Written By: Dale Orlando
It’s that time of the year: many Canadians are planning escapes to sunny locales for Christmas, flights abroad to reconnect with family, or even day trips to the States in search of that perfect gift. ‘Tis the season to be … insured.
Insured? Yes. We’ve all read the horror stories about people who venture out of the country without insurance, but our mentality naturally leans to, “It won’t happen to me.” Sadly, it might, and even a minor incident and quick trip to an E.R. can cost you thousands of dollars. Your Canadian insurance is simply probably not valid beyond our borders.
The Government of Canada advises:
“If you plan to go abroad, even on a day trip to the United States, you should purchase the best travel insurance you can afford before you leave Canada. Your travel insurance should include health, life and disability coverage that will help you avoid large expenses, such as the cost of hospitalization or medical treatment outside Canada. If you are flying, being insured for flight cancellation, trip interruption, lost luggage and document replacement will save you from major disruptions and additional costs. If you are travelling by car, make sure you have driver and vehicle coverage in case you have an accident abroad.”
Its website offers a checklist to make sure you purchase adequate insurance before you leave.
So many unforeseen things can go wrong and turn what was to have been a great get-away into a nightmarish scenario. Stay safe. Stay insured.
