Travel medical insurance: A smart buy

But whether you're staying for a month, a day or even a few hours, it's important to protect yourself with travel medical insurance, experts say. In the event that you have an accident or become ill, provincial health insurance plans will not come close to covering medical bills for many health services outside of Canada.

Consider this. If you fall and break your leg, it could cost you as much as $29,000 US, according to a Globe and Mail report.

And if you have a heart attack and need a major procedure, the cost could be up to $40,000 US. For a quadruple bypass surgery, the price tag goes up to a staggering $300,000, says Lorraine Bullock, Insurance Product Manager for British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA).

According to a recent BCAA survey, the most common medical claims submitted by travellers related to respiratory problems, including pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis at an average cost of $2,730 CAD. This was followed by accidental injuries (average cost of $2,110) and digestion, food poisoning and stomach problems (average cost of $2,754).

"Many people think they're adequately protected through their credit card or an employer plan, but these often have limits," says Kathy Starko, President of Travel Underwriters. "For example, they may not protect your spouse or children or apply to trips 30 days or longer. Some may also cap coverage at $100,000 of medical expenses.

"You can easily purchase additional travel insurance for coverage between $1-5 million that will close any gaps in coverage and be customized to your specific health requirements and travel needs.”