If you’re visiting Canada with a medical history, the big question is simple: can you get travel insurance that covers your condition? The short answer is yes, if it’s “stable” under the insurer’s rules. The longer answer is what this guide explains, in plain English, so you know what will (and won’t) be covered before you buy.
Travel insurance is built for the unexpected. Most Canadian policies will exclude unstable pre-existing conditions, but many will cover stable conditions after a look-back period (often 30/90/120/180/365 days, depending on the plan and your age). Your job is to match your health history to a policy whose definition you meet.
What is Considered a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?
As is common in the insurance industry, insurance companies each have different definitions for what is considered a pre-existing medical condition. Pre-existing conditions are those that someone already has prior to traveling. This could include illnesses like cancer, conditions like pregnancy, or even being prescribed a new medication prior to a trip. For something to be considered a pre-existing condition, it doesn’t necessarily need to be diagnosed by a healthcare professional.
Since travel insurance is designed to protect visitors to Canada against unexpected illnesses and injuries, pre-existing medical conditions that would reasonably be expected to require medical attention during this time would not be covered (for example, a prescription renewal).
Canadian insurance companies do not offer travel insurance that covers ‘unstable’ pre-existing conditions.
What does "stable" usually mean
Wording varies, but stability almost always means no in the look-back period:
No new symptoms or worsening of existing ones
No medication changes (start/stop or dose/strength changes)
No new or upcoming/pending tests or investigations, referrals, or diagnoses for that condition
No hospitalizations or ER visits related to it
Some plans use 90 or 180 days; some seniors plans use 365 days. A few specialty options shorten stability (even ~7–30 days with a surcharge). The clock usually starts the day after a change occurs.
A few realistic scenarios
| Situation | Likely status for that condition |
|---|---|
Blood pressure dose increased 6 weeks ago: | Not yet stable—coverage for hypertension-related claims likely excluded until day 91 |
Same prescription renewed, no new symptoms: | Usually stable—simple renewals without changes are typically fine |
Stent placed 7 months ago, had follow-up with cardiologist 1 week later, symptom-free since: | Stable—meets a 180-day look-back |
New abdominal pain, ultrasound booked next week | Unstable—investigation pending means not stable |
*Always subject to the exact policy definition(s) and any age/plan limits.
Three ways policies handle pre-existing conditions
Insurance companies typically handle pre-existing conditions in three different ways:
Exclude all pre-existing conditions. Cheapest, but offers no help if the emergency ties back to your history.
Cover sudden, unexpected recurrences of a stable condition. Most common; you must meet the plan’s stability period.
Cover only some stable conditions. Certain illnesses are covered, others not, based on age/plan rules.
There’s no single “pre-existing plan” in Canada; it’s about matching your history to the right wording.
Finding Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions
Even though pre-existing conditions aren’t always covered by Canadian travel insurance that doesn’t mean you can’t still find coverage for your trip. In fact, there are three kinds of emergency medical insurance policies that visitors to Canada can purchase that often meet the majority of your needs:
1. Insurance that does not cover any medical expenses that arise as a result of an illness that could be related to any pre-existing medical condition.
2. Insurance that does cover medical expenses that arise from a sudden unexpected illness, which can be related to a stable pre-existing medical condition.
3. Insurance that only covers medical expenses that arise from some illnesses related to a stable pre-existing medical condition.
As you can see, there’s no blanket travel insurance for pre-existing conditions in Canada. However, your unique condition may be covered under these options depending on your age and illness or condition. The requirements to qualify for these plans differ by the insurance company, but many will require a medical condition to be stable for 90, 120, or 180 days before the policy comes into effect. BestQuote can even find a policy (for an extra surcharge) with a ‘stability period’ of only 7 days!
Finding international travel insurance with pre-existing conditions is possible, but always comes with strict rules and qualifications - namely, the pre-existing conditions must be stable for a certain period of time prior to the policy ‘coming into effect’ (aka the day the policy starts). Each company has its own definition of ‘stable’, which should be read before you purchase (BestQuote’s online purchase process forces you to read this before you apply for coverage, so no worries there).
In general though, to be stable, there can be no change in medication or treatment during the stability period, no changes in symptoms, no new diagnosis or consultation with a doctor to determine a diagnosis….and there can be no scheduled appointments pending to investigate the medical condition in order to determine a diagnosis during that…. (30), 90, 120, 180, 365 days prior to the policy coming into effect (usually this is the day the person arrives in Canada).
So if you have recently changed a prescription medication that you are taking to treat a chronic condition of some kind, you won’t be able to cover that until at least 30 days after you begin taking the new prescription (not the day the prescription was changed, the day you began taking the new prescription…and don’t count that as day 1, start counting on the next day)! If you visited a doctor to renew the same old prescription a week before your trip, that’s OK as long as you were not complaining to the doctor at the time about some strange new symptoms. If you simply renewed the prescription to treat the same old condition, then that condition will be regarded as ‘stable’.
Always Declare Your Medical Conditions
When finding Visitors to Canada insurance with pre-existing conditions, it’s important to be as transparent as possible about your current wellbeing. Travel insurance companies will complete their due diligence at the time of any claim; many VTC insurance carriers do not ask medical questions at the time of purchase but they will be asking lots of questions at the time of claim if the medical bills appear to be because of a pre-existing medical condition. When purchasing, if you speak to BestQuote before you buy and declare all pre-existing medical conditions upfront, that will ensure that you purchase a policy that provides solid coverage.
If you do not declare everything about your medical conditions, you could be denied coverage if a condition has not been stable for as long as the policy requires. Especially if it comes to light you are not well enough to travel, or had any sudden changes just before travelling.
Special Notes for Super Visa & IEC Visitors
If you are in Canada on a Super Visa: you need at least $100,000 CAD in emergency medical coverage from a Canadian/approved insurer, valid for at least one year, with continuous coverage during your stay. Pre-existing coverage may be available if your condition is stable under the plan you choose.
If you are in Canada on an IEC Visa: carry private insurance for your entire stay (medical, hospitalization, repatriation). If you later enroll in a provincial plan, keep your private policy active to satisfy visa rules; some plans offer partial premium refunds on the remaining term after GHIP enrollment (terms apply).
Compare Travel Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions
In short, can you get travel insurance if you have pre-existing conditions? YES!
However, will it cover your pre-existing condition(s)? Only if those conditions are stable.
When it comes time to find visitors insurance for your upcoming trip to Canada, make sure to compare plans using Best Quote Travel Insurance Agency. BestQuote helps compare the broadest group of leading Canadian travel insurance providers simultaneously, including Super Visa Insurance , insurance for short trips, for longer International Experience Canada work visas, or when returning to Canada after a long time away.
Learn more about travel insurance with pre-existing conditions in Canada before booking your trip.
