day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
#1
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 93
day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
Having acquired my new Canadian passport I have been looking forward to some shopping trips to US by bus. Had a thought though......what about health insurance? Do any of you day trippers take out insurance for the day or just trust to luck? I prefer to take out coverage but if I have to do that each time I go on a US day trip it seems pretty onerous....
#2
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
My company health care covers me for vacation locations, including US
#3
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
Having acquired my new Canadian passport I have been looking forward to some shopping trips to US by bus. Had a thought though......what about health insurance? Do any of you day trippers take out insurance for the day or just trust to luck? I prefer to take out coverage but if I have to do that each time I go on a US day trip it seems pretty onerous....
A few years ago while visiting Toronto...I had a sudden attack of diverticulitis. I spent a week in St Mike's trauma unit...the cost was approx $40K...it would have been much more than this in the US. A sudden illness such as this or an accident can happen anywhere/anytime...make sure you have the relevant insurance.
#4
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,274
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
There are many health insurers that provide this day-tripping, or short visit insurance, on an annual basis...I'd check with an insurance broker to find the one best fitting your needs.
Also...check with your bank if it provides travel insurance. HSBC used to give it free...but not for someone my age...I'm now un-insurable...
or you could get a job with magnumpi's company.
Also...check with your bank if it provides travel insurance. HSBC used to give it free...but not for someone my age...I'm now un-insurable...
or you could get a job with magnumpi's company.
Last edited by Davita; Aug 10th 2016 at 4:07 pm.
#5
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
There are many health insurers that provide this day-tripping, or short visit insurance, on an annual basis...I'd check with an insurance broker to find the one best fitting your needs.
Also...check with your bank if it provides travel insurance. HSBC used to give it free...but not for someone my age...I'm now un-insurable...
or you could get a job with magnumpi's company.
Also...check with your bank if it provides travel insurance. HSBC used to give it free...but not for someone my age...I'm now un-insurable...
or you could get a job with magnumpi's company.
#6
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
CAA has decent short term travel insurance, as does BMO. I always used to take it out before I got coverage from my employer ($5 million out of province)
I've used both companies, thankfully have never had to make a claim
I've used both companies, thankfully have never had to make a claim
#7
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,873
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
I wouldn't dream of visiting the US for any length of time with taking out medical and travel insurance.
A simple fall, or another driver doing something stupid or even accidentally, could land you in for medical treatment.
I don't know which province you are in, but I know that BC MSP coverage MAY pay up to the amount that a similar treatment would cost in BC, and that would be well below the actual charge.
Some years ago, the mother of a friend fell and broke her leg while visiting another daughter in the US. She was in hospital for about 10 days. Among other things, she was charged $100 US for 1 aspirin tablet. The total bill that the family faced after mother's release and trip home was pretty close to $100,000.
Don't forget, it is even recommended that we should take out health insurance when visiting other provinces in Canada as each province varies in how much coverage is provided for treatments, and will not pay more than it would cost in that province.
We travel every 2 years from BC to Nova Scotia, travelling by train. We checked out the cost of travel insurance in 2014, and made the executive decision that $400 for 2 seniors was more than we wanted to pay, so we took a chance ......... just we have done unknowingly for the last 48 years of travelling in Canada.
We shall check it out again in December, and decide again whether to trust to luck or not.
A simple fall, or another driver doing something stupid or even accidentally, could land you in for medical treatment.
I don't know which province you are in, but I know that BC MSP coverage MAY pay up to the amount that a similar treatment would cost in BC, and that would be well below the actual charge.
Some years ago, the mother of a friend fell and broke her leg while visiting another daughter in the US. She was in hospital for about 10 days. Among other things, she was charged $100 US for 1 aspirin tablet. The total bill that the family faced after mother's release and trip home was pretty close to $100,000.
Don't forget, it is even recommended that we should take out health insurance when visiting other provinces in Canada as each province varies in how much coverage is provided for treatments, and will not pay more than it would cost in that province.
We travel every 2 years from BC to Nova Scotia, travelling by train. We checked out the cost of travel insurance in 2014, and made the executive decision that $400 for 2 seniors was more than we wanted to pay, so we took a chance ......... just we have done unknowingly for the last 48 years of travelling in Canada.
We shall check it out again in December, and decide again whether to trust to luck or not.
#8
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
Having acquired my new Canadian passport I have been looking forward to some shopping trips to US by bus. Had a thought though......what about health insurance? Do any of you day trippers take out insurance for the day or just trust to luck? I prefer to take out coverage but if I have to do that each time I go on a US day trip it seems pretty onerous....
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 9,990
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
The first visit they inserted the catheter. Second visit they refused to take out the catheter because they said only original doctor could recommend that ( an off duty nurse neighbor later removed it). Total cost for two visits, neither lasting over 60 minutes of actual time for nurse and doctor, over $4,000.
Yes travel insurance when visiting the states definitely recommended !
Unless you are illegal alien-in one local hospital system, there is a program for free medical care for illegal aliens.
Crazy system in US.
Last edited by morpeth; Aug 10th 2016 at 9:42 pm.
#10
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,231
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
When I used to cross the border for just one day I purchased insurance from Blue Cross. It was only around $25 but it gave some piece of mind. This was despite having coverage from my employer. I would never cross into the US without buying health insurance. It's a high risk venture, IMO.
#12
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 9,990
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
Interesting also, that Blue Cross policies in US offered through companies sometimes offer coverage out of the country for emergencies - but for many treatments back in the US. So for example if one was overseas and wanted a treatment for X which cost $2,000 flat fee, but over $22,000 in the US, insurance company wouldn't cover the $2,000 but would cover portion of the $22,0000 ( I know this from a recent situation I observed).
#13
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
My work plan covers me, and I presume, as he is listed, my son. However, I didn't get a response from Human Remains in a timely manner (was planning a weekend trip to Buffalo, had a week to go when I asked my question, no reply until two days after I returned. Yes, I did state why I was asking, and the timeframe involved), so I purchased coverage for the both of us ( RBC Travelcare Medical Multi-Trip Annual Plan.) It was $168 all in for a year. Covers us worldwide, up to a max of 16 days per trip
This meant we had cover for our UK trip earlier in the year, plus our frequent trips to Buffalo.
I am going to dip into the work coverage and see exactly what it offers over what the new policy provides.
This meant we had cover for our UK trip earlier in the year, plus our frequent trips to Buffalo.
I am going to dip into the work coverage and see exactly what it offers over what the new policy provides.
#14
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 93
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Insurance for the day it will be.
#15
Re: day trips to US from Canada/health insurance?
NEVER EVER travel without it! My son left Canada for the US last year..... speaking with him on the morning of his departure, I asked if he'd gotten health/medical cover - he thanked me for the reminder and quickly called to arrange it. A week later, he came off a long board in California and sustained several injuries including a broken elbow and a smashed nose and lots of "road rash". After surgery on his arm and week in hospital, the bill came in at $170,000 US (this however, still didn't include the physio required afterward).
Hubby suffered a mini-stroke (no lasting damage) and just one night in hospital while working stateside - bill $18,000 US (plus another $900 for the ambulance).
So yes! Always, always, make sure you have cover!! You just never know what could happen!
Hubby suffered a mini-stroke (no lasting damage) and just one night in hospital while working stateside - bill $18,000 US (plus another $900 for the ambulance).
So yes! Always, always, make sure you have cover!! You just never know what could happen!