Travel Insurance Vs Travel Medical Insurance: A Lawyer’s Recommendations

Posted on Nov 26, 2024

Planning a trip can be exciting, but preparing for the unexpected is essential. For Canadians, understanding the difference between travel insurance and travel medical insurance is crucial to ensure proper coverage abroad. Buying the wrong type could expose you to hefty costs that nobody wants to deal with on vacation.

Here, we’ll explain the differences, help you decide what’s best for your needs, and explain what to do if you hit any snags after filing a claim. Let’s ensure your focus stays on enjoying your trip, not stressing over insurance details.

Need more information on travel insurance vs travel medical insurance? Share Lawyers can provide the answers you need.

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Travel Insurance vs Travel Medical Insurance

Understanding the differences between travel insurance vs travel medical insurance is essential for any Canadian heading abroad, and thankfully, these distinctions are straightforward once you break them down.

Travel Insurance vs Travel Medical Insurance: Compared
Feature	Travel Insurance	Travel Medical Insurance
Purpose	Trip logistics	Medical coverage
Trip Cancellation	✔️	❌
Lost/Damaged Baggage	✔️	❌
Flight Delays	✔️	❌
Emergency Medical	❌	✔️
Medical Evacuation	❌	✔️
Pre-Existing Conditions	❌	✔️

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a broad type of coverage that typically includes:

Trip Cancellation & Interruption Coverage: If you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to an emergency, you can be reimbursed for costs.

Baggage Loss & Delay Protection: Covers costs if your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed.

Flight & Trip Delay: Provides compensation for expenses you may incur due to delayed flights or other travel interruptions.

Travel insurance is ideal if your primary concern is recovering money due to cancellations or delays. However, it typically will not cover medical expenses abroad.

What is Travel Medical Insurance?

On the other hand, travel medical insurance covers medical expenses you incur while travelling outside Canada. This type of coverage includes:

Emergency Medical & Hospitalization Coverage: Covers unexpected medical costs, including hospital stays, which can be extremely expensive in countries like the U.S.
Medical Evacuation & Repatriation: This includes transportation costs to get you back to Canada if needed.
Cover for Pre-Existing Conditions: Many policies offer coverage for pre-existing conditions that have been stable for a set time before your trip. Always check the stability requirements, as insurers define “stable” differently.

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While travel insurance covers your trip, travel medical insurance covers your health. It’s essential if you’re travelling, especially to a country where healthcare costs are more expensive and can add up quickly, like the U.S.

Do I Need Both?

For Canadians heading abroad, having both types of coverage is often wise. This way, you’re protected from trip hassles like cancellations and covered if any medical emergencies arise. Together, they ensure you’re ready for the unexpected, whether a delayed flight or an unexpected doctor’s visit.

However, just because you have the appropriate coverage doesn’t mean getting your claim approved is always simple.

What to Do if Your Travel Insurance Claim is Denied

Insurance companies routinely deny claims, even valid ones. This could be due to misunderstandings about policy coverage, missing documents, or exclusions. Regardless, insurance companies often let any technicality result in a claim because it means they won’t pay out.

When this happens, seeking professional legal help is usually best. Here’s why:

Review Your Policy & Denial Letter: An experienced lawyer can go over the denial letter and your policy in detail to pinpoint why the denial occurred in the first place.
Gather Documentation: Lawyers can work with you to piece together any missing paperwork to ensure everything is complete.
Handle Your Case: While you can appeal independently, we don’t recommend it as it’s what your insurance company wants to keep denying your claim. Instead, let us take on your case.

We'll be right by your side, guiding you through every step to secure the payout you deserve. With our experience, we handle all the details, ensuring everything is in place to make your case as strong as possible—so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

If you’re dealing with a travel medical insurance denial, the team at Share Lawyers has over 35 years of experience securing the payout our clients deserve. We’re here to take care of the entire process, so you don’t have to go back and forth with the insurer.

Share Lawyers Helps Protect Canadian Travellers

Now that you know the differences between travel insurance vs travel medical insurance, you’re better prepared to protect your rights.

Whether you’re a snowbird or just taking a one-off trip, incurring medical expenses abroad and being denied coverage could leave you on the hook for a substantial amount of money. Don’t take no for an answer, and don’t lose hope.

At Share Lawyers, we’re here to be your advocate and take the weight off your shoulders. We’ll fight your insurance company on your behalf. Reach out for a free consultation to help explore your options and become one of our thousands of success stories.

You won’t owe us anything until you win.

“I had given up. I took one last shot with the Share Lawyers team at an insurance company that had repeatedly turned me down at every door.

The insurance company would have walked all over me if it hadn't been for the shared team and their persistence. Thanks to the shared team, there was a settlement.

Amazingly, it takes a group of lawyers like Share Lawyers to hold insurance companies accountable. Thank you so much!”

— Murray G., Ottawa

Need more information on travel insurance vs travel medical insurance? Share Lawyers can help explore your options.

Contact Share Lawyers today and let our experience work for you. Our 35+ years of experience can help you win your case against Canada Life, Desjardins, Manulife, RBC Insurance, Sun Life, and other insurance companies. Our legal team offers a free consultation and works on a contingency basis—there are no fees unless you win your case.