Usually covered
Hospital and doctors
Emergency hospital stays, intensive care, surgery, doctors' fees, lab tests and X-rays, up to the policy limit.
Interactive tool
What Would a Hospital Stay Cost Without Insurance?
Uses Cambridge Memorial Hospital's 2026-2027 rates for patients who live outside Canada. Doctors' fees are billed separately and are not included.
Rates: ward $3,750 a day, intensive care $5,750 a day, emergency visit $850, ambulance $240 (Cambridge Memorial Hospital, 2026-2027). Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto lists $3,100 a day for a ward, $4,500 for intensive care and $1,025 for an emergency visit (source). Rates change; hospitals may ask out-of-country patients to pay up front.
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Which Insurance Does My Parent Need?
Answer three questions for a plain-language recommendation.
What the policy pays for
What Emergency Medical Insurance Covers
These are emergency benefits. Limits differ by plan, so read the benefit summary before you buy.
Usually covered
Ambulance and medicine
Ambulance to the hospital and prescription drugs for the emergency, often with a per-prescription limit.
Usually covered
Return home
Repatriation, and return of remains in the worst case. Super Visa policies must include repatriation.
Limited
Dental and follow-up
Emergency dental after an accident and a few follow-up visits, each with its own cap.
Not covered
Routine care
Check-ups, refills for ongoing conditions and planned treatment are not emergencies.
Depends on plan
Pre-existing conditions
Covered only on plans that include them, and only if the condition was stable for the required period.
Avoid claim problems
Five Things to Check Before You Buy
- Buy before arrival. On one plan we compare, sickness is covered 48 hours after purchase if bought within 30 days of arrival, and 8 days after that.
- Check the stability period. For example, 90 days up to age 69 and 180 days for ages 70 to 84 on one plan. A change in medication can reset it.
- Choose enough coverage. $100,000 covers about 26 days on a ward at $3,750 a day, before doctors' fees.
- Know the deductible. It lowers the premium, but you pay it on each claim.
- Call the assistance line first. Some plans pay less if not notified. One plan limits payment to 80%, up to $25,000, when notice is late.
How much does it cost?
Our October 17, 2026 quotes for a 66-year-old with $100,000 of coverage ranged from $1,620.60 to $2,801.56 for a full year. That's less than one day in intensive care.
See all 13 real quotesPlan terms quoted are examples from plans we compare, October 2026. Each insurer's policy wording decides coverage.
If something happens
What to Do in a Medical Emergency
Get care first
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Take the policy card or number.
Call the insurer
Phone the 24-hour assistance number on the policy as soon as possible. They may arrange direct billing.
Keep every paper
Save bills, receipts, reports and prescriptions. The insurer needs originals or clear copies.
Ask us for help
If you bought through Insure In Canada, call 647-640-2222 and we'll guide the claim.
Answers to common questions
Emergency Medical Insurance for Parents: FAQs
Are parents visiting Canada covered by OHIP or provincial health care?
No. Ontario says visitors from outside Canada do not qualify for OHIP, and other provinces have similar rules. Visiting parents pay hospital and doctor bills themselves unless they have private emergency medical insurance.
How much does a hospital stay cost for a visitor in Ontario?
Cambridge Memorial Hospital's 2026-2027 rates for non-residents of Canada are $3,750 a day for a ward bed, $5,750 a day in intensive care and $850 for an emergency visit. Doctors bill separately. Five days on a ward plus two days in intensive care comes to $30,250, before the emergency visit and doctors' fees.
What is the difference between visitor insurance and Super Visa insurance?
Both are emergency medical insurance. Super Visa insurance must meet IRCC's rules: at least $100,000 of coverage, valid one year from entry. Visitor insurance for a regular visitor visa can match the length of the trip and the coverage amount you choose.
How much coverage should I buy for my parents?
Super Visa applicants need at least $100,000. For any visitor, $100,000 covers about 26 days on a ward at non-resident rates, before doctors' fees, so many families choose $150,000 or more for older parents.
Does emergency medical insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Some plans cover stable pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, if they have been stable for a set period before the policy starts. On one plan we compare, that is 90 days up to age 69 and 180 days for ages 70 to 84. Other plans exclude them.
Should I buy the insurance before my parents arrive?
Yes, if you can. Policies bought after arrival usually have a waiting period for sickness. On one plan we compare, it is 48 hours if bought within 30 days of arrival and 8 days after that. Accidents are usually covered sooner.
What should my parents do in a medical emergency?
Go to the nearest emergency department or call 911. Then call the insurer's 24-hour assistance line on the policy as soon as possible. Some plans pay less if they are not notified in time.
How much does emergency medical insurance for parents cost?
It depends on age, coverage, deductible and pre-existing condition cover. Our October 17, 2026 quotes for a 66-year-old with $100,000 of coverage ranged from $1,620.60 to $2,801.56 for a full year.
Can I pay monthly?
Many Super Visa plans offer monthly payments with a deposit, which IRCC accepts. Visitor plans for shorter trips are usually paid at once.
General information, checked October 17, 2026. The insurer's policy wording decides what is covered.
Sources
Where These Numbers Come From
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital: Fee for service 2026-2027 (2026)
- Michael Garron Hospital (Toronto): Hospital fees (2026)
- Ontario.ca: Apply for OHIP (visitors don't qualify) (July 21, 2025)
- IRCC: Super visa insurance requirements (July 30, 2026)
- IRCC: Parent and grandparent super visa (July 6, 2026)
More guides: Super Visa Canada 2026 · Super Visa insurance · Visitors to Canada insurance
Protect your parents before they fly
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