Travel insurance is one of the things you should seriously consider whenever you travel overseas.
Even a small accident in the USA or another country could cost tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, and it’s just not worth the risk.
Read my review of CAA Travel Insurance to find out what it covers, the pros and cons, and how it compares with other options like Blue Cross and Allianz travel insurance.
Key Takeaways
- CAA Travel Insurance provides several types of coverage for travellers.
- It covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, medical repatriation, and more for travellers up to 84 years old.
- While it is a trusted company with a long reputation, you should always compare insurance quotes with other providers before deciding.
What is CAA?
CAA, also known as the CAA Club Group, has provided Canadians with insurance for over 115 years.
It offers several products and services, including roadside assistance, car insurance, and travel insurance.
It is the largest not-for-profit automobile association in Canada, with over two million members in South Central Ontario and 200,000 members in Manitoba.
Its travel insurance plans cover most of the things you will need when you travel outside your province or outside of Canada.
While you can get a 10% discount if you are a member, you don’t have to be a member to buy a policy.
What Does CAA Travel Insurance Cover?
CAA Travel Insurance offers several different travel insurance products covering slightly different things.
For a start, you can choose from single-trip or multi-trip insurance depending on whether you want coverage for one trip or several trips in the same year.
One of the main things it provides is emergency health insurance. If you need medical treatment while overseas, it provides up to $5 million in coverage for medical repatriation, medical emergencies, dental emergencies, COVID-19 treatment, and more.
It also offers trip cancellation or interruption. This provides assistance should you have to cancel your trip and can help reduce the costs of accommodation, transportation, etc.
You can also get extras like baggage protection should you lose your belongings or they are stolen.
If you need assistance while travelling, you can call the CAA Travel insurance phone number provided in your policy documents.
What Does CAA Travel Insurance Not Cover?
Coverage limitations depend on the policy details, but one thing to be aware of is pre-existing medical conditions.
When you get a quote, you will be asked about this. You can add Pre-Existing Health Condition coverage, which provides $200,000 for an unstable pre-existing condition.
This requires that your condition be stable for seven days before the trip instead of the normal three or six months.
Also, be aware that medical coverage is only for travellers aged up to 84. If you are over 60, you must complete a medical questionnaire before getting a quote, but there is no age limit for Trip Only coverage.
CAA Travel Insurance Plans
CAA Travel Insurance offers four different plans you can choose from based on what you need:
Emergency Medical Insurance
This plan provides you with coverage for medical emergencies while you are travelling. You can choose between travel within and outside Canada and single-trip and multi-trip coverage.
It provides a maximum of $5 million in coverage for emergency treatment, dental expenses, medical repatriation, and COVID-19 protection. It also includes Virtual Emergency Medical Assistance.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
This plan provides coverage for cancellations and trip interruptions should you need to make changes. It covers prepaid expenses, lost or delayed luggage, and other situations should you need to cancel due to illness, stolen travel documents, cancelled business meetings, and more.
It also covers disruption to your trip due to weather conditions, strikes, and other situations.
Vacation Package Insurance
This is essentially a combination of the above two policies. This is a good choice if you want to travel with peace of mind knowing that you are covered for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and more. It is also available as a multi-trip option.
Visitors to Canada
This is a slightly different plan that provides coverage for visitors to Canada instead of Canadians travelling outside of their province or the country.
It has a minimum deductible of $50 and provides from $25,000 to $150,000 in coverage for emergency medical treatment and medical repatriation, among other things.
CAA Travel Insurance Rates
There are no specific pricing tables for CAA Travel Insurance, but I’ve found its premiums reasonable.
The rate you will pay will depend on the type of insurance, the length of your trip, your age, and other factors.
With travel insurance, you should get a personalized quote for your needs. That’s why even though I like CAA Travel Insurance, I always recommend shopping around before making your decision.
What Factors Affect the Cost of CAA Travel Insurance?
The cost of CAA Travel Insurance is affected by the length of your trip, your age, the type of coverage you want, the destination, and any add-ons you choose.
For example, for a 44-year-old traveller from Ontario going to the United States for one week requiring Emergency Medical coverage and with no pre-existing medical conditions, the cost is currently $41.68.
There is a 10% discount for members, making the discounted price $37.51.
This provides $5 million in emergency medical coverage, and you can then add extras as needed:
- If you add the Adventurous Air Activities option, the cost rises to $52.10.
- For the Sports and Speed option (for professional sporting events), the cost increases to $229.24.
- If you add a $300 deductible, the premium is reduced to $37.51.
How to Get a Quote for CAA Travel Insurance
Getting a quote is quick and easy at CAA Travel Insurance. Just visit the Travel Insurance page, and from here, you can choose from the four policy types and then begin the process.
You will need to provide information about:
- Where you live
- Where you are going
- Travel dates
- Your date of birth
- Details of other travellers
- Any health conditions you have
You will then see a review, and you must confirm that you have read the Privacy and Eligibility statements to get your quote.
You can then update the details by adding Adventurous Air Activities and other add-ons. Then, either purchase your policy or save your quote.
Pros and Cons of CAA Travel Insurance
Pros
- Clear and quick process to get a quote via the website.
- Coverage is available for pre-existing medical conditions.
- Long history and trusted provider.
- Provides insurance for travel all over the world.
- Selection of travel insurance plans to choose from.
- Savings are available for CAA members.
- 24/7 customer service.
Cons
- Discounts are only available for members.
- Need to fill out a medical questionnaire if you are over 60.
- No insurance is available for travellers aged over 84.
Other Travel Insurance Providers
Here are some of the other travel insurance providers I recommend you check out when you are planning your next trip:
Blue Cross
Blue Cross is a popular choice for Canadian travellers. It provides several plans and coverage options, and these are different based on your province.
It provides up to $5 million in emergency medical coverage, and you can choose the specific benefits you want, like baggage cover, trip cancellation, etc.
Allianz
Allianz travel insurance is another popular option that provides a wide range of plans offering all the essential types of coverage.
You can choose from plans providing emergency medical coverage and cancellation, and there is even a plan where children aged 17 and under get free coverage.
World Nomads
World Nomads is a well-known travel insurance provider for residents of many countries, including Canada.
It covers many outdoor activities like bungee jumping and rock climbing, making it popular with backpackers and adventurous travellers. You can even extend your coverage while travelling, making it a flexible option.
Is CAA Travel Insurance Worth It?
I find CAA Travel Insurance to be an excellent option for travellers. The company has a long history, and the comprehensive insurance covers most of the things you will need when you travel.
That being said, always shop around. There are lots of travel insurance providers in Canada, and you may find better coverage for less elsewhere. So, get a few quick online quotes to explore your options further.
FAQs
CAA is a well-established company with a long reputation, and all its insurance products are reliable.
CAA’s travel insurance products are underwritten by Orion Travel Insurance Company.
CAA Insurance has been operating for over 115 years, so it has a long history and is a trusted brand.
After getting a travel insurance quote from CAA, you can choose to add a deductible to reduce the premium.
Related:
We have bought CAA insurance for years. We went on a cruise with my Dad. 6 days into the cruise, my Dad got sick with Encephalitis. That was Dec 1st. He was hospitalized till Dec 18th till the insurance flew him back private. He was in the hospital here for 2 months and is now in a rehabilitation center. It is Feb 27 and they still haven’t paid a cent!