A road trip from Montreal to Toronto, Banff and Vancouver easily means a month on the road. Most travellers plan the itinerary, book the lodging and budget for gas. What many forget: checking whether their medical coverage follows the route.
The short answer: not entirely. Your provincial plan provides basic protection outside your province, but the gaps are real, and potentially costly, like an 11-day stay in intensive care that can exceed $44,000. Here is what you need to know before you leave.
Canada’s health system is run province by province. Each one sets its own rates for an emergency room visit, a night in intensive care or an ambulance ride. These rates vary widely: a helicopter evacuation from a trail in the Alberta Rockies can exceed $10,000, depending on the distance and the provider.
For international visitors to Canada, the picture is even starker: without private coverage, a single emergency room visit can generate a bill of several thousand to several tens of thousands of dollars. Canadian hospitals charge non-residents at the real rate, with no administrative cap.
The case of Canadian residents
Many Canadian travellers assume their provincial health card covers them fully everywhere in the country. That is partly true: in an emergency, your province reimburses care received elsewhere. But it reimburses at its rates, not those of the facility that treated you.
If an Ontario or British Columbia hospital charges beyond what your plan considers reasonable, the difference is on you. Without complementary coverage, that gap can reach several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the type of care.
What RAMQ does not cover outside Quebec
For Quebec residents, RAMQ’s limits outside the province deserve particular attention. The board covers medically necessary emergency care in other Canadian provinces and territories, but only up to what it would have paid for equivalent care in Quebec.
Several expenses remain completely outside RAMQ coverage:
Ground ambulances (billing varies by province, and can exceed $800 in Alberta)
Air medical evacuations (several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars)
Medical repatriation to Quebec
Certain specialized care or incidental hospital fees
Lodging costs for a companion during a prolonged hospitalization
Western Canada draws millions of visitors each year for hiking, skiing, mountain biking and climbing. These are precisely the activities that basic insurance policies most often exclude, or cover with high deductibles.
A rescue helicopter in Banff National Park or on the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb is not ordered lightly: air evacuation rates in Canada range between $5,000 and $20,000 depending on the distance, the type of aircraft and the patient’s condition. If your policy excludes high-risk activities, you cover the full cost.
Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island offer coastal scenery worth the detour. But several of these regions are hours of driving from the nearest medical centre. In winter, road conditions complicate emergency response and lengthen evacuation times.
A medical transport from Newfoundland to a specialized centre in Halifax or Montreal represents a logistical and medical cost that few travellers anticipate. The medical repatriation coverage takes on its full meaning here.
Remote regions
Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and certain rural areas of Quebec or Ontario share a common issue: distance to care. Hundreds of kilometres from a hospital, medical transport is not a marginal risk: it is the most likely expense in a serious accident. Evacuation costs in these regions can exceed $30,000.
Trip duration: the 30 or 60-day trap
A full loop (Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver, then back via the Maritimes) can easily stretch over 5 to 8 weeks. That is where a constraint often read in fine print appears: most travel insurance policies impose a maximum duration of 30 or 60 days per trip.
A long road trip in the Rockies, like along the Icefields Parkway, often exceeds the duration covered by a standard policy. Source: Adobe Stock.
If your road trip exceeds this limit without an extension or an annual policy, you find yourself without protection for the excess portion. This coverage gap can occur precisely when you are farthest from your province of residence.
Before you leave, check two things: the maximum duration per trip in your policy, and whether it can be extended if your itinerary grows along the way.
Is your credit card enough?
Several premium credit cards include travel insurance: the best ones cover up to 60 days of emergency medical travel. That is a solid base for short stays, but the gaps are the same as for any standard policy: high-risk outdoor activities, repatriation, ground medical transport.
Another frequent limit: the card’s coverage applies only if you used that card to pay part of the trip (flight, hotel, car rental). A road trip in a personal vehicle, with no upfront transport charge on the card, may not trigger the coverage. Read the activation conditions carefully.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
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 a 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.
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® Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.
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® À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.
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TM À LA CARTE TRAVEL is a trademark of National Bank of Canada. The À la carte Travel agency is owned by Transat Distribution Canada Inc. and holds a Quebec permit (No. 753141).
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* Mastercard® World Elite®
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best Mastercard credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card was voted best travel credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.
Every year, Milesopedia reviews credit card offers from major financial institutions and establishes its Ranking based on over 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offer, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.
Certain restrictions apply. For more information, see the Rewards Plan section or the Plan Rules applicable to point accumulation.
