To the point
Do you spend your winters abroad? Discover our best tips for saving on travel insurance for a long stay and finding the best value for money.
Every year, thousands of Canadians flee the winter cold to sunny destinations like Florida, Mexico or other foreign countries. This trend is particularly popular with retirees. Since a snowbird’s winter trip often lasts several months, choosing an insurance policy is an important step in planning a long-term stay.
Canadian snowbirds - How to choose the right long-term travel insurance
As a snowbird, when the time comes to choose your travel insurance, several factors will be considered in selecting your coverage:
- Age
- Health and pre-existing conditions
- Travel destination
- Travel time
- Coverage to be included in the policy
- Exclusions from coverage
You may already be dealing with a particular provider for your travel insurance, as there are many to choose from: Blue Cross, CAA, Desjardins and many others. To get the best value for money, it’s a good idea to revisit the various offers on the market and opt for a new insurance policy offering the coverage best suited to your needs.
For snowbirds, soNomad offers a travel insurance adapted for long stays, at competitive prices.
Credit card insurance
Many credit cards offer travel insurance with coverage for the following events:
- Emergency medical care
- Flight delay
- Lost or stolen luggage
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Travel Accident
- Theft or damage to rental cars
- Hotel burglary
However, the duration of some of these coverages shortens with advancing age (sometimes from age 54). While some cards, like the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, offer extended emergency medical coverage, most credit cards don’t offer adequate coverage for a full winter abroad. As snowbirds, you need to turn to other insurers who offer customized options tailored to your needs.
Canadian Snowbirds - Destination travel insurance
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 in 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
Numerous features set soNomad insurance apart from the rest and make it an advantageous option for snowbirds, offering in particular:
- COVID-19 coverage at no extra cost
- Coverage tailored to pre-existing medical conditions
- A unique deposit option to guarantee rates
- Annual multi-trip options
- No administrative fees for date changes or cancellations
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 in the online form easily. You can then get an instant quote and pay your insurance premium directly online. If you have any questions or need more information, contact soNomad at 1-855-360-7225, available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
soNomad: Regarding COVID-19
All soNomad travel insurance programs include COVID-19 coverage at no extra cost, provided you are symptom-free before your departure date and meet the policy’s stability requirements. For more information, visit this page.
Bottom Line
Whether you choose to spend the winter in the USA, Europe, Mexico or another sun destination as a snowbird, it’s important to take out 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.
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