10-Point Plan Details Checker
Open the policy wording or plan details of the plan you're thinking of buying. Mark each point as checked or not sure. We'll show you what to ask before you pay.
- Pre-existing conditionsIs a stable pre-existing condition covered, and how long must it be stable (the stability period)?
- DeductibleHow much is it, and is it per claim or per policy?
- Waiting periodIf you buy after the visitor has arrived, how many days before sickness is covered?
- Coverage limit and age bandIs the limit enough (Super Visa needs at least $100,000), and is the price for the visitor's correct age?
- ExclusionsWhat is not covered: routine check-ups, follow-up visits, known conditions, high-risk activities?
- Calling before treatmentMust you call the assistance line before seeing a doctor or going to hospital?
- Medical questionsIf the plan asks medical questions, were they answered fully and correctly?
- Refunds and cancellationAre unused days refunded if the visitor leaves early, and is there a fee?
- Side tripsIs a short trip outside Canada (for example to the U.S.) covered?
- Paying the billDoes the insurer pay the hospital directly, or do you pay and claim back?
Start with pre-existing conditions. It's the one most claims depend on.
Same Price, Different Protection
Visitors to Canada aren't covered by provincial health plans like OHIP, so hospitals bill them directly. Visitor insurance pays those bills, but only as the policy wording says. Insurers set their own rules, so two plans with similar prices can treat the same claim very differently.
The most common surprises we see at claim time:
- A parent's blood-pressure medicine was changed a few weeks before the trip, so the condition wasn't "stable" and the claim was refused.
- The policy was bought after arrival, and the illness started during the waiting period.
- The family went straight to a clinic without calling the insurer, and a co-payment applied.
- A per-claim deductible was paid three times for three separate problems.
Emergency hospital care, doctors' fees, diagnostic tests, prescriptions after an emergency, ambulance, and return home for medical reasons, up to the policy limit.
Pre-existing conditions, deductibles, waiting periods, side trips, refunds and whether the insurer pays the hospital directly.
See when a deductible saves money and when it costs more, with real 2026 hospital costs.
Deductible calculatorPolicy Words You'll See, in Plain English
| Stability period | The time before the policy starts during which a pre-existing condition must have had no change in medication, treatment, symptoms or tests. |
|---|---|
| Pre-existing condition | Any illness or condition the visitor had, or showed symptoms of, before the policy started. |
| Deductible | The amount your family pays before the insurer pays. Per claim or per policy. |
| Co-payment / coinsurance | A percentage of the bill you share with the insurer, for example if the assistance line wasn't called. |
| Waiting period | Days after the policy starts (when bought after arrival) during which sickness isn't covered. |
| Exclusion | Something the policy does not cover at all. |
| Maximum / limit | The most the insurer will pay. Some benefits have smaller limits inside the main one. |
Plan Details: FAQs
Why should I read the plan details before buying visitor insurance?
Plans that look the same on price can pay very differently. The policy wording decides whether a claim is paid: pre-existing condition rules, deductibles, waiting periods and exclusions all differ between insurers. Reading them first avoids a refused claim later.
What is the most important part of a visitor insurance policy to read?
For parents and grandparents, the pre-existing condition section. Check whether stable conditions are covered and how long the stability period is. Then check the deductible and the exclusions.
Are pre-existing conditions covered by visitor insurance?
Some plans cover stable pre-existing conditions, some only up to a smaller limit, and some exclude them. 'Stable' is defined in each policy, usually as no change in medication, treatment or symptoms for a set period before the policy starts.
Is there a waiting period if I buy visitor insurance after arriving in Canada?
Often yes. Many plans won't cover sickness that begins in the first few days after a policy bought inside Canada. The length varies by insurer and age, so check the wording. Buying before the visitor leaves home avoids this.
Do visitors to Canada get free hospital care?
No. Visitors aren't eligible for provincial plans like OHIP, so hospitals charge them directly. That's why the plan details matter: whatever the policy doesn't cover, your family pays.
Can I get a refund if my visitor goes home early?
Most plans refund unused days if no claim was made, sometimes minus an admin fee. The refund rules are in the policy wording.
Can you help me read and compare policy wordings?
Yes. We're licensed brokers. Send us the visitor's age, dates and health details and we'll compare plans from many Canadian insurers and point out the differences that matter.
Sources
- IRCC: Super visa insurance requirements
- Ontario.ca: Apply for OHIP (visitors don't qualify)
- TuGo: Travel insurance and pre-existing medical condition stability
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 by Pankaj Bhatia, PFA, CHS. Every plan is different; the insurer's policy wording is what decides a claim. More: How to choose visitor insurance · 12 Super Visa insurance mistakes · Claims guide
Want a second pair of eyes on the policy?
Send us the visitor's age, dates and health on WhatsApp. We'll compare plans and point out the fine print that matters for your family.