Grace period: No interest is charged on purchases made during the month if the cardholder pays the full balance of their account within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances and balance transfers. Minimum payment: if your account balance is less than $10, you must pay the balance in full. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is 5% of your account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. If you reside outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. Account statement: an account statement is sent monthly.
Table of examples of credit fees calculated over a 30-day period
Annual interest rate
$500
$3,000
22.49%
$9.24
$55.45
20.99%
$8.63
$51.76
13.2%
$5.53
$33.16
9.2%
$3.78
$22.68
*Variable interest rate in effect as of September 1, 2021.
Balance transfers and cash advances are subject to National Bank credit approval. Each amount transferred cannot be less than $250.
Exclusive to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Presentation of the physical credit card and boarding pass is required to access the lounge. The National Bank® Lounge is accessible to customers traveling on international flights only (excluding flights to Canada and the United States). You benefit from free and unlimited access with one guest and two children aged 12 and under. Until October 4, 2026 (date subject to change), customers can enter the National Bank Lounge three hours before their flight departure time. From October 5, 2026 (date subject to change), access will be authorized for a maximum duration of 2 hours (3 hours for customers who hold a Private Banking 1859® World Elite® Mastercard® credit card). National Bank customers who are not World Elite ® Mastercard ® cardholders can also access the current lounge based on current rates and benefit from a 25 % discount on these rates : 63,24 $ taxes included for adults (excluding discount) $40.24 taxes included for children aged 2 to 12 (excluding discount) free for children under 2 (excluding discount) The entry fee is subject to change without notice and is the responsibility of the lounge operator.
Subject to providing the required supporting documents in the manner and within the prescribed timeframe. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard (Cardholder) whose account is in good standing can request a « Travel Fee Reimbursement ». « Account in good standing » means an account linked to the credit card that does not violate the Credit Card Agreement in any way and on which no restrictions apply. For example, and without limitation, the associated annual fees must have been paid in full. The maximum reimbursement of $150 can be requested from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Eligible expenses are: airport parking baggage fees seat selection airport lounge access worldwide airline ticket upgrades A reimbursement request must be made within 60 days of the purchase date. Travel expenses must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card account. The maximum reimbursement of $150 is applicable per account. Please allow up to 7 business days for the reimbursement to be processed from the date your request is submitted. National Bank reserves the right to request additional supporting documents for validation purposes (e.g., invoices). You must keep all receipts and supporting documents for a period of 12 months from the date you made your reimbursement request. An unused reimbursement in one year cannot be carried over to the next year. You can make your request online at rewards.nbc.ca or by calling 1-800-341-8083 (toll-free) for an agent to assist you with your travel fee reimbursement request.
Point accumulation on grocery and restaurant spending depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, across all categories. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The 5 points per dollar accumulation is valid for the first $2,500 of gross monthly purchases charged to the account. Beyond this amount, eligible grocery and restaurant spending will earn 2 points per dollar. The calculation of the gross monthly purchase amount is based on monthly billing. A grocery purchase means a purchase made at a merchant whose primary business is selling food, such as a grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, fruit store, or specialty food store. Meal kit subscriptions and meal delivery services are eligible. Therefore, this definition excludes, among others, retail stores and big-box stores whose primary business is selling non-food items. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. A restaurant purchase means a purchase made at a restaurant, including quick-service restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs, and taverns. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
These protections apply if the purchases or rental are paid for in part with the card before departure, except, if applicable, for out-of-province medical-hospital insurance for which it is not necessary to charge the purchase of an à la carte trip and for baggage delay protection where the full cost of transport must have been charged to the card. All these protections apply to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or their dependent children when they (spouse and dependent children) travel with the cardholder. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, provided the manufacturer’s warranty exists and is valid in Canada. Certain conditions, limitations and restrictions apply. For more information and details regarding your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. See all credit card terms and conditions.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your gas or electric charging purchases at a gas station or certain big-box stores. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan® terms and conditions document.
Recurring bill payments are defined as payments made monthly or regularly that are automatically charged by the merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard. Not all merchants offer recurring payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Therefore, some payments may not qualify for accelerated reward points.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your eligible purchases through the À la carte TravelTM agency section of our À la carte RewardsTM site.
For example, if you spend $400 monthly on groceries, $200 on gas, $100 on recurring bills and $150 on other purchases, the $850 spent will generate 2,750 points, broken down as follows: 2,000 points for grocery spending (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, which is less than $2,500), 400 points for gas spending, 200 points for recurring bills and 150 points for other purchases.
