance pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the term, and Canada Life says its death benefit is paid tax-free to named beneficiaries. You choose how long the cover lasts and how much it pays.
BMO, Empire Life and PolicyMe offer fixed terms of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Canada Life My Term allows any length from 5 to 50 years, and RBC and iA Pick-A-Term any length from 10 to 40. Listed coverage ranges include $50,000 to $25 million at RBC and $100,000 to $30 million at BMO. Then check what happens after the term:
- Renewable: cover continues without new medical evidence, at a new age-based rate. Canada Life My Term renews yearly to age 85 and Canada Protection Plan’s level plans to age 80, while Equitable’s Term 30/65 doesn’t renew.
- Convertible: you can switch to permanent insurance without new medical evidence before a cut-off age, such as 71 at RBC and BMO or 70 at Desjardins.
- Exchange: some policies let you move to a longer term without medical evidence early on, such as within seven policy years in Empire Life’s advisor guide.
No-medical and simplified issue term life
Several insurers sell term life based on health questions alone, for people who want to skip tests or have health issues. Coverage limits are usually lower, and some products reduce the payout in the first years. Answer accurately, since wrong answers can put a claim at risk. Options listed on official sites:
- Sun Life Go Simplified: three health questions, with $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 of cover for ages 18 to 69.
- Manulife CoverMe Easy Issue: a 10-year term of $50,000 or $75,000 with two medical questions, for ages 18 to 70.
- Canada Life My Simple Term: a short questionnaire with no medical tests, for ages 18 to 80.
- RBC Simplified Term: $50,000 to $1,000,000 for ages 18 to 55, possibly without a medical exam.
- Canada Protection Plan: Simplified Elite Term is no medical up to $500,000, while Deferred Elite Term pays a reduced benefit for non-accidental deaths in the first two years.
- Humania: its Guaranteed Issue tier refuses no cases but pays no benefit in the 24 months after underwriting, except for an accident.
- Regular policies: Sun Life says people aged 41 to 50 can skip exams for Go Term coverage up to $500,000, and PolicyMe says most people need no medical exam.
How to compare quotes
Quotes only line up when the inputs match. For term life, give each insurer or advisor the same coverage amount, term length, smoker status and riders. For travel insurance, use the same trip dates, deductible and coverage types. Then compare the features that matter later, and read the policy wording itself, since its exclusions decide what a claim pays:
- Conversion deadline and renewal age.
- Exchange privilege for moving to a longer term.
- Free-look period: RBC lists 30 days for Simplified Term and 10 days for Your Term, and Manulife CoverMe and PolicyMe both describe 30-day windows.
- How you buy: PolicyMe and Sun Life Go Term take online applications, while Empire Life and Equitable sell through advisors.
- For travel: the stability period, the per-trip day limit and whether you must call the assistance line before treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much travel medical insurance do I need for the US?
Insurers don’t set a required amount, but the limits they publish show the range: $5,000,000 per trip at Ontario Blue Cross, $10 million at Allianz, Pacific Blue Cross and TD, and unlimited on several RBC medical plans. Pick a limit you’d be comfortable relying on for a hospital stay, and note whether it’s in Canadian or US dollars, as Medipac’s limits are in USD. Also confirm the plan’s day limit covers your whole stay.
What is a stability period in travel insurance?
It’s the window before your trip or policy start during which a pre-existing condition must be stable for that condition to be covered. Lengths vary by insurer and age: Ontario Blue Cross lists 3 months for ages 0 to 54 and 6 months for 55 and over, while Desjardins lists 90 or 182 days. Each policy defines stable in its own words, so read the definition and raise any recent medication change with the insurer.
At what age do I need a medical questionnaire for travel insurance?
It depends on the insurer. TuGo, TD and BMO list 60 and older, Pacific Blue Cross says people 61 and older may need a Health Declaration, and Allianz requires one at 65 or older. Answer every question accurately, since a wrong answer can reduce or void a claim.
Can I extend my travel insurance if my trip runs longer?
