Kids will be Kids
Children can be fairly susceptible to injury during a trip since they are usually oblivious to potential risks and dangers, focusing primarily on the excitement of their new environment. From sampling disagreeable foods to adventuring too deep into wild terrain and walking barefoot on the beach, young ones are a recipe for parental panic when they are rushed to the hospital. The fact is kids are known to be reckless, especially when freed from their routine home and school surroundings. Travelling with babies can also add much more stress.
No Special Rates
In many cases, the significance of health care for children crossing the northern border is often minimized; they are either insufficiently insured for medical emergencies, or simply have zero coverage. Hospital treatment and medication in Canada can be pricey for uninsured visitors of any age, and when children show up in the emergency room, they do not receive any special rate for their care and recovery. The cost for diagnosis, tests, x-rays, surgical procedures and stabilization before discharge remains the same for everyone, regardless of age.
Supplemental travel insurance for children arriving to Canada with no outside health coverage in their home country is available through a number of companies.
Typical Coverage Scenarios
A basic travel insurance package should cover the fundamentals: unexpected trip delays, cancellation, lost baggage, and essential medical treatment and care. However, when children are part of the journey, additional provision should be considered for their welfare such as coverage for the uncommon, but not impossible, scenarios (e.g. if they go astray or fall victim to an extreme sport injury).
Selecting the right type of travel insurance for children depends on each particular situation. Kids are classified for specific benefits based on their individual needs. There are encompassing family travel insurance plans, which are the popular option, and plans for students and adolescents traveling to Canada by themselves. Here is a brief summary of some common insurance categories:
Families - In order to trim travel insurance premiums when planning a vacation with the children, inquire about family rates. The majority of companies offer this kind of “consolidated” plan which not only goes a long way in saving money, but also provides an umbrella of coverage fit for everyone. There will probably be a few forms to complete with regard to each member insured, including their age and medical background, but when all is said and done, the task may well prove to have been worthwhile should the kids suffer a health crisis while on vacation.
Along with shielding Canadian visitors, young and old, with comprehensive coverage for health-related services (examinations, hospital stays, lab work, prescribed medications), many family travel insurance policies supply additional benefits such as coverage for daycare expenses on the off-chance that one or both parents become hospitalized.
The payout options available for each member of the family typically vary between $25,000 and $150,000 in medical costs. Some plans may be issued to cover multiple visits into Canada during a given year. Insurance premiums are based on several factors, including the policy type and the number of persons being insured.
Students - A good number of colleges and universities require its students to have a health insurance plan in place at the beginning of the semester as a means of financial security from medical emergencies. Young scholars coming to study in Canada can purchase travel insurance particularly geared to them, coverage that an adult traveler may deem unnecessary, for example, round-the-clock assistance, legal and documentation aid, interpreter fees, money transfers and urgent message dispatching.
Children Traveling Solo - Insurance companies will often recommend a special policy for children visiting Canada on their own, which can include a 24-hour support hotline and help with missing documentation since kids are prone to losing important paperwork. This form of travel insurance for children may also stipulate coverage for expenses incurred in quickly reuniting a parent with their son or daughter in an emergency situation.
Infants - A baby taking ill can bring a trip to an abrupt end in the same manner as an adult. A family travel insurance plan should contain “equal billing” for babies. When in doubt, double-check the policy to ensure no age limitations have been set which could leave them without coverage.