Emergency Medical Insurance for Canada cruising

jeffandi

Has anybody found/used a travel insurance company that provides emergency medical insurance and emergency transport while cruising in Canada from the U.S.? So far, the companies I've contacted only provide coverage if you've booked a trip with a Cruise line or Charter service - not for private boat use.

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:10 pm Post subject:

When travelling to the US from Canada we get our medical insurance added to our CAA/AAA policy which also covers emergency situations on the road but we have never taken our boat across.

Rob

thataway · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 10:50 pm Post subject:

Our secondary insurance (thru Cal Pers) has emergency medical coverage world wide (even where our Medicare insurance will not cover).

We are members of Family Motor Coach Association, which includes medivac transport for members. We have never had to use it. However a C Brat had to be medically evacuated out of Oak Creek Canyon by helicopter, to Flagstaff. Then flew via medical air ambulance to San Diego about a week later. The bills were picked up by the Family Motor Coach Association medical evaluation insurance. FMCA also provided a driver to take the motor coach and the towed C Dory, driving to San Diego. (I took their C Dory to Antelope Canyon, and Marie drove our C Dory following, to pick me up after we had the boat secure on its trailer. ]
This brings up that our Admirals, or second mates (however you view this) capable of driving our C Dorys to safety in case of an emergency. Marie had practice doing this when she had to single handily sail our 62 foot Ketch about 60 miles to get medical help when I had a paralyzed leg due to a back injury.

This is a very important subject. We had a friend who was on a Viking Cruise on the Rhine River. He had a sudden onset of neurological disease, and had to be hospitalized in a coma in a German hospital. The cruise line sent an English/German speaking lady to check on him (and his wife) to resolve any translation issues, since the physicians spoke little English. Eventually he had to be air medicvaced to the nearest major hospital to his home. The Medivac flight alone was over $120,000--This included a jet with pilot and co pilot, one refuel stop. There were two paramedics/RN's on board, and enough room for his wife. All expenses were paid for by his travel insurance. By the time the German Hospital bills were included the cost was over $200,000!

jeffandi · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:47 am Post subject:

jeffandi · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:57 am Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 12:07 pm Post subject:

Patty here. We use Emergency Plus, it's about $200 a year and covers both of us anywhere in the world. We learned about it from Bill and El who had occasion to use it a few years ago and their story is similar to the one shared by Dr. Bob-covered everything!

thataway · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 2:32 pm Post subject:

Another place to look for this type of insurance is DAN (Divers Alert Network).. I don't. have experience with it recently, since I had to stop SCUBA diving. But they still have a membership travel insurance, and Medivac insurance.

There are any number of plain "insurance" and emergency Medical insurances on the internet. I don't have personal experience with any. Some do have a physician on standby or a hospital ER on standby. I do have some experience in this type of service from the provider end.

jeffandi · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:04 pm Post subject:

Thank you Pat and Dr. Bob, again, for your input and suggestions - it's certainly opened up more options that I had!
What an feature to have available this invaluable source of information from the well of knowledge and experience we find in the C-Brat community!

Phil Barnes · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:43 pm Post subject:

You can also check out DAN.org. Divers Alert Network. Dive Accident Insurance.

We have used that for boat trips to Canada but fortunately never had a claim.

They advertise:
Covers diving, nondiving and named water sports accidents & injuries
Pays 100% of eligible accident medical expenses up to US$500,000
Available for divers age 70 and over in the U.S. and Canada (as well as younger ages)
Join DAN first, then add your insurance
Plans recognized worldwide
Annual coverage

They also sell travel insurance to members using AIG.
Inexpensive for an annual membership/policy

That is the extent of my knowledge. They have a good website. About $75/yr.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 7:48 pm Post subject:

Very interesting and important subject. My wife and I are with Kaiser. I'm under Medicare and the Senior Advantage Plan (at no cost). I opened a chat session with Kaiser this morning. They said I'm fully covered world-wide, which surprised me. I asked further what if I was to be airlifted in an emergency. They said, covered, the most I'd have to pay is a $50 co-pay. If this is all true, do Blue Cross and other health agencies have the same policy? If not, this would be a major selling point for Kaiser I'd think.

jeffandi · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 11:36 am Post subject:

Thank you for the tip on DAN, Phil. Checked their website, however, and looks like the $500,000 medical coverage is for dive-related accidents only. Non-dive related accidents have only $30,000 coverage.
I did find a website, "Best Quote Travel Insurance", that compares all the Canadian Insurance companies that offer emergency medical coverage to visitors to Canada.
MSH International appears to have the best rates on the list.
Dianne and I are both on Medicare and we can buy $500,000 emergency medical coverage (each) for roughly $1500 for a 5 month period.
I know, Kaiser's plan sounds like the best to own if you can.
All of the companies/plans I've looked at offer emergency transport between hospitals, but none - from what I could tell, offered coverage for emergency airlift transport from a remote location (i.e., PLI, Desolation Sound, etc).
There is a company, however, call Global Rescue that does offer that service - in fact they are used by companies like National Geographic. They also offer other features in their coverage, but do NOT offer emergency medical (healthcare) coverage.
For 5 months coverage for us it was about $950.
So if one wants the whole enchilada of emergency coverage it appears you need to go with 2 separate companies.
Of note, also, I found that a Canadian company called C-Tow offers more comprehensive coverage in Canadian waters than BoatUS.

thataway · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 12:41 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 1:23 pm Post subject:

As I am preparing for my trip after Friday Harbor to Princess Louisa Inlet, I'm looking into international emergency medical insurance. I have medicare as of this past March, and it does NOT cover international emergency care. I have a supplement through Mutual of Omaha, and while it covers 80%, it has a lifetime maximum of $50,000. (Not much in today's health care costs!) I've come across GeoBlue. It's by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. My stepdaughter has traveled a number of times internationally, and the last time she was not with a group and on her own for emergency medical insurance coverage. She used GeoBlue as she said it had good reviews. I like what I see for coverage, including up to $500,000 for transportation/evacuation. FWIW, for a $1,000,000 policy for two weeks coverage, $500 deductible a 65 yo man, the premium costs is $99.40. There are other plans I saw for cheaper, but this seemed to have very good coverage. Colby

thataway · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 3:58 pm Post subject:

jeffandi · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 10:05 pm Post subject:

Hello Colby - thanks for responding to my post!
I just checked out the website and GeoBlue, unfortunately, says they don't offer coverage for Washington residents.
A number of Canadian companies that insure visitors to Canada can be found on Best Quote Insurance website.