Often, yes, through a top-up or extension. Allianz says annual-plan travellers can call to buy a top-up when a trip runs past the chosen day limit, BMO and RBC list top-ups for annual plans, and Desjardins says days can be added to its annual policy for a specific trip. Arrange it before your current coverage ends, and ask whether new health questions apply.
Does my provincial health plan cover me outside Canada?
Provincial and territorial plans generally pay only part of emergency costs outside Canada, if anything, and the rules differ by province, so check with your own plan before you travel. Travel insurers also expect you to keep that coverage: RBC limits several medical plans to $20,000 if you don’t have valid government health insurance coverage, and CAA caps benefits at $25,000 without it. Some single-trip limits are also tied to how long your province allows you to be away.
Is there an age limit for travel insurance in Canada?
Not always. Allianz, CAA, TuGo and Medipac list no maximum age for emergency medical cover, and Pacific Blue Cross says it covers people of any age. Some plans do set caps, such as BMO’s under 75 on its plans page, Desjardins’ annual plan for those under 81, and package plans such as TuGo’s All Inclusive Holiday Package for those 59 and younger.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?
Several insurers say they cover it, with conditions. TuGo says COVID-19 is included in its emergency medical insurance regardless of vaccination status for policies bought as of October 4, 2022, Medipac says it covers COVID-19, and BMO’s wording includes diagnosis of a pandemic disease such as COVID-19. Allianz says treatment is covered if no Government of Canada travel advisory related to COVID-19 was in place on the policy’s effective date, so check the travel advisory exclusions in any policy.
Is credit card travel insurance enough, or do I need a separate plan?
It can be enough for short trips if the card’s day limit, age rules and medical maximum fit your plans. Read the certificate of insurance and compare it with a standalone plan on the points that differ most: trip length, pre-existing condition wording and trip cancellation cover. If only the day limit falls short, a top-up for the extra days may be enough.
What’s the difference between renewable and convertible term life?
Renewable means the policy can continue after the term ends without new medical evidence, at a new rate based on your age. Convertible means you can switch to permanent insurance without new medical evidence, up to a cut-off age, such as before 71 at RBC and BMO or before 70 at Desjardins. Many term policies offer both, but the deadlines differ, so check them before you buy.
Can I get term life insurance without a medical exam in Canada?
Yes. Simplified issue products such as Sun Life Go Simplified, Manulife CoverMe Easy Issue and Canada Life My Simple Term use health questions instead of tests, usually with lower coverage limits. Some regular products also waive exams for healthy applicants, such as Sun Life Go Term for ages 41 to 50 up to $500,000. Guaranteed and deferred products may pay a reduced benefit, or none, for non-accidental deaths in the first years.
How long should my term life policy be?
A common approach is to match the term to your longest financial obligation, such as the years left on your mortgage or the years until your youngest child is independent. Fixed terms of 10 to 30 years are common, and some insurers, such as RBC and iA, let you pick any length from 10 to 40 years. If you’re unsure, check whether the policy lets you exchange to a longer term in the early years.
How much term life insurance coverage can I get?
Published ranges vary widely. RBC lists $50,000 to $25 million and BMO lists $100,000 to $30 million, while no-medical products are much smaller, such as $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 for Sun Life Go Simplified. Higher amounts generally need full underwriting through an advisor or by phone.
What happens when my term life policy ends?
It depends on the contract. Many policies renew automatically at a new age-based rate, often to age 85, while Canada Protection Plan’s level plans renew to age 80. Empire Life’s advisor guide says Solution Series cover becomes paid up at the policy anniversary nearest age 100, and RBC says coverage continues at age 100 with no more payments required. Others, such as Equitable’s Term 30/65, simply end.
Can I cancel a term life policy if I change my mind?
Many policies have a free-look period with a full refund. RBC lists 30 days for Simplified Term and 10 days for Your Term, Manulife CoverMe describes a 30-day money-back guarantee, and PolicyMe a 30-day trial period. Check the exact window in your policy, since it can differ between products at the same insurer.
Coverage depends on the policy wording, your health and your answers on the application. Read the policy before you buy. See our methodology.