Six Common Super Visa Insurance Questions

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For over 10 years, I’ve spoken to thousands of Canadians interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents under the Super Visa program which came into effect on December 1, 2011. Many have never purchased visitors to Canada insurance before, and are unclear about what it is and how it works.  As a result, BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency has assembled a list of the top six questions asked by Super Visa applicants:

1. What is Super Visa Insurance?
   
   1. Super Visa insurance (also known as Visitors-to-Canada insurance) is designed to provide emergency medical coverage to visitors for short-term issues (e.g., an ear infection) or to stabilize more serious problems (e.g., a heart attack) so that visitors can travel home to receive further medical attention.
2. My mother/father has pre-existing conditions.  How does this affect their insurance coverage?
   
   1. There are two basic types of Visitors-to-Canada insurance: policies covering illnesses related to pre-existing conditions, and policies that do not. To be eligible for pre-existing conditions coverage on a policy, the pre-existing conditions must have been stable for a specific period of time prior to your parent's arrival in Canada. The stability period requirement is typically between six months to one year. You can find the details such as pre-existing condition exclusions and policy stability requirements by generating a Super Visa quote and locating the 'Summary' section underneath each policy. 
3. Will this policy cover my mother/father’s current medicine? 
   
   1. No. These are emergency medical policies, designed to cover unforeseen expenses.  They do not cover medicine that a traveller is already taking. However, expatriate insurance, available from some insurance companies, may cover certain ongoing conditions.  This type of insurance is not as common as visitors insurance and is much more expensive.
4. Is the policy refundable?
   
   1. Most policies are 100% refundable before the start of the trip, and partially refundable if a traveller returns home early and has not made a claim on the policy.  However, this varies by insurance company and some companies charge a refund fee. All policies on your quote are refundable in the case of visa refusal. 
5. Do I have to pay for the policy now? 
   
   1. Yes. Citizenship & Immigration Canada requires that you have a prepaid one-year insurance policy in place before applying for a super visa.  Generally, we suggest that the policy start at least six months after your super visa application date to allow sufficient time for visa processing.
6. Why should I use a broker? 
   
   1. Brokers are there to assist customers when dealing with insurance companies, and act as an advocate for customers if necessary.  There is no difference in the cost of purchasing through a broker or directly from an insurance company.

BestQuote Travel Insurance specializes in travel insurance, has the widest selection of policies to choose from anywhere in Canada, and enables you to research and purchase online - often saving hundreds of dollars compared to other broker services. If you have any additional questions, you can contact us, and we'll be happy to help you secure insurance for your stay in Canada.