In 2011 the government of Canada introduced a program called the super visa. The super visa is
an extended ‘visitors to canada’ visa that allows for visits of up to 2 years. There are however a few
requirements to meet for this visa.
Visitors must have children or grandchildren living in Canada who are either Canadian citizens or
permanent residents. This requirement really gets to the heart of this program as it allows parents and
grandparents of Canadians to come and visit their family for an extended period of time.
One of the other primary requirements is that the applicant purchase a minimum of $100,000 of
visitors to Canada health insurance, for a minimum of one year. That makes sense – we can bring the
grandparents over for a visit with the family, but they need to look after their own health insurance
while here.
However you can expect that a full year of health insurance coverage for grandma and grandpa isn’t
gong to be cheap. And it isn’t – so it’s a good idea to know what you’re buying and how to minimize
costs where possible.
Here’s 5 of the best ways to minimize your insurance premiums for this super-
visa visitors to Canada travel health insurance.
- Make sure you shop using an insurance broker. Different companies have widely different
premiums for this coverage. Using an insurance broker seems like an obvious choice but it’s worth
mentioning as many consumers simply go with a brand that they know. - Deductibles vary widely, from $0 to $5000. This has a huge impact on prices. A $0 deductible plan
means the insurance company has to pay every little nuisance claim. A $5000 deductible means the
company doesn’t pay all those smaller claims – you’ll be paying those. If you’re treating this insurance
as emergency coverage, you shouldn’t be running to the doctor for minor irritations, so consider the
highest deductible that you’re comfortable paying in the event of an emergency, and self insure for any
emergencies below that level. - Side trips. Are you going to travel outside of Canada during your visit? Some visitors to canada
plans cover you for limited travel to other countries. Other plans don’t provide that coverage. If you’re
not going to be travelling outside of Canada you can choose a cheaper plan that doesn’t have this
coverage. - Multiple Entry. This option provides on-again off-again coverage. If you’re visiting Canada on a
super visa but expect to return home occassionally, make sure your plan has multiple entry coverage.
Otherwise you may have a plan that ceases coverage as soon as you leave Canada. If you’re planning
on staying in Canada for the entire duration you can then choose a cheaper plan that doesn’t have
multiple entry. - Refundable premiums. The government requires that you purchase coverage for a full year. But
what if you’re staying for less than a year? Should you have to pay for coverage that you’re not using?
Some plans are non-refundable; you purchase for a full year and there’s no money back. Other plans
allow you to purchase for a full year so you meet government requirements but offer a refund of the
unused portion if you return home before the year is up. If you’re not staying for a full year, make sure
you purchase a plan with refundable premiums so that you can get money back for the unused portion
of the coverage. Note that these refunds always come with conditions and fees so read the policy
before purchasing.
There you have it – 5 easy ways to secure super visa visitors to Canada insurance.
Shop the products using a broker, choose your deductible wisely, watch your side trips and multiple entry coverage, and if
you’re staying for less than a year find a plan with refundable premiums.
Glenn Cooke is an independent insurance broker who offers online quotes for super visa health insurance on his
website LifeInsuranceCanada.com Inc.