Are you a Visitor to Canada or an IEC Visa applicant looking for a visitors policy that covers emergencies and makes day-to-day care easier while you’re in Canada? The BestQuote MedEC Visitors to Canada policy adds unique benefits you won’t find elsewhere. This article will dive into who can buy the policy, and key benefits like pre-paid Maple doctor visits and a partial premium refund if you enroll in a provincial health plan.
Who MedEC is for:
The MedEC policy is suitable for all visitors to Canada. The policy is available on BestQuote Travel Insurance for visitors to Canada on quotes above 300 days long. This includes:
International Experience Canada (IEC) visa applicants (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (Internship)
Super Visa applicants
Other visitors to Canada (tourists, family visitors, long-stays)
What the MedEC policy covers (at a glance)
The BestQuote MedEC policy is an emergency health and repatriation policy which provide standard coverage for visitors to Canada. It's designed to provide coverage for sudden, unexpected medical events - think ER, hospital visits, tests, ambulance rides, repatriation coverage, etc. (Please read the policy details for a full list of the specific policy coverage)
There are two MedEC policies:
MedEC Visitors Emergency Health & Repatriation Insurance - with Maple Healthcare Access - This policy provides standard coverage for visitors to Canada. All policy benefits are included except the Winter Sports addition.
MedEC Visitors Emergency Health & Repatriation with Winter Sports and Maple - This policy provides standard coverage for visitors to Canada. All policy benefits are available, including the Winter Sports addition.
Here are some key features of the MedEC policies:
IEC requirements met: medical care, hospitalization, repatriation
Side trips: up to 35 days outside Canada (conditions apply)
Early return refund if you go home early and no claim was made
Maple telehealth: three pre-paid doctor visits per year
GHIP refund: 25% of remaining premium (less $25 admin fee) when you enroll in a provincial plan (details below)
At the moment, the MedEC policy does not provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. However, there are policies at BestQuote that cover stable medical conditions. You can browse pre-existing medical condition policy options by generating a quote.
What are MedEC’s unique benefits?
MedEC has a list of great benefits, including the ability to apply for an early return refund if you return home early from Canada (as long as no claim is submitted). You can take side trips of up to 35 days outside of Canada!
MedEC also has two unique benefits not found anywhere else:
1. GHIP refund
The BestQuote MedEC policy is the only coverage in the world providing a partial refund when you enrol on a provincial government health insurance plan (GHIP). With the GHIP refund, you get 25% of the remaining premium on your policy minus a $25 administrative fee.
The GHIP refund makes MedEC lower cost than most popular international policies if you enrol in GHIP. Plus, you can also submit an early return refund if you return from Canada early, making the MedEC policy great value!
What is GHIP?
GHIP is a term used to explain government health insurance plans across Canada. If you enrol in GHIP you get access to the same medical services as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Each Canadian province and territory has a version of GHIP with different coverage and eligibility criteria, so it’s important to check your intended province to see if you meet their GHIP eligibility criteria. Some visitors to Canada can enrol in provincial GHIP, including all IEC visa holders who meet the provincial health plan eligibility criteria.
Here are the health insurance plans across each province and territory in Canada:
British Columbia = Medical Services Plan (MSP)
Alberta = Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
Ontario = Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Québec = Québec Health Insurance Plan
Nova Scotia = Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI)
New Brunswick = New Brunswick Medicare
Manitoba = Manitoba Health
Saskatchewan = Saskatchewan Health Benefits Coverage
Yukon = Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan (YHCIP)
Prince Edward Island = Health PEI
Nunavut = Nunavut Health Care Plan
Newfoundland & Labrador = The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Care Plan (MCP)
Provincial GHIP is free, and you are entitled to enrol when you have a valid work permit and letter of employment (typically 20+ hours/week, 6 months or more eligibility requirement). It normally takes up to 3 months to enrol in GHIP, depending on your province.
Please note: if you have an IEC visa, you need to keep your insurance policy even if you are enrolled in a Canadian government health plan, as GHIP does not provide the repatriation requirement.
2. Maple telehealth
From Nov 1, 2024, MedEC includes three pre-paid Maple® doctor visits per year—ideal for non-emergency issues that don’t need the ER (prescriptions, minor illnesses, follow-ups). You’ll get instructions in your policy pack on how to activate and book.
If you’d like to know more about using health services in Canada and Maple, check out our article on how to access medical services in Canada.
IEC applicants: does MedEC meet the insurance requirements?
Yes, MedEC includes the three IEC-required benefits listed by the Government of Canada:
Medical care
Hospitalization
Repatriation
Note: You must hold insurance for the entire time you’re in Canada; many IEC participants buy coverage for their full planned stay up front.
How to purchase the MedEC policy for your trip
To purchase the MedEC policy for your visit to Canada, generate a quote on our website to see all the policy options for your trip.
If MedEC is available to you, it will appear on your quote. You can see the summary of benefits, eligibility details, and the price of the policy and compare MedEC to other policies all on your quote!
