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Snowbirds: How to Save on Travel Insurance

Snowbirds: How to Save on Travel Insurance
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Every year, thousands of Canadians escape the winter cold towards sun destinations like Florida, Mexico, or other countries abroad. This trend is particularly popular with retirees. Since snowbirds often spend several months travelling during the winter, choosing the right travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses is a crucial step when planning a long-term stay. For the full picture of your season, see our complete snowbirds guide.

The same duration limits apply within the country: for a long road trip from one province to another, see our guide to staying properly insured while travelling across Canada.

Travel Insurance – How to Choose the Right Long-Term Insurance Policy

As a snowbird, when it’s time to choose your travel insurance, several factors should be taken into account when selecting your coverage:

  • Age
  • Health and pre-existing conditions
  • Travel destination
  • Duration of travel
  • Coverage to be included in the policy
  • Exclusions from coverage

You may already have a preferred provider, as there are many options available: Blue Cross, CAA, Desjardins, and more. To get the best value, it’s a good idea to review the different offers on the market and consider a new medical insurance policy that provides the coverage best suited to your needs and covers emergency situations.

For snowbirds, soNomad offers comprehensive insurance for long-term stays at competitive rates.

Credit Card Insurance

For snowbirds, certain credit cards stand out for their benefits for extended travel and their comprehensive travel insurance. The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card, the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, and the Desjardins Odyssey World Elite Mastercard offer not only financial rewards and benefits, but also insurance coverage tailored for long-term stays, ideal for worry-free travel.

These cards offer advantageous travel insurance with coverage for the following events:

  • Emergency medical expenses
  • Flight delay
  • Lost or stolen luggage
  • Trip cancellation or interruption
  • Travel Accident
  • Theft or damage to rental cars
  • Hotel burglary

These insurances often complement existing insurance plans, thus offering additional protection for snowbirds during their stays abroad.

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However, the duration of some of these coverages can shorten as we get older (sometimes as early as 54 years old). Although some cards, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, allow you to extend emergency medical care insurance, most credit cards do not offer adequate coverage for a full winter abroad. As snowbirds, you therefore need to turn to other insurers who offer personalized options tailored to your needs.

The Best Insurance Options While Abroad

Finding the travel insurance that’s right for you can take some research, and now it’s possible to get quotes directly online. Take soNomad, for example.

soNomad: Travel Insurance for Snowbirds from Canada and Quebec

Here’s what’s included in soNomad ‘s emergency medical protection for Snowbirds:

  • Emergency Medical
  • Hospitalization
  • 24/7 emergency assistance
  • Doctors
  • Ambulance and Air Ambulance
Snowbirds: How to Save on Travel Insurance - soNomad travel insurance

Many features set soNomad insurance apart from others, making it a valuable option for snowbirds, including:

  • COVID-19 coverage at no extra cost
  • Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions
  • An option to make a single deposit to guarantee rates
  • Annual multi-trip options
  • No administrative fees for date changes or cancellations

Plus, soNomad gives you access to a range of exclusive insurance products and can quickly assess your needs online. The commission soNomad takes on its insurance products is lower than traditional brokers’, which allows you to save.

soNomad: How to Get a Quote and Subscribe

To get a quote, go to the soNomad website and click on « Get a quote ». Read our complete guide to filling out the online form easily. You can then get an instant quote and pay your insurance premium directly online. If you have questions or need more information, contact soNomad at 1-855-360-7225, available Monday to Friday between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

soNomad: Concerning COVID-19

All soNomad travel insurance plans include COVID-19 coverage at no extra cost, provided you have no symptoms before the departure date and meet the contract’s stability requirements.

Snowbirds: How to Save on Travel Insurance - soNomad travel insurance

Bottom Line – Travel insurance

Whether you choose to spend the winter in the United States, Europe, Mexico, or another sun destination as a snowbird, it’s important to purchase adequate travel insurance tailored to your needs. While many credit cards offer attractive insurance plans, the duration of coverage is often not long enough for people aged 54 and over who travel for several months at a time. soNomad offers comprehensive, affordable coverage that saves you money.

As a snowbird, don’t forget to check your home insurance and renew your prescription drugs before you leave! And to save 2.5% on your purchases, be sure to pay with a credit card that has no conversion fees.

Annual fee
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With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

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Earning rate

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Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need travel cancellation insurance?

Travel plans often involve unforeseen circumstances. Travel cancellation insurance, offered by many credit cards, will protect you if your situation suddenly changes.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for Canadian Snowbirds?

soNomad is the ideal choice for Canadian snowbirds’ travel insurance, as this company offers comprehensive, affordable coverage specifically designed for long stays abroad. It includes protection for emergency medical care, pre-existing conditions, repatriation, and allows for significant savings thanks to reduced administration fees and customized offers. Getting a quote is simple and quick, and it’s possible to adjust deductibles and payment terms according to your needs.

How much does travel insurance cost?

The price of travel insurance depends on a number of factors, including the length of your trip, your destination, your age and your state of health.

Why take steps to obtain travel health insurance?

If you require medical care, it’s best to be covered abroad to avoid significant financial consequences. In some countries, hospitals may refuse to treat you if you don’t have insurance or money to pay your bill, according to the Government of Canada.

Health insurance: where to find the best prices for travel medical coverage?

Many credit cards offer advantageous insurance to cover emergency medical care and travel accident cases. We suggest you read our guide on the best credit cards for travel insurance.

However, most credit cards do not offer adequate coverage for a full winter abroad. As a snowbird, you will need to turn to insurance companies that offer options tailored to your needs.

Where can I get a visa to travel?

For information on visas, we invite you to consult the Government of Canada website, in the Country Travel Advice and Advisories section. You can also contact your travel agency for more details.

What is the Canadian Snowbird Act?

The Canadian Snowbird Act is a proposed US legislation aimed at allowing Canadian citizens aged 50 and over, who own or rent a residence in the United States, to extend their annual stay from 182 to 240 days without a visa. This measure aims to strengthen economic ties between Canada and the United States, while supporting the tourism sector and protecting local jobs.

Can I get a Travel Insurance Quote for Snowbirds?

Yes, simply visit the soNomad website and fill out the online form with your personal information and travel details to quickly receive a personalized offer, which you can compare with other protections if needed. This simple, quick, and transparent process allows you to choose insurance tailored to the needs of Canadian snowbirds, while benefiting from the best rates.

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With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
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  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
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Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

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