Winter season sees a flock of retirees and travel enthusiasts migrating to warmer regions, seeking sanctuary from the chilly Canadian weather. Whether you’re packing up and heading to the southern U.S. or venturing to the Mediterranean coast, many things need to be taken care of before leaving the country. Outside of the tasks that come with planning & booking your trip, prior to leaving your home province it is vital that you purchase travel insurance to ensure safe travels and peace of mind. This blog will help you learn more about travel insurance and how it can ensure stress-free travels.
What Is Travel Insurance?
Let’s begin with the basics. Travel insurance acts as your financial safeguard against the unpredictable elements of travelling. Travel insurance covers a range of unforeseen circumstances that help to protect your trip, your wallet, and most importantly, your health & safety. From minor inconveniences like lost luggage or dental pain, to major problems like a cancelled trip due to a hurricane or hospitalization after a medical emergency, having a reliable insurance plan in place means you’re protected against these unforeseen circumstances and their accompanying expenses.
How Travel Insurance Benefits Snowbirds
Snowbirds, given their extended periods of travel, face unique challenges. Longer trips come with more requirements, higher expenses, and the possibility of unforeseen risks affecting your trip and your health. Insurance is always a gamble, but if you’d insure your car, why not your trip, or more importantly, your health? It is common to feel invincible, to feel that taking caution and playing it safe is enough, but accidents happen. They can happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone. Fortunately, that’s where travel insurance comes in. Travel insurance benefits snowbirds in multiple ways.
Consider these crucial benefits:
Healthcare Coverage—With longer stays come greater risks of health issues; whether new or as a result of a pre-existing condition. Travel insurance provides assurance that should you need medical attention, costs won’t be a burden. It’s a lifeline that lets you travel with peace of mind knowing that if a medical emergency were to occur, you would receive the help you need no matter where you are. With deluxe benefits like land & air ambulance services, remote evacuation, hospital accommodations, diagnostic testing, and more, you can travel safely and confidently knowing you will receive, the medical care you need, when and if, you need it.
Reimbursement for your trip – With Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance, you can splurge on a luxury vacation, excursions, tours, accommodations etc., risk-free, knowing if your trip is cancelled or interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances, you won’t have to bear the brunt of financial loss.
Coverage for Lost Personal Items—Lost, damaged, or stolen luggage/personal items can be distressing, and unfortunately, it happens all too often. If this has happened to you, or if it is something of concern to you, consider purchasing Baggage Coverage. Baggage coverage insures you against the loss, damage, destruction, or theft of some or all of your personal effects while travelling. In turn, it can alleviate some of the financial burdens if such incidents were to occur.
TIO Consumer-Friendly Options
If getting travel insurance seems overwhelming, look to the experienced team at Travel Insurance Office Inc. (TIO). Our team of licensed agents have upwards of 30+ years in the industry. Since 1991 we’ve served hundreds of thousands of Canadian Snowbirds, all across Canada, providing them with comprehensive coverage that includes deluxe benefits at affordable rates. We offer four excellent products, two of which are exclusive products that are not available from any other broker.
TIO’s exclusive products:
Travellers Choice
As the name suggests, Travellers Choice is, the avid traveller's choice. It is available for persons age 0-89 and has some of the lowest rates in Canada for persons in excellent health. It offers tailored coverage to support travellers with pre-existing conditions if they have been stable for 90 days prior to travel. With a plan maximum of $5 million USD, per person, this product provides a robust safety net, ensuring you have the financial support you need should you suffer a costly medical emergency.
Travel Insurance Made Easy (TIME)
Travel Insurance Made Easy (TIME), makes getting your travel insurance easy. TIME has no age limits and offers some of the lowest rates in Canada for persons with a heart condition, a lung condition, Diabetes, Cancer, or a Gastrointestinal condition. Don’t let your pre-existing medical conditions keep you from travelling, TIME can save you money where others might cost you. Paired with a plan maximum of $5 million CAD and a 90 or 180-day stability period (depending on your plan), TIME is perfect for those with one medical condition.
Our Tips for Relaxed Snowbird Exploration
Once you have travel insurance squared away, you can really start exploring your favourite winter locales. Here are our tips for making your vacation planning stress-free:
Plan Ahead—For your safety, research your destination well in advance. You will want to check for any existing travel advisories in place as depending on the severity level, it can void your coverage. Prior to any trip, check out the travel advice & advisory section of the government of Canada website here. Being informed will save you a lot of trouble down the line, so it’s also worth researching your accommodation, it’s on site medical services (if any) and its location with relation to surrounding healthcare facilities.
Manage Your Home—Secure your primary residence before leaving. It is common for homes to be a victim of break-ins if they seem vacant. Consider asking a neighbour to keep an eye out, setting a lighting schedule, or installing security systems, to ensure your home will also be safe while you’re away. If you’re headed to a secondary residence you should also consider forwarding your mail to ensure no important documents are missed.
Financial Preparedness—Before setting off, make sure your finances are in order. Set up online banking & automatic bill payments, and confirm you have access to funds in your destination. Inform your bank of your travel plans to avoid any fraud alerts or blocks on your cards. Consider travelling with multiple transactional card types and currencies. In cases where one card type or currency may not be accepted, your back-up will be there to save the day.
Healthcare Considerations—Talk to a doctor or research your destination to discover if it is prone-to or known for any existing viruses, disease, or health threats known to your destination (ex. Malaria, Ebola, Zika, etc.). Research the healthcare system of your destination. Be aware of any medical supply shortages, hospital overflow, and/or hospital scare tactics. If you’re on medication, ensure you have enough and know where you can get your prescriptions filled should anything happen to your supply. We also recommend packing backups (both quantity and luggage-based). In terms of quantity, consider packing an extra week’s worth, to protect you if you decide to extend your trip or should you be delayed in getting home. In terms of ‘luggage-based’, consider splitting your meds between carry-on and checked bags. This will protect you if one of your bags in question became lost or was stolen. By having a backup container of medication in the secondary bag you have time to fulfill a prescription without missing any days or needing to return home.
Weather Awareness—As Mother Nature will attest, the weather can be unpredictable. Stay informed about the local weather conditions and pack accordingly. Check travel advisories for any warnings of seasonal or severe weather threats (ex. inbound Hurricanes, Monsoon seasons, wildfire threats, unexpected cold spells, etc.).
Secure Your Peace of Mind Today
‘Snowbirding’ should be about escaping the cold and enjoying the warmth of your chosen destination, immersing in local cultures, and making every moment count. That’s why TIO travel insurance is so important. The peace of mind it brings allows for peaceful exploration and keeps you safe & secure all season long. Protect your trip, your wallet, and your health, with a TIO travel insurance policy. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive coverage options and plans. Let our team of experienced licensed agents find the best product for you for the best price. Let us worry about your coverage so you can get back to enjoying the sun.
All TIO products promise:
Comprehensive worldwide coverage
A minimum of $5 million coverage (at no extra cost)
Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions
24/7 worldwide assistance
TIO’s Risk-Free Guarantee: Cancel for any reason prior to travel and get a full refund. No questions asked.
Payment convenience
Ability to pay for the exact number of days you require
No service charges or administration fees
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