[tyrelb]

In Canada, there are 3 popular channels:

1) Most full-time employees who have an employee benefit plan have the benefit of travel insurance. Example: http://www.greatwestlife.com/001/Home/Group_Products/Group_B... You're auto-enrolled in this channel... by being a full-time employee.

2) Travel credit cards have these packages - http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards... - click Travel/Protection tab for the policy. You're auto-enrolled in this channel... just by holding the credit card

3) Failing that, you can top up on a per-trip basis - pretty cheap - https://travelweb.pac.bluecross.ca/travelweb/default.aspx You pay by credit card, and get a policy straight away...

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Having put in a claim before (doctor visit / prescription), the biggest pain points were:

1) Not sure exactly what the coverage was - I basically called a 1-800 number while in the USA, and they told me the benefits, etc. While it was simple, it wasn't as transparent as I'd like... (i.e. online, brochure, etc.)

2) When I did try to put a claim in, I was diagnosed as having a pre-existing condition...before leaving Canada, and therefore denied coverage... so I was on the hook for the doctor visit / prescription myself.

Hope this helps!