While many of our articles have focused on the type of insurance we recommend for travelers to and from Canada few articles have been written on the burden on the taxpayer resulting from visitors who do not have travel insurance. This article discusses some recent data and information on uninsured visitors to Canada.
Every year in Canada, patients are admitted to our hospitals without access to publicly funded health care because they are not resident in the country (and do not meet other criteria). The illnesses they suffer from range from liver disease, angina, kidney disease, kidney stones, and abdominal pain, to name a few.
Generally, these people are treated at the expense of the Canada taxpayer, with most of this money, in the thousands of dollars, being written off by the district health boards where they live. The estimated total for Canada over the 10-year period from 2000 to 2010 is $630 million. This debt will grow to about $1 billion this decade if no changes are made to the current identification, billing and cost recovery systems.
Statistics show that of the more than three million travelers to Canada, 80% are not eligible for free health care and those without travel insurance represent a significant burden on our health care system. Canada s Minister of Health has publicly acknowledged the problem and has stated in the media that systems will be strengthened. Measures being discussed include information sharing between government agencies, which will help verify who is entitled to public care. For example, some accidents are covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), but not all.
The cost to travelers includes not only medical care, but also the cost of extending their stay. This can include flight changes, additional lodging costs for them and their travel companions or family, phone bills, food, etc. All of these costs add up and can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.
The Immigration Department recommends that visitors to Canada purchase comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of their stay. Some super visa insurance links to an external site.categories require mandatory medical and travel insurance (such as working vacation visas), so it's worth checking these criteria carefully before you start traveling.
Travel insurance providers in Canada have a wide range of options specifically designed for different super visa insurancecategories, and their travel insurance policies work best within the Canada health care system. In addition, travelers may be surprised to find that travel insurance is not expensive. Many travel and health insurance brokers can quickly and easily provide quotes on insurance costs, for any length of stay. These brokers can also explain how the health care system works in Canada and give an overview of who is eligible for free care and who is not.
So before your next visit, contact a Canada travel insurance broker to make sure you are getting the right insurance coverage.
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