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Written By
Steve Tustin
Apr 10, 2025
•Insurance
Health care costs are expensive in Canada if you are not a permanent resident or don’t qualify for provincial health care coverage. So, travel medical health insurance, also called “Visitors to Canada” (VTC) insurance, is vital. Discover how to protect yourself and your family and begin life in Canada on the right foot!
When moving to Canada, insurance will protect you from unexpected medical costs, bills, and heartache. However, you must know what insurance you need, what it covers, when to buy it, and how it saves money.
Travel medical health insurance plans from your home country may not cover you for emergencies after you arrive in Canada. The right insurance will give you peace of mind to begin life in Canada without a costly medical bill.
To get free healthcare in Canada, or universal healthcare, you must be a permanent resident. Immigrants in Canada waiting to join a provincial healthcare program are vulnerable for months without Canadian travel medical health insurance coverage.
The Government of Canada recommends that newcomers have at least $100,000 in travel insurance coverage for unforeseen accidents or emergencies.
Travel medical health insurance can go by different names. In Canada, it’s called Visitors to Canada (VTC) insurance.
Visitors to Canada insurance can protect you for up to 365 days when you apply. You can also extend it. This travel insurance is for you if you are:
While Canada has universal healthcare, costs for services are high for uninsured non-residents.
For example, visiting a health clinic can cost between $100 and $200. A hospital and emergency room visit can cost $3,000 to $5,700 per day.
An inpatient hospital stay can be $3,000 or more per day. Major hospitals charge $17,000 per day or more for intensive care. Travel medical health insurance can help you cover these costs.
Newcomers to Canada who are permanent residents will likely receive government-funded universal healthcare. However, you may not have coverage for your first few months because of waiting periods in some provinces. So, to protect yourself and your loved ones, you can buy travel medical health insurance before you arrive to fill the gap.
If you arrive in Canada on a study or a work permit, you may qualify for public-funded health care. When you land in Canada, you can apply for government plans like the Ontario Health Insurance Plan or Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. However, it may take months to join the provincial healthcare program. Bridging the coverage gap will protect you from any expected health and medical costs that may hurt your budget.
Whether you are moving to Canada permanently or temporarily, coming to study, or visiting as a grandparent or parent, private health insurance can protect you for the first few months.
Arriving with an action plan for your first weeks in Canada can save you time and money. The quicker you settle into your new environment the faster you’ll feel at home! In this webinar, Your First Weeks in Canada, we discuss the important things to do to manage your first weeks efficiently.
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The purpose of health insurance for newcomers is to cover medical expenses. Depending on your coverage, comprehensive medical health insurance for newcomers of all ages may cover things such as:
The first thing to determine before arriving in Canada is whether or not you are eligible for coverage. Carefully review the eligibility section of the insurance company’s policy or contact them directly to find out.
Also, determine if you must complete a medical health questionnaire. You may not have to if you’re 59 or younger. If you are older than 60, you may need to complete a questionnaire to determine the cost of your policy.
Here are other things to consider when selecting an insurance plan:
Travel medical health insurance for Canada is affordable. For example, it may cost $500 for three months for a family. This insurance will cover the waiting period to join the provincial healthcare program. However, make sure you’re covered for the entire period you need. Or get additional coverage if you need it. Get a free quote now!
The Government of Canada recommends you have at least $100,000 in travel insurance for unforeseen accidents or emergencies.
Travel insurance differs from medical health insurance. It can cover lost luggage, trip cancellation costs, medical expenses, and repatriation for newcomers. Some travel insurance packages may include health insurance coverage, but you must check to be sure.
In Canada, people use travel insurance when they travel outside their province. Travel insurance within Canada covers the difference between what the government healthcare insurance pays and what the travel insurance covers.
Also, when people leave their country of origin or country of residence for Canada, they often buy local coverage. This may not have the same level of coverage they will need in Canada. So make sure you compare the coverage.
Whether you are moving to Canada permanently or temporarily, coming to study, or visiting as a grandparent or parent, travel medical health insurance is vital. Research what coverage will best meet your needs to keep you and your loved one safe and secure.
It’s never too early to begin your research or get a travel medical insurance quote!
WRITTEN BY
Steve Tustin
Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
© Prepare for Canada 2025
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