CAA travel insurance

Whether you travel regularly or are planning your first trip overseas, you might like to consider travel insurance from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). This long-standing Canadian company offers a diverse range of travel insurance products including travel medical, trip cancellation/interruption and comprehensive coverage that includes both.

Apply for a quote today to find out how much you’ll have to pay to cover yourself in the event of an unexpected emergency.

What is CAA travel insurance?

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) provides travel insurance for affordable prices to thousands of Canadians each year. With the click of a mouse, you can get quotes for emergency medical coverage, trip interruption/cancellation or a combination of both. The price that you’ll pay for coverage may vary based on factors like your age, health condition, trip destination and length of trip.

Individuals or families visiting Canada can also purchase a medical plan with benefits like emergency medical and dental, family transportation, medical repatriation and more. For all types of coverage, you may be able to pay more to extend or top up your coverage while you’re travelling.

What types of travel insurance does CAA offer?

You can potentially qualify for several different types of CAA travel insurance, depending on your needs and budget. The type of coverage you can get may also vary by province.

• Single trip or multi-trip emergency medical

  This type of coverage will pay for emergency medical treatment to a maximum of $5 million. This includes hospital costs, ambulance bills, dental expenses, medical repatriation and medical follow-up in Canada. It also covers reimbursements and assistance for vision care, hearing aids, pet care and kenneling.

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

  This insurance protects you against unexpected losses if you can’t make your trip for reasons like being sick or losing your passport. It also covers your flights if you can’t make a connection due to unforeseen weather conditions. There may also be some exclusions outlined in your policy that you should be aware of before you travel to avoid any nasty surprises.

• Comprehensive vacation packages

  This is the most comprehensive type of coverage that combines both travel medical and trip cancellation/interruption. You’ll also get protection for additional extras like flight accidents, lost baggage and more. CAA offers single trip or multi-trip annual plans for this type of coverage to make sure you’re protected whenever you travel.

• Visitors to Canada insurance plans

  Individuals or families visiting Canada can get between $25,000 and $150,000 to cover potential medical expenses. This coverage includes emergency medical and dental, family transportation and medical repatriation in the event of an emergency. This insurance applies to visitors, international students, immigrants and those without access to provincial health care plans.

How much does CAA’s travel insurance cost?

The amount that CAA charges for travel insurance depends on what type of coverage you choose. It’s also influenced by certain personal factors:

• Age of travellers. You’ll typically pay more for your insurance premiums if you’re over the age of 65.
• How many people need coverage. You’ll have to pay a higher amount if you have to add your partner or children to your policy.
• Pre-existing medical conditions. You may need to pay more if you have a medical condition that affects your health.
• Destination. You could pay more to visit certain countries that are deemed more high-risk, such as countries where there are travel advisories in place.
• Length of trip. You’ll pay higher premiums for longer trips because your travel insurance will typically be charged at a daily rate.
• Coverage amount. You’ll have to pay more if you get a higher coverage amount or if you plan to do any high-risk activities like skydiving.

How to apply for CAA travel insurance

If you think that CAA travel insurance is the right fit for you, all you need to do is follow a couple of simple steps to get started:

1. Use the online application to provide personal information like your name, email address, proof of ID and relevant documents.
2. Review and submit your application to generate a quote.
3. Get verified and negotiate the terms of your CAA travel insurance.

How to contact CAA

You can get in touch with CAA via phone or email. It’s also possible to file a claim through CAA’s manual claims process. This must be done by downloading the claims forms you need and sending them to CAA by mail or email. If you have an urgent issue, it’s best to call in with your personal information and policy number on hand for faster service.

The way that you’ll contact CAA will depend on which province you’re in. For example, there are different offices for Manitoba, Atlantic, Niagara, South Ontario, Saskatchewan and more. It’s best to look up the CAA office closest to you to make sure you get the travel insurance specific to your province.

Benefits and drawbacks of CAA travel insurance

• Benefits

  • Easy application. You can apply for a quote quickly and easily through CAA’s online portal.
  • Many coverage types. There are numerous forms of insurance on offer, including emergency medical and trip interruption/cancellation insurance.
  • Direct payments. You may be able to qualify for CAA Assistance which pays hospitals, physicians and other medical providers directly, wherever possible.
  • 24/7 customer service. You can reach a customer service agent at any time of day or night to discuss your policy.
  • Member discounts. You’ll get a percentage off your travel insurance if you’re a CAA member.
  • Resource centre. Most CAA sites operate a resource centre where you can find answers to questions you might have about your travel insurance.

• Drawbacks

  • Limited transparency. It’s difficult to find out information about pricing for basic policies unless you call in or request a quote online.
  • Provincial coverage. You’ll need to figure out which CAA branch you should get insurance with as each province has its own insurance products.
  • Some exclusions. You may not be covered for certain injuries or accidents (such as from high-risk activities) unless you get extended coverage.
  • Higher rates for seniors. You may be required to provide a detailed medical questionnaire and pay higher fees if you’re 65 years of age and older.
  • No online claims process. You’ll need to file your claim manually by printing off forms and sending them in to CAA by mail or email.

Bottom line

CAA provides many different types of travel insurance to fit your unique set of needs and budget. Learn what types of coverage you can get for your next trip with CAA and apply for a quote today to find out how much you’ll have to pay to get insured.

Finder’s travel insurance guide

Frequently asked questions

• Is it possible to buy CAA travel insurance after I've started my trip?

  No. You’ll need to lock in your travel insurance before you leave. Once you’re outside of Canada, you won’t be able to get coverage. That said, you can buy extended coverage if you need to stay out of the country for longer than anticipated (provided that you haven’t made any claims on your current insurance.

• Can I use CAA travel insurance in countries with travel advisories?

  It depends which country you’re travelling to. Some may be covered while others might be excluded if they’re particularly high-risk. Just be aware that you’ll usually pay more for insurance to travel to destinations that have travel advisories in place from the Canadian government.

• How can I file a claim for travel insurance with CAA?

  Some provincial offices might have different procedures for filing a claim. But you should be able to call in to CAA’s toll-free travel insurance number to get answers to any questions you might have. You can also visit CAA’s claims page to download any forms you might need to start your claims process.