Answers You Need Before They Travel

Ideally before your visitor leaves their home country. Purchasing in advance ensures there are no gaps in coverage and eliminates waiting periods for certain conditions. If your parents have already arrived in the US, same-day coverage is often still available — but it's best not to wait.

Yes, most carriers allow coverage to be purchased after arrival in the US, as long as the visitor has not yet experienced a medical condition requiring treatment. However, some policies have a waiting period (1–5 days) for non-emergency conditions when purchased after arrival. For emergencies, most plans activate immediately.

We recommend a minimum of $100,000 in coverage. For seniors (65+) or those with pre-existing conditions, $150,000–$300,000 is advisable. Keep in mind a single hospitalization can exceed $50,000–$100,000 in the US. The premium difference between $100K and $300K coverage is often small — don't skimp here.

Either the US-based child or the visiting parent can purchase the plan. In most cases, the US-based family member purchases and pays for the plan on behalf of their parents — this is perfectly fine and very common. You will receive the policy documents to share with your parents.

Yes — most visitor insurance plans can be extended, as long as the request is made before the current policy expires and no claims are pending. Contact us before the expiry date and we'll help extend coverage seamlessly.

Yes. Many plans offer coverage for the "acute onset" of pre-existing conditions — meaning sudden, unexpected flare-ups (like a heart attack or diabetic emergency) are covered even if the underlying condition is pre-existing. Some comprehensive plans offer fuller pre-existing condition coverage after a stability period (usually 180 days of no changes to medication or treatment).

Acute onset means a sudden, unexpected occurrence of a pre-existing medical condition that requires immediate treatment. For example, if your parent has known heart disease and has a sudden heart attack during their visit, many plans would cover that emergency even though heart disease is a pre-existing condition — as long as the episode is "sudden and unexpected" and treatment begins within 24 hours.

Prescription drug coverage varies by plan. Most visitor insurance covers medications prescribed during a covered emergency or illness. Routine medications your parents already take for pre-existing conditions are generally not covered — but we can recommend plans that provide the broadest emergency drug coverage.

Most visitor insurance plans are PPO-based, allowing your parents to see any licensed physician or hospital in the US. Using a network provider (in-network) will typically result in lower out-of-pocket costs, but coverage is available out-of-network for emergencies at any US facility.

In a medical emergency, your parents (or you on their behalf) should call the insurance company's 24/7 emergency number. For non-emergency claims, they typically fill out a claim form and submit receipts. We walk every client through the claims process — you're never alone if something happens.

Most visitor plans cover emergency dental treatment (such as a knocked-out tooth or dental abscess causing severe pain), but do NOT cover routine dental care (cleanings, fillings, crowns). If your parent needs extensive dental work, it's best to complete it before traveling to the US.

Medical repatriation and emergency evacuation are typically included in visitor insurance plans. This covers the cost of medically supervised transport back to your parent's home country for continued treatment — which can cost $50,000+ without coverage.

Most current visitor insurance plans do include COVID-19 coverage for emergency medical treatment — though this varies by carrier. Routine COVID testing for travel purposes is generally not covered. We can clarify COVID coverage for any plan we recommend.

No — or only minimally. Most provincial health plans provide only a very small emergency benefit for US care (typically $400–$600/day in hospital). Given that US hospital stays routinely cost $15,000–$40,000 per day, this is grossly insufficient. Your parents need proper visitor insurance.

No — Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the USA (they enter as visitors). Visitor insurance is available to all non-US residents regardless of nationality or visa status, as long as they are lawfully present in the US.