National survey of Canadian travelers

More Canadians plan to hit the road and the skies this winter. Thirty-six percent of respondents to a Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THiA) survey say they are more likely to travel this winter after last year’s extreme temperatures. However, the nationally-representative survey of Canadians and their travel habits revealed that only 47 percent of Canadians always purchase travel insurance before embarking on a trip, with the majority of those people (56 percent) being 55 or older.

Respondents from Quebec (48 percent) and Ontario (36 percent) are more likely to travel this winter while residents of British Columbia reported the lowest expectation (24 percent) for increased travel after last year’s weather. Seventy percent of those travelling this winter are headed to warm destinations.

“Everyone deserves to have a carefree vacation, especially after the winter we experienced last year” said THiA President Alex Bittner. “We need to work harder to ensure that more Canadians are travelling smart this year. Travelling without appropriate coverage can cause a lot of stress given that the cost of a broken limb in the United States can be up to $25,000.”

Of statistics:

– Sixty-seven percent don’t know if provincial health plans cover out-of-province medical care.

– Forty percent don’t know what kind of travel insurance coverage they currently have.

– Fifty percent of those who experienced unexpected health concerns while travelling had travel health insurance: a positive given the cost of out-of-province medical care to our most popular destination, the United States.

– Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated that unexpected medical expenses of between $1,000 and $5,000 would represent a financial crisis and a majority of people (57 percent) would pay whatever necessary for a loved ones’ health care.

– Eighteen percent have inadvertently provided inaccurate health information on travel health insurance forms – something that is to be avoided as it can void an insurance policy.

– Fourteen percent have deliberately provided inaccurate health information on travel insurance applications to receive a lower rate or because the form was too onerous.

– Only 33 percent have reviewed medical forms with a physician when applying for travel heath insurance.

Fun facts:

– Canadians are a pretty laid back bunch with 60 percent identifying themselves as “relaxed sun-seekers.”

– Sixty-seven percent of Canadians consider themselves risk-averse.

– Seventeen percent have skinny dipped on vacation with the highest number of skinny-dippers hailing from Ontario (20 percent) and Quebec (18 percent) and the fewest coming from the Maritimes (13 percent) and British Columbia (15 percent).

“Travel health insurance should be more important than a bathing suit on vacation,” said Bittner. “Many people will already have some coverage through employers or credit cards and it’s important to understand existing coverage and ensure you have the necessary supplemental coverage.”