For most families with children in school, the Christmas and March breaks are a time to look forward to a change from the day-to-day routine of winter. Do your kids have a hockey tournament out of town? Are you going on a vacation down south? These plans require lots of organization, so while you're writing your to-do list prior to leaving, make sure travel insurance is included.

Why should you consider travel insurance?

It all really comes down to dollars and cents. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services) the average hospital charge to repair something as common as a broken arm is over $11,000.

Debunking the provincial health insurance plan myth

Many Canadians believe travel insurance is unnecessary for the sole reason they mistakenly believe their provincial health plan will cover all their emergency medical expenses while on vacation. Unfortunately, this is a costly misunderstanding, as a quick search of a few provincial health insurance websites show:

  • Ontario residents will only be covered up to $50 per day for any out-of-country emergency care, and only up to $400 per day for any out-of-country inpatient hospital services.
  • BC residents will only be covered for up to $75 per day for any out-of-country inpatient hospital services, and;
  • Alberta residents are only covered up to $100 per day.

Given that a broken arm typically costs $11,000 to repair, where will the remaining money come from?

Get the right travel insurance for your break from school and work

Checking out your travel insurance options is the easiest part of your travel plans. Not only can you cover your children for a reasonable price, you can cover yourself, your spouse and your kids all under one plan. Did you know that:

  • Families of 4 travelling for 8 days (travelling Friday to Friday) can get covered for as little as $24 from some companies?
  • And, other travel insurers even cover children under the age of 16 for free as long as a parent is insured along with them?

When shopping for travel insurance, consider these money-saving tips:

Looking for more information on your travel insurance options? Don't forget to:


* Emergency medical travel insurance plan was quoted on December 3, 2008, but may be subject to change at any time.


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