Top tips for choosing the best travel insurance for family trips

Learn how Pacific Blue Cross travel insurance has your family’s best interest in mind when travelling outside of British Columbia or Canada.

Planning a multigenerational family vacation can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’re taking the family to Hawaii for a family reunion, or going on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Antarctica, we know that the stress of planning, airports, time zones and creating an itinerary can make your vacation feel more like a chore, especially when you consider the needs and wants of different ages.

Combing through family travel insurance options doesn’t have to be added to your long to-do list. We understand that grandma’s idea of a vacation may be different than her grandchildren, and so are her coverage needs. Fortunately, our family trip insurance options ensure everyone is covered from medical emergencies to unexpected trip changes, so you can focus on making memories.

1. Choose a plan with comprehensive travel medical coverage.

One minute your kids are finally getting along in the vacation rental pool, and the next thing you know someone’s crying. As you attempt to figure out whether the injury is serious, the last thing on your mind should be whether you’ll be covered, or whether your coverage is enough.

For instance, extended stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the United States (US) can cost $10,000 per day and the cost of catastrophic claims in the US can exceed over several million dollars depending on the medical condition or injury. Each year, we pay over $20 million in travel medical claims. These figures illustrate why having adequate travel medical insurance is crucial for family trips where accidents can happen.

If you’re unsure about what kind of coverage limits your family may need consider the following factors:

• Destination: Medical costs vary by country, with some places, like the US, having extremely high expenses.
• Length of stay: Longer trips increase the likelihood of needing medical care, requiring higher coverage.
• Activities planned: High-risk activities may need higher coverage due to increased risk of injury. Know that some policies will not provide coverage on select high-risk sports and activities, so review your policy to understand your exclusions.
• Travel type: Remote location travelers may need higher limits due to potential medical evacuation costs.
• Personal health: Pre-existing conditions or history might need higher coverage limits. Check out our article on travelling with pre-existing conditions for more info.

What we cover:

Comprehensive Emergency Medical coverage with no deductible

All of our Emergency Medical travel plans provide a comprehensive $10 million for any unexpected medical emergencies that may arise on your trip. Unlike other providers, we never charge a deductible upon making a claim, meaning you’ll always pay $0 in a covered emergency. This simplifies the claims process, provides greater cost control, and eliminates barriers to seeking treatment so you can get back to spending time with your loved ones. 

Around-the-clock support in case of emergency

In time of need, you’ll also have reliable, around-the-clock support from Medi-Assist in over 100 languages. They’ll be able to help you with any sort of emergency you may have while you’re far from home, whether you’ve lost your passport or need to find the best hospital nearby.

Easy and flexible coverage changes

We also understand travel plans change. That’s why we offer flexible family coverage so you can easily make changes to your Emergency Medical plan at any time before your trip.

Extensions are just as easy. If you need to extend your trip for additional days of fun, call us for an easy extension at 604 419-2000 or 1 877 PAC-BLUE (722-2583) during our business hours. Your travel policy must cover all your out-of-province trip dates in order to be valid.

COVID-19 benefits

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic feels like forever ago, we still offer free coverage up to $10 million regardless of your vaccination status. If you have had a recent COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms, you could still be covered while you travel, if you purchase our pre-existing condition waiver. More info on our COVID-19 coverage is available on our Travel FAQ page.

2. Ensure you have enough non-medical coverage to cover costs if your travel plans change

The unpredictability of travel is what makes it exciting – you never know what unforgettable experience awaits. However, this unpredictability can also rack up your credit card bill. With Trip Cancellation, you’re covered for prepaid travel fees if, for any unexpected reason, your trip needs to be cancelled before you leave. Not sure how much to buy? Start by looking at how many non-refundable trip expenses you have and take it from there.

If your trip hits a snag and gets unexpectedly cut short after you’ve set off, Trip Interruption protection has also got you covered for any unused, prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, and can include costs such as return transportation and accommodation. Make sure you buy Trip Protection as soon as you book your trip, to maximize the value of your protection both before and during your travels.

What we cover:

Non-refundable prepaid expenses

If you have to cancel, cut short, or miss part of your trip, we’ll cover the non-refundable portion of your unused prepaid travel expenses in flexible denominations up to $5,000, depending on your coverage needs.

Additional transportation costs and vehicle return costs

We’ll take care of any extra expenses for the most affordable transportation (including schedule changes) to or from your destination if you need to change, extend, or adjust your trip. If you rented a vehicle and can’t return it as planned, we’ll cover the cost of getting it back to your home or the nearest rental agency, up to $5,000 depending on the level of Trip Protection purchased, as long as it’s arranged by Medi-Assist.

General expenses following an unexpected trip change

We’ll provide $300 per day per person to cover accommodation, meals, essential phone calls, and taxi rides if your trip is unexpectedly cancelled or interrupted. Whether you experience car or RV trouble that prevent or delay you from reaching your destination, flight delays on your way home, or other non-medical emergency that causes you to extend your stay unexpectedly, this allowance can help.

