Unstable Medical Conditions
Protection for travellers with recent changes in health.
Finding travel insurance when you’ve had recent changes to your medical condition can feel overwhelming. Many standard Canadian policies exclude unstable conditions, but at BestQuote we specialize in helping you find coverage that fits, whether you need a 7-day stability rider, a 90-day requirement, or even zero-day stability coverage.
Coverage for Recently Unstable Medical Conditions
For travellers with recently unstable medical conditions, BestQuote offers access to several policies that provide flexible stability periods.
Some policies offer limited "stability riders," while others provide full emergency medical coverage even for conditions that changed just days before departure.
Please note: No policy will provide coverage if you are currently on a waiting list for surgery, specialist consultation, or medical tests. You must complete these before purchasing coverage.
Policy Options for Unstable Conditions
Not sure which plan fits your situation? Here's how the main options compare:
| Policy | Stability Period | Coverage Limit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Travel Guard Platnium | Zero days (no stability period required) | Full all-inclusive coverage | Travellers with very recent changes — e.g., atrial fibrillation, seizures |
TuGo Ultimate Trip Guard | 7 days | Up to $10 million | Travellers needing a short stability period with a simple questionnaire |
Destination Canada | 30 or 90 days | Up to $150,000 for unstable; $5 million for stable | Travellers who would normally face a 180–365 day stability period |
LS-Travel Insurance (AC True Senior Guard) | 7 to 365 days | Up to $5 million | Travellers wanting full coverage — not just a "rider" — with flexible stability |
Industrial Alliance Hospital Medical Care | 90 days | Up to $2 million | Budget-conscious travellers needing a 90-day stability period |
Not sure which option applies to you? Call us at 1-888-888-0510 - we'll help you find the right fit in minutes.
Travel Guard Platnium
This is one of the best policies available on the Canadian market for travellers with recent changes to their medical condition or medications. Unlike most other policies targeting travellers with unstable medical conditions, the Travel Guard Platinum all-inclusive policy offers full coverage with no stability period. This means that even if you had an unfortunate hospital visit 48 hours before your trip, you would still be fully covered if you were given medical clearance to travel.
This policy is ideal for clients with conditions such as atrial fibrillation or seizures that can reoccur at any time without warning.
The only conditions are: a) you must purchase the policy within 15 days of making your first non-refundable trip-related deposit, b) you must cover all of your non-refundable trip-related costs, and c) you must cover the entire length of your trip outside your home province.
TuGo Ultimate Trip Guard
This policy has a 7-day stability rider with full coverage for unstable pre-existing medical conditions. All medical conditions must have been stable for at least 7 days prior to departure. The policy’s coverage level for stable medical conditions is $10 million. In cases where travellers need to travel and require a short stability rider, this TuGo policy will normally meet their needs. The medical questionnaire for this policy is short and easy to answer.
Destination Canada
This policy carries a 30 or 90-day stability rider with up to $150,000 in coverage for unstable pre-existing medical conditions. All medical conditions must have been stable for at least 30 or 90 days prior to departure. The policy's coverage level for stable medical conditions is $5 million. This policy normally has a lower cost than TuGo and is a good choice for travellers who would normally be given a 180-day or 365-day stability period by most competitive policies.
LS-Travel Insurance
The AC True Senior Guard policies offer à la carte stability periods that can be tailored to your needs, from 365 days down to 7 days. Best of all, these policies offer full $5M coverage - not just a "rider" with limited coverage offered by many other policies. True Escape is perfect for shorter trips with no medical questionnaire required. True Senior Guard has a simple questionnaire with a maximum of four questions. Prices are competitive with other policies with a similar stability period. The True Escape policy is available through a BestQuote online quote, whereas you must speak to an agent by phone for the True Senior Guard policy.
Industrial Alliance Hospital Medical Care
This policy carries a 90-day stability rider with full coverage for unstable pre-existing medical conditions. All medical conditions must have been stable for at least 90 days prior to departure. The coverage level is set at $2 million. This policy is normally cheaper than the options listed above and is a good choice for travellers who would normally be given a 180-day or 365-day stability period, but require a 90-day stability period.
Direct Medical Underwriting
BestQuote has access to various options for direct medical underwriting. In these cases, you will be asked to disclose your entire medical history, as would be the case if you were applying for a life insurance policy. The underwriter (or underwriting system) will then tell us if you qualify for coverage. If you do qualify, there will be no stability period and you would be covered for up to $5 million in medical expenses. However, not all individuals qualify.
For more information on direct medical underwriting options, call us toll-free at 1-888-888-0510.
Want to Learn More About Travel Insurance?
Before choosing a plan, you may want to explore more resources on how travel insurance works with pre-existing conditions. Visit our Travel Insurance Blog or take a look at some of the posts below for expert advice, reviews, and practical tips to help you make the right choice.
How to Buy Coverage for Unstable 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:
Enter your trip details (destination, trip cost, dates, traveller information).
Select your desired coverage amount and deductible.
Instantly compare policies from providers like Travel Guard, TuGo, Destination Canada, and more.
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. Call us toll-free at 1-888-888-0510 and we'll help you find the best policy at the best price for your needs.
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