Snowbird Insurance
Canadian snowbirds may spend up to six months at a time outside of Canada. They do not want to worry about possible medical costs while they are away. Provincial health plans offer only limited coverage outside the province. Travel medical insurance will fill this gap.
Most travel
insurance policies provide limits up to $5,000,000.00. Pre-existing conditions can be covered for
emergency treatment if they are stable for a specified number of days
before you travel. Stable could be defined
in general terms as follows: there has
been no change in medication or a change in the dosage of a medication or a new
medication prescribed or new treatment or hospitalization during the stability
period.
Stability
periods can range from 90 days (high blood pressure) to 365 days (heart
condition). Age is a major factor and
the type of condition is another one. Generally, the older you are and the more serious the condition, the
longer the stability period. Someone
over age 75 with a heart condition will likely require a stability period of
365 days.
Should there be a change in medication shortly before you travel the condition being treated will no longer be considered stable. This condition will not be covered under your policy. “Quest Travel Insurance” offers a solution to this problem. This policy will provide $5,000,000.00 in coverage for conditions deemed stable and $150,000.00 limit for conditions not considered stable.