How does credit cards emergency medical insurance work?
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The finer points differ from one credit card to the next. They are not all equivalent.
To compare private insurance with the protection included with your card, see our soNomad travel insurance comparison.
The number of days covered, the maximum age and the eligible amounts vary from one policy to another.
The details you need to know
The amount of coverage
Most credit cards provide emergency medical coverage of up to $5,000,000 per person for the duration of the trip. That amount generally applies to all conditions combined, apart from the exclusions.
On top of that, in this time of pandemic, some credit card insurance policies cover hospitalization due to COVID-19.
For oral care, work is covered only between $500 and $3,000 depending on the nature of the accident. Most contracts also deny claims for root canal treatment.
Extensive cavities do not appear overnight, but the pain does. If you file a claim after a toothache, it would very likely be denied if the tooth could have been repaired before you left.
Finally, dental problems and fractures that result from a lack of follow-up, from neglect or from poor hygiene will not be covered either.
Who is covered
In most cases, all it takes to benefit from emergency medical insurance is to be the credit card holder. For the others, expenses have to be charged to the card, either partly or in full.
A spouse and children travelling with you are also covered. A spouse travelling alone, however, is protected only when listed as an authorized user on the credit card.
The definition of a dependent child differs from one company to another. For example, the infant must be at least 30 days old with the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®, while it is 15 days with the Desjardins Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard.
Here are examples of how coverage varies for a baby born abroad:
- National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®: a child born during the first 32 weeks of a risk-free pregnancy
- Desjardins Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard: a child born while travelling is automatically covered by the mother’s insurance policy under certain conditions
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: a child born outside the country will not be protected, even if the mother is properly insured
Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-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.
- $150
- Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
- Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now
on National Bank's website
Coverage based on age and trip length
Depending on the insurance company, coverage varies with the number of days and the person’s age.
People under 54 have the broadest coverage. It can extend up to 30 to 60 days with most credit card emergency medical insurance policies.
Beyond that age, the options are more limited and you may have to turn to a private company to meet your needs.
When a trip exceeds the number of days covered, protection is void for the whole trip. Private insurance covering the full length of your absence is therefore necessary.
Finally, extending the coverage is possible with certain institutions. Desjardins Insurance is one example.
What emergency medical insurance covers
Eligibility criteria
In general, these criteria are very similar from one card to another.
Here are the conditions to meet:
- having activated the credit card before leaving
- keeping an account in good standing
- being a Canadian resident
- being eligible for your province’s public health insurance plan (at the time of purchase and for the entire duration of the trip)
Ideally, you should contact the insurer before seeing a doctor and agreeing to any further treatment. If you are unconscious, someone else should ideally place the call.
If they cannot be reached, your claim could be denied, or a penalty will apply.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
Eligible expenses
Here are various eligible medical expenses:
- hospitalization costs
- incidental costs related to the hospital stay (transport, telephone, parking, and so on)
- emergency dental care (exclusions apply)
- medical aids (wheelchair, crutches, and so on)
- health professionals’ fees
- prescription medication
- medical transport and transfer costs (by road or by air)
- repatriation costs, including those of an escort if needed
- travel costs for a loved one to be at the insured person’s bedside (if the attending physician considers it important)
- costs to return the vehicle and the luggage
- handling of the remains in the event of death, as well as repatriation of the remains or ashes according to the wishes of the insured person and/or the family
- living expenses if the return to the province of residence is postponed
- follow-up care costs for up to 15 days after the return (accommodation, transport, medical aids, home nursing, and so on)
Throughout the care period, the insurer stays in close contact with you or with the physician in charge.
The insurer is within its rights to require repatriation in order to limit costs. As soon as your health allows it, the insurer can request a transfer so treatment continues in your province of residence.
What emergency medical insurance does not cover
By definition, emergency medical insurance covers the care required in the case of an unforeseeable and sudden accident or health problem abroad.
It is very important to note, however, that you will not be insured in the following cases.
Pre-existing conditions
This is defined as an illness, an injury, a condition or a symptom for which:
- a physician was consulted
- an examination took place
- there was a hospital stay
- a new medication or treatment was prescribed
- there was a change in medication dosage or in treatment
The insurer requires a stability period that varies with age; it is generally between 3 and 6 months.
Specific rules for cardiac, pulmonary and oncological problems are also worth noting.
Other ineligible situations
Various situations that are not eligible under emergency medical insurance:
- Competitions where money can be won (car racing, for example)
- Extreme sports (where a waiver has to be signed)
- Medication and alcohol abuse, as well as drug use
- War or an act of terrorism
- Cosmetic care
- Care that is not covered in your province of residence
- Complications following elective care
How to file a claim
First of all, you must always contact the insurer for approval before seeing a doctor and receiving treatment.
Then, if you need further care, the insurer will ask you for additional information such as your blood test results or your X-rays. Professionals affiliated with the insurance company review your file as it progresses.
When you are discharged from the hospital or the clinic, the insurer can provide a settlement form for the emergency medical care incurred during your trip. That way, you have nothing to pay.
That said, it is also possible to pay the costs and be reimbursed by cheque once the claim is processed.
You have to keep:
- all evidence of the accident or the illness
- the attending physician’s medical certificate confirming the illness and the care received
- proof of the planned trip length
- the invoices for the expenses claimed
The best credit card emergency medical insurance
The best cards stand out mainly on the total amount of protection, the trip period covered, the eligible age brackets and the amount that has to be charged to the card.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $115 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $130 |
Conclusion
Personally, I strongly recommend the National Bank World Elite® Mastercard®, which offers some of the best insurance coverage on the market and which protects us for emergency medical care simply by being a cardholder.
I have had to call on them several times but, thankfully, the service and the handling of my file were always excellent. Every claim went through very easily.
Exclusive
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-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.
- $150
- Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated
- First Year Annual Fee Rebate
- Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now
on National Bank's website