Canadian Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions

Seniors, snowbirds, parents, and retirees CAN get travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, but it depends on the policy.

Travel insurance protects against unexpected injury or illness while travelling, but most Canadian plans have exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions. Whether or not you’re covered depends on how insurers define terms like “stable,” “treatment,” and “medical condition.”

That’s why it’s critical to compare policies carefully.

Medical conditions that already exist and might reasonably require treatment during your trip are usually not covered by default. Many plans, however, make exceptions if your condition has been stable for a required period before your departure, often 90, 180, or 365 days.

The length of this stability period varies based on your age, your trip length, and whether there have been recent changes to your condition or medications. For example, a dosage change or new prescription might reset your stability period and affect eligibility.

Bottom line: simply having travel insurance does not guarantee coverage for your condition. What matters is the exact policy wording.

At BestQuote, we compare more Canadian policies than anyone else, giving you the best chance of finding coverage that matches your health situation.

• For short trips (under 35 days), we can often place clients in policies requiring only a 90-day stability period.

• For longer trips, policies usually require 90, 180, or 365 days of stability depending on the condition.

• In special cases, we can access options like Manulife’s 0-day stability plan or policies that insure up to $250,000 for conditions stable for just seven days before departure.

Because stability definitions, exclusions, and medical questionnaires vary, we act as your guide to ensure you’re not caught by surprise.

The more serious your condition and the more recent the last change in medication, treatment, or symptoms, the shorter the stability period required - but the higher the premium. For example, someone who had a dosage adjustment a few weeks before travel will need a different policy than someone who has been stable for a year.

Costs also rise with age and trip length. That’s why it’s vital to compare across multiple providers. BestQuote’s database allows you to instantly see which companies will cover your condition and at what cost.

Each Canadian insurer uses its own language for defining pre-existing conditions, stability, changes in treatment, and exclusions. While it is beyond the scope of this page to list every detail, below are examples from leading providers so you can see how much the wording can differ.

All Emergency Medical Insurance plans are also subject to the Emergency Medical Insurance Exclusions and to the General Exclusions shown on page 47.

The stability requirements for pre-existing medical conditions are outlined below:

Worldwide and Worldwide Excluding USA Plans We will not be liable to provide coverage or services, or to pay claims for expenses incurred directly or indirectly as a result of the following: 

• 59 years and under - trip 35 days or less: Any medical condition which is not stable on or within the 7 days before the date of departure.

• 59 years and under - trip over 35 days: Any medical condition which is not stable on or within the 90 days before the date of departure. If you extend your trip and the total trip length (including the extension) exceeds 35 days, the stability for medical conditions is based on your total trip length.

• 60 years and over - all trip lengths: Any medical condition which is not stable on or within the 180 days before the date of departure. 

If you purchased this Policy to top-up any other insurance plan, the stability for medical conditions is based on your total trip length. Medical conditions that do not meet the stability criteria set out above are not covered.

Travel Within Canada Plans There is no stability requirement for pre-existing medical conditions.

Refer to the following definitions: alteration, medical condition, pre-existing medical condition, treatment and stable.

If you purchased the optional Unstable Pre-existing Medical Condition Coverage, refer to that section heading for coverage applicable to your pre-existing medical conditions that are not stable.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions – No coverage or reimbursement for expenses resulting from medical conditions which have not been stable for 180 days immediately prior to your departure date, including:

1. medical conditions for which you received medical treatment or medical consultation; and/or

2. undiagnosed medical conditions related to symptoms for which you received medical treatment or medical consultation.

You must be stable based on the definition of stable in this policy, regardless of the opinion of your physician or any other person who may provide an opinion on your medical conditions.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions When Topping Up Other Insurer’s Plans – No coverage or reimbursement for expenses where this policy is being used as a  top-up for another insurer’s emergency medical insurance, unless the medical conditions have been stable for 180 days prior to the effective date of the top-up.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions When Topping-Up a GMS Plan – No coverage or reimbursement for expenses where this policy is being used as a top-up to existing GMS emergency medical coverage, unless medical conditions are stable as defined by the stability period as specified within the GMS policy this policy is topping-up.

