Domestic Travel Insurance

Author: Melissa A.

Published: October 1st, 2024 | Updated: October 1st, 2024
Read time: 6 mins

Travel insurance is a must-have whenever you step outside your home province, even if you travel domestically within Canada. Canadians often believe they do not need travel insurance for domestic trips, but that’s a risky mindset. Let’s face it: you can just as easily lose your luggage, experience a flight delay or worse, need to cancel your trip altogether, just as you would if you were travelling internationally. Not to mention that your government health insurance may not pay for any or only some of your emergency medical expenses if you experience an unexpected medical emergency while visiting another province, leaving you on the hook to pay the costs entirely or pay the difference out-of-pocket. Therefore, travel insurance for domestic travel is valuable to have “just in case,” just like it is when travelling abroad.

What is domestic travel insurance?

Domestic travel insurance protects Canadians who plan to travel within the country from unexpected events that could happen before or during a trip. Although coverage benefits vary by provider and plan, domestic trip insurance can cover trip cancellation, interruptions and delays, medical emergencies, emergency evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss and delay and offer 24/7 travel and emergency assistance. Add onto a policy any coverages you need that may not already be included, such as benefits for pre-existing conditions, Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), COVID-19, high-risk and adventure sports activities, etc.

Do I need travel insurance for domestic trips?

You will need travel insurance if you wish to protect your trip investment and want to get reimbursed for expenses you cannot afford to pay for yourself if you are met with an unexpected event on your domestic trip. The Canadian government recommends that Canadians visiting a neighbouring province have domestic travel protection for trip interruptions, which can cover you when you must cut your trip short and return home. For example, unexpectedly getting seriously ill or injured or encountering adverse weather or a natural disaster for which a travel advisory has not been issued.

The Canadian government also recommends that Canadians travelling interprovincially have supplemental domestic travel health insurance because your Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) will not wholly travel with you. This means that if you encounter a medical emergency while visiting another province, your GHIP may only cover the exact amount of your medical expenses that your home province would cover, leaving you to pay the difference out-of-pocket. Also, there are medical expenses that your GHIP will not cover, which you will be responsible for, such as ambulance transportation, repatriation and prescription medication, to name a few.

Do I need travel insurance for domestic flights?

Flight insurance, more commonly known as trip cancellation insurance, is recommended when you cannot financially afford to absorb any losses associated with travel disruptions. It can reimburse you for insured, non-refundable and non-transferable trip expenses if you must cancel or change your domestic trip plans for a reason covered by your policy. Trip expenses include deposits, air travel and cruise tickets, accommodations, car rental, events, excursions and tour tickets. Read a policy’s terms and conditions before you buy it to understand coverage.

Do I need travel insurance for domestic cruises?

Domestic cruise travel insurance is recommended for any cruise vacation due to the multi-leg nature of the trip, where there’s a higher likelihood of your cruise getting off course. It protects against travel risks and losses that are unique to cruising. For example, unexpected adverse weather affecting your cruise trip requiring you to return home ahead of schedule, experiencing a medical emergency that requires emergency evacuation off the ship so you can get treated, having your luggage delayed and not making it onto the ship with you. The reality is that cruise vacations are not cheap, so it makes sense to protect your investment and any unexpected trip expenses so you can have a cruise that’s smooth sailing. Cruise insurance containing coverage benefits for travel disruptions and medical emergencies can be found in an all-inclusive travel insurance plan.

What is domestic travel medical insurance?

Domestic travel medical insurance, widely known as emergency medical insurance, is supplemental health insurance for travel within Canada that the Canadian government recommends you have when leaving your home province. Unfortunately, your Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) does not entirely travel with you. Therefore, if you experience a medical emergency while on your trip in another province, GHIP may only cover the exact amount of your medical expenses that your home province would cover, and in some cases, there are medical expenses that GHIP will not cover at all, leaving you to pay for them out-of-pocket. And medical expenses are costly.

Coverage for medical expenses differs by province, and each province has limits and restrictions regarding what it will cover and the amount. Typically, GHIP will not cover ground and air ambulance, repatriation, prescription drugs, flying a family member out to assist you, medical devices, private hospital rooms, emergency dental work, etc. This is where travel medical insurance comes in to cover these medical expenses for you, saving you financially. Be aware that anyone, particularly seniors prone to pre-existing medical conditions, may be unable to get coverage for pre-existing conditions as part of a travel medical insurance plan and may have to add it. Pay close attention to a plan’s terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions to know what you will and will not be covered for.

Is domestic travel insurance worth it?

Absolutely! Domestic travel insurance is essential to have any time you step foot outside of your home province. It’s protection for travel disruptions and medical emergencies that your Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) may not cover while you are on a trip to another province. For the affordable price you will pay for domestic travel insurance, it can be a saving grace if you do not have the financial means to cover unforeseen risks or losses associated with your trip, especially those related to a medical emergency.

What is the best travel insurance for domestic trips?

That depends on whether you are flying or driving to your destination within Canada. If you plan to fly, the best travel insurance is a comprehensive plan with coverage benefits for travel disruptions and medical emergencies, such as all-inclusive travel insurance. If you plan to drive to your trip location, emergency medical insurance is the best because you probably won’t need travel disruptions coverage unless you want to protect your baggage. However, annual travel insurance will be your best option if you plan to take more than two trips in 12 months. It offers protection against travel disruptions and medical emergencies, and you can opt for different options and add-on coverage benefits. Purchase a policy once for all your trips, saving you time and money. Visit our InsureMyTrip reviews page to find out what Canadian travellers are saying about their experience buying travel insurance online through us, and then begin a quote and make a plan comparison to find the most suitable travel insurance for your domestic trip.