Travelance Visitors Insurance

Travelance Visitors to Canada Insurance provides emergency medical coverage for visitors to Canada, landed immigrants, returning Canadians without provincial health coverage, and others not eligible for a Canadian government health plan. Plans are underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada, with 24/7 emergency assistance and claims support. Two plan options are available — the Essential Plan and the Premier Plan — both eligible for use with the Canadian Super Visa. Coverage is available for individuals over 14 days old and under 86 years of age, for up to 558 days.

Essential vs Premier Plan Comparison

Emergency Medical Benefits

Both the Essential and Premier plans cover the following emergency medical expenses, ordered by a physician as medically necessary:

• Physician, surgeon, and in-hospital duty nurse services
• Semi-private hospital accommodation
• Professional ambulance transportation
• Diagnostic testing (sonograms, ECG, CAT scan, MRI — pre-authorized)
• Medical equipment: orthotics up to $500; braces up to $1,000 (pre-authorized)
• Prescription medications — 30-day supply (Essential: up to $1,000; Premier: up to $10,000)
• Follow-up visits — up to 3 visits (Essential: up to $3,000; Premier: up to $5,000)
• Emergency return home (commercial airline or air ambulance)
• Emergency dental — accidental injury (Essential: $2,000; Premier: $5,000)
• Emergency dental — pain relief (Essential: $300; Premier: $600)
• Emergency paramedical services due to injury (Essential: $300/practitioner; Premier: $750/practitioner)
• Accommodation & meals (Essential: $150/day, $3,000 max; Premier: $150/day, $5,000 max)
• Visit to bedside — round-trip airfare + meals/accommodation
• Return and escort of dependents
• Identification of remains — round-trip airfare + up to $450 accommodation/meals
• Incidental expenses (Essential: $500; Premier: $800)
• Return of baggage and personal effects (Essential: $500; Premier: $800)
• Repatriation of remains (Essential: $10,000; Premier: $16,000)
• Cremation/burial at destination (Essential: $4,000; Premier: $6,000)

Paramedical practitioners covered: acupressurist, acupuncturist, chiropodist, chiropractor, naturopath, osteopath, physiotherapist, podiatrist.

Eligibility

To be eligible for either plan, at the start date you must:

• Be over 14 days old and under 86 years of age for the entire period of coverage;
• Not have a medical condition for which a physician has advised against travel;
• Not have a surgically untreated aneurysm;
• Never have been diagnosed with or received treatment for: pancreatic or liver cancer, any metastasized cancer, kidney condition requiring dialysis, bone marrow or organ transplant, congestive heart failure, or a terminal sickness;
• Not reside in a nursing home, assisted living home, convalescent home, hospice, or rehabilitation centre at time of purchase;
• Not require assistance with normal daily activities (does not apply to children under 12); and
• Not have taken oral steroids or used home oxygen for a lung condition in the 12 months before your start date.

Additionally, in the 12 months before the start date, you must not have been: (a) diagnosed with or received treatment for any two conditions from the Medical Conditions Table; or (b) admitted to hospital for any one condition from that table.

Pre-existing Conditions & Stability

Essential Plan

Pre-existing conditions are excluded if they were not stable during the 180 days immediately before the start date — for all ages.

Premier Plan

A condition is stable if, during the required period, there was no new diagnosis, no new or changed treatment or medication, no worsening, no new or more severe symptoms, no hospitalization or referral to a specialist, and no tests or treatment recommended but not yet completed.

Waiting Period

If your start date is after your departure date, the following waiting periods apply:

• 24 hours for an injury;
• 48 hours for a sickness — if the start date is within 30 days of departure, or if continuing from another Canadian insurer or GHIP plan;
• 7 days for a sickness — if the start date is more than 30 days after departure.

The waiting period is waived if you are continuing directly from an existing Travelance policy with no gap in coverage.

Key Exclusions

• Pre-existing conditions not meeting the stability requirements
• Sickness during the applicable waiting period
• Treatment not required for immediate relief of acute pain
• Treatment that can reasonably be delayed until return to home country
• Mental, emotional, or nervous disorders (anxiety, depression, etc.)
• Pregnancy, childbirth, complications of pregnancy, or voluntarily induced abortion
• Elective medical treatment
• Cataracts or conditions resulting from their treatment
• Transplants of any kind
• Medical treatment purchased specifically to receive care outside home country
• Alcohol, drugs, or non-compliance with prescribed treatment
• Suicide, attempted suicide, or intentionally self-inflicted injury
• Adventure activities (ATV, bungee jumping, hang-gliding, heli-skiing, hunting, mountain climbing, parachuting, paragliding, scuba diving below 130 ft, skydiving)
• Organized professional sporting activities
• Motorcycle, moped, or scooter operation (unless valid Canadian licence held)
• Speed or endurance races
• War, civil war, terrorism (nuclear/biological/chemical), or armed forces participation
• Government of Canada "Avoid All Travel" or "Avoid Non-Essential Travel" advisories in effect at departure

Claims & Emergency Assistance

Contact the emergency assistance provider before hospital admission, or within 24 hours after a life- or organ-threatening emergency. Failure to do so without reasonable cause results in you being responsible for 20% of eligible expenses. Submit completed claim forms with original receipts within 30 days; all supporting documentation must be provided within 90 days (no later than 12 months after the event).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this plan for?

Visitors to Canada, newly landed immigrants, migrant workers, and returning Canadians without provincial health coverage. Ages over 14 days to under 86. Ages 70–85 are limited to a $100,000 plan limit.

What is the difference between Essential and Premier?

Both cover emergency medical up to the plan limit and emergency return home. Premier adds AD&D and has significantly higher sub-limits: dental up to $5,000 (vs $2,000), medications up to $10,000 (vs $1,000), paramedical up to $750/practitioner (vs $300), repatriation up to $16,000 (vs $10,000).

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

Essential: excluded if not stable 180 days before start date (all ages). Premier: same for ages 0–69; additional heart/brain/lung exclusions for ages 70–79; all pre-existing excluded at age 80+.

Do these plans qualify for the Super Visa?

Yes. Both plans are super visa eligible when purchased per Government of Canada requirements. Maximum coverage is $150,000 per insured across all Travelance VTC policies combined.

How long can I be covered?

Up to 558 days from the original start date. Side trips outside Canada are covered for up to 45 days each, provided more than 50% of elapsed covered days were in Canada at the time of the claim.

What if I don't call before treatment?

You become responsible for 20% of eligible expenses. In a life-threatening emergency, get to hospital immediately and have someone call within 24 hours of admission.