Insurance up to $1,000 in case of breakage, loss or theft of mobile devices for a maximum period of 2 years following the date of purchase. Subject to purchasing the device with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or a phone service subscription paid by recurring payments from your National Bank Platinum Mastercard starting September 1, 2022. For all conditions, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Annual fee
Primary card$150
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$80,000
Household$150,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
2xGas & EV
2xBills & recurring payments
2xTravel
1xAll spending
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
Which protections to check before you go
Whether it is an interprovincial trip or a visit to Canada from abroad, here are the four protections to confirm before departure:
Emergency medical insurance valid everywhere in Canada: confirm the coverage applies with no geographic restriction across all provinces and territories, with sufficient limits (at least $1 million).
Medical transport and repatriation: this protection covers transport to the nearest care facility and, if needed, repatriation to your province or country of residence.
Outdoor activity coverage: hiking, alpine skiing, mountain biking, kayaking. State the planned activities when you buy the policy to confirm they are included.
Trip cancellation and interruption: if unforeseen circumstances (illness, death of a loved one, extreme weather) force you to cancel or cut the trip short, this protection reimburses non-recoverable costs.
Survey: how do you insure yourself?
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soNomad: an option suited to travellers in Canada
soNomad offers coverage designed for Canadian interprovincial travellers and international visitors to Canada. The platform lets you set up coverage in three steps (destination, dates, chosen protection level) and get a price in minutes, with no intermediary.
The plans cover emergency medical care, medical transport and repatriation, as well as cancellation and interruption options. For foreign visitors to Canada, soNomad also offers coverage suited to visa or work permit requirements.
Customer service: 1-855-360-7225, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Frequently asked questions
Does RAMQ cover care received in another Canadian province?
Yes, RAMQ reimburses medically necessary emergency care received elsewhere in Canada. However, the reimbursement is limited to Quebec rates. If the treating facility charges beyond that amount, the difference is on you. Ambulances, air evacuations and medical repatriation are not covered by RAMQ.
Does my credit card insurance cover an interprovincial road trip?
Generally yes, but with conditions. The medical coverage on premium cards often applies up to 60 days and may require that you used the card to pay part of the trip. Exclusions for high-risk activities (off-trail hiking, backcountry skiing) are common. Check your card’s exact conditions before you leave.
How much does an air medical evacuation cost in Canada?
Rates vary by region and distance, but a helicopter evacuation in the Rockies or a remote region generally runs between $5,000 and $20,000, sometimes more. In the northern territories, amounts can exceed $30,000. These costs are not covered by provincial plans.
Do international visitors need insurance to visit Canada?
International visitors do not have access to the provincial health system free of charge. An emergency room visit can cost several hundred dollars; a prolonged hospitalization easily reaches tens of thousands of dollars. Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended, and even mandatory for some visa types.
Do you need special insurance for outdoor activities in Canada?
Not necessarily a separate policy, but you must make sure your contract explicitly includes the planned activities. Hiking, alpine skiing, mountain biking and climbing are often excluded or subject to special conditions in basic policies. Declare your activities when you buy the policy to get the right coverage.
What is the maximum duration covered by standard travel insurance?
Most single-trip policies cover up to 30 or 60 consecutive days. Beyond that, coverage stops if you have not bought an annual plan or requested an extension. For a multi-province road trip over 4 weeks, check this cap before departure and plan an extension if needed.
Is travel insurance necessary if I only travel within Canada?
Yes, for the same reasons as abroad: the costs not covered by your provincial plan (ambulances, evacuations, repatriation, care beyond your province’s rates) can be substantial. Coverage is generally cheaper than for an international trip, which makes it an accessible protection for a real benefit.
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$469Annual fee rebated$120Total$589Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa Infinite rewards credit cards in Canada. Its welcome offer lets you earn up to 70,000 BMO Rewards points, for a total value of up to $1,150*.
It also includes a monthly statement credit for streaming services, an annual $50 lifestyle credit, and no annual fee for the first year (a $120 value)*.
With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card, you also get:
5x BMO Rewards points for every dollar spent on groceries, meal delivery or takeout, rideshare, public transit, and gas*
1 BMO Rewards point for every dollar spent on all other purchases*
10% more points when you add an authorized user to your account*
Mobile device insurance offering coverage up to $1,000*
The Pay with Points feature, which allows you to redeem your points on recent purchases starting at $1*
Six months of Instacart+ membership plus a monthly $10 Instacart credit with an eligible card*
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Annual fee
Primary card$120
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$60,000
Household$100,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
5xTransit
5xGas & EV
5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$1,128
2nd Year Value$365
Travel insurance
Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 21 days
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
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Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.