Expenses that are due to, contributed by, or resulting from pre-existing medical conditions, may qualify for coverage, if your pre-existing medical condition meets the stability period that applies to you. All exclusions, including those for specific medical conditions, still apply.

IMPORTANT: If you are age 64 or younger on your effective date: Pre-existing medical conditions that are stable for 90 days before the effective date qualify for coverage, up to the Sum Insured shown on your Confirmation of Coverage.

If you are age 65 or older on your effective date: Pre -existing medical conditions that are stable for 150 days before the effective date qualify for coverage, up to the Sum Insured shown on your Confirmation of Coverage.

To be considered stable during your stability period, your pre-existing medical condition or related conditions must not have resulted in any of the following:

1. New treatment (including new prescriptions),

2. Change in treatment including frequency, dosage or type (including prescriptions),

3. Signs or symptoms,

4. A new diagnosis,

5. Test results showing your condition is worsening,

6. Hospitalization,

7. A referral to a specialist, received or recommended, or

8. Waiting for any test results, further investigation, or surgery.

The following are considered stable:

1. Diabetic Insulin users - Routine insulin adjustment not prescribed by your physician, as long as insulin was not first prescribed during your stability period,

2. Coumadin, Warfarin users - Routine adjustment of these medications, as long as Coumadin or Warfarin were not first prescribed during your stability period,

3. A change from a brand name medication to a generic medication, or

4. Minor Ailments - a sickness or injury that ended more than 30 days prior to your effective date and did not require: a) treatment (including prescriptions) for more than 30 consecutive days, or b) more than one (1) follow-up with a physician.

We will not pay any expenses or benefits relating directly or indirectly to: A pre-existing medical condition. The pre-existing medical condition exclusion that applies to you depends on the Rate Category you qualified for when you purchased this policy. Please see the definition of “pre-existing medical condition” and “stable” at the end of this policy. NOTE: For the Travel Canada Emergency Medical plan, no pre-existing medical condition exclusion applies.

Rate Category A. We will not pay any expenses relating to:

• a pre-existing medical condition that is not stable in the three (3) months before your effective date; and/or

• your heart condition if, in the three (3) months before your effective date, any heart condition has not been stable or you have taken any form of nitroglycerine for the relief of angina pain; and/or

• your lung condition if, in the three (3) months before your effective date, any lung condition has not been stable or you required treatment with oxygen or Prednisone for a lung condition.

Rate Categories B and C. We will not pay any expenses relating to:

• a pre-existing medical condition that is not stable in the six (6) months before your effective date; and/or

• your heart condition if, in the six (6) months before your effective date, any heart condition has not been stable or you have taken any form of nitroglycerine for the relief of angina pain; and/or

• your lung condition if, in the six (6) months before your effective date, any lung condition has not been stable or you 

Benefits are not payable under this policy if losses sustained or expenses incurred are the direct or indirect result of any of the following, for:

If You /Your Pre- Existing conditions do not meet the required Stability outlined on Your confirmation of benefits

1. Stability is calculated at the departure date of your trip. For individuals 59 years or less, it can be 45 days with the option to reduce it to 7 days. 

2. Stability is calculated at the departure date of your trip. For individuals 60 years or older, it can be 365 days with the option to reduce to 180 days, 90 days, 7 days.  

Want to learn more about how to travel with your pre-existing conditions? Check out some of our blogs where we discuss tips and techniques for travelling with various pre-existing medical conditions.

Purchasing coverage is quick and straightforward with BestQuote. Our online quote comparison tool makes it easy to see Canada’s top insurance providers side by side, so you can find the right protection at the best price.

Here’s how it works:

1. Enter your trip details (destination, dates, traveller information).

2. Select your desired coverage amount and deductible.

3. Instantly compare policies from providers like TuGo, GMS, Allianz, Manulife, AwayCare and more.

4. Choose the plan that best suits your needs and purchase online in minutes.

Unlike some websites, we won’t ask for your phone number to provide a quote. If you need extra help understanding the differences between policies, our experienced advisors are just a phone call or email away. For more help, give us a call. We'll be happy to explain in more detail 1-604-259-2544 (Vancouver), 1-647-799-2032 (Toronto), 1-403-800-1582 (Calgary), or 1-888-888-0510 (toll-free in North America).