Baggage

Got a lot of baggage? We protect that too, up to $1,500. Whether you’re packing sunscreen, books, or your husbands CPAP, you’ll be covered for lost, stolen or damaged items. We also provide coverage to buy items while your baggage is delayed – so if your suitcase doesn’t make it onto the same plane as you, we’ll reimburse you for the essentials, including toiletries and clothing up to $500 when your bag is delayed for 12 hours or more, and up to $50 for stolen or lost passports and documents.

Assistance in the event of death while abroad

In the unimaginable event of death during your trip, we cover the cost of returning the deceased to their province of residence (excluding coffin expenses), to spare loved ones from this burden. Cremation or burial at the place of death is also included, with coverage up to $10,000.

3. Check the policy stability period for existing health conditions

Unstable medical conditions are not covered without pre-existing condition coverage, even if you have purchased emergency travel medical coverage. On most travel insurance policies, your condition must be stable, meaning has not worsened or changed, for as much as three or even six months before your trip start date depending on your age. If you have a condition you worry about while you travel, consider a plan with comprehensive coverage and a reduced stability period so you can enjoy peace of mind protection on your condition.

What we cover:

We offer the most coverage on pre-existing conditions when you add optional Pre-existing condition coverage to your Emergency Medical plan, with up to $10 million in coverage and just a seven-day stability period. This means, as long as your condition has not changed or worsened in the seven days leading up to your trip, you’ll be confidently covered.

Looking for more info on travelling with health conditions? Check out our article on travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, or review our travel contract at any time.

4. Look for ways to save

We know you’d probably rather put your money towards activities and unforgettable meals than your travel insurance, so look for ways to save. Here are a few easy ways you can start saving today without compromising on comprehensive coverage:

• Shop around: Use online comparison tools to evaluate different providers and policies.
• Consider Annual or Multi-trip policies: These are often more affordable if you travel multiple times per year. They also save you time and reduce the risk of forgetting coverage on last-minute trips.
• Check existing benefits: Review travel benefits provided by your credit card or employer to avoid paying for coverage you already have.
• Look for discounts: Some companies offer discounts for students, seniors and members.
• Choose the right level of coverage: Select a policy that matches your travel needs by considering the trip factors mentioned in step 1

What we offer:

Free coverage for kids

When you purchase travel insurance for one or two adults, each dependent child 21 years of age or younger who is subsequently added to your travel policy will receive free Emergency Medical coverage for up to $10 million. You can have peace of mind knowing that whether your kids are travelling with a grandparent, single parent, or both, they’re covered for free.

Save with an Annual plan

Making special memories with loved ones can be rewarding and fulfilling. However, it can also get exhausting - if you think you'll need a more peaceful vacation later in the year, consider purchasing an Annual plan to save money. It's the most cost-effective option if you travel more than once per year.

Save as a member

Have health and dental coverage with us too? You’ll always save 10% when you provide your policy and ID number at checkout.

Bundle your coverage

When you bundle Trip Protection with your Emergency Medical coverage, not only will you enjoy maximum protection against both medical emergencies and unexpected trip changes, but you’ll also save on overall costs. That means you’ll have more money to put towards a hotel with trustworthy wi-fi or a better waterslide.

5. Feel good about your coverage

Every purchase has an impact. Shopping responsibly helps to create a more equitable, sustainable and healthy world. Here are three questions you should consider to ensure your purchase decision is making a positive impact:

• How does my insurance provider support diversity, equity and inclusion?
• What community engagement and charitable activities does my insurance provider participate in?
• What are my insurance provider’s environmental sustainability practices?

How we’re making a difference:

Community engagement

As BC’s only not-for-profit health benefits provider, we support over 300 organizations improving health and wellbeing in our province each year. We’re also a proud travel insurance partner of Make-A-Wish Canada. For over thirty years, we’ve helped over 25,000 wish trips come true for kids with critical illness.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We are committed to promoting and protecting the diversity, equity and inclusion of our employees and members. We are proud of our partnership with Pride at Work and our sponsorship of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. We also offer free, easily accessible eLearning modules on a variety of topics to our members, employees, and the wider public.

Environmental sustainability

Since joining the Climate Smart Certification Program in 2012, we have been dedicated to actively reducing our environmental impact and promoting sustainability in our operations. We have reduced paper usage significantly, reduced electricity and heat usage, and installed two rooftop beehives with Alvéole, a Montreal-based urban beekeeping organization.

For more information on how we’re building healthy communities, check out our Annual Report.

Whether you’re travelling with your kids, grandkids, or in-laws, make sure you pack Pacific Blue Cross travel insurance. It’s quick and easy to get a quote, and you’ll save yourself the hassle of having one more thing on your to-do list.

Need help finding a plan that will work for your family? Talk to one of our travel insurance experts at 604 419-2000 or 1 877 PAC-BLUE (722-2583) Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm PST excluding statutory holidays. You can also send us an email, or contact your trusted broker.

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