Insurance for US riders travelling to Canada

[newventurer]

Disclosure: I am not an insurance expert and the findings reported here are only my personal experience and should not be relied on for your specific situation ::024::

I called Progressive, my motorcycle insurance carrier, this morning to question if anything special was needed for the trip through Canada next year. She stated that while my current coverages protect me in Canada, I do need to have a Canadian ID card which she promised to mail me within 5 days. Good, check that off the list.

 

[Twitch]

Thanks, didn't know that.

Geico confirms same.

 

[nondairycreamer]

Our passport is not enough identification? And the insurance company provides a Canadian ID?

 

[newventurer]

I believe this is purely an Insurance issue and they do provide the card for free.

 

[Buckeye56]

It is proof that you have insurance coverage in Canada with your US insurance company.

 

[tc9988]

Medical Insurance


Make sure you have out of country medical insurance. In spite of what some may have heard Canadian Health care is not free If you are not insured and need medical care you will pay.

For example in BC an ambulance ride will cost you $530, if you're unfortunate enough to require a helicopter that will cost you $2746 per hour.

 

[rem]

Excellent advice. The actual medical insurance will probably be fairly cheap, because medical costs in Canada are much cheaper than in the U. S. However, make sure that your insurance coverage includes TRANSPORTATION. As TC9988 pointed out, it could be private and is expensive. The Yukon is pretty reasonable, but some of the Provinces are very pricey. Get coverage for ambulance and medevac. If you have to get flown to a hospital, it will be expensive. Let your riding buddy know that you are insured, and where you keep your documentation (jacket, wallet, etc.). I'm sure most of you have done this before. Just make sure you're covered. R

 

[colorider]

Here's another little tidbit, for those of us on Medicare......

http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/5/medicare.shtml

 

[tomatocity]

And another...

Geos Medivac
https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/medivacorder.aspx?refid=S

 

[Twitch]

Make sure you have out of country medical insurance. In spite of what some may have heard Canadian Health care is not free If you are not insured and need medical care you will pay.

More good advice and information on the medical, thanks.

I found this website where you can get some online quotes. I only did one of the quotes, max coverage, no deductible and it was just under a couple hundred dollars for me. I’ll look around some more and probably make some calls. The scope of transportation coverage included in these plans wasn’t very clear.

http://www.arbetovinsurance.com/visitorstocanada

 

[mykrysys]

This is good too...

http://medjetassist.com/Libraries/Rules_and_Regulations/motorcyclerr.sflb.ashx

 

[Bill310]

I wouldn't be recommending that coverage. I am aware of only one case and it has been handled very poorly.

MedJet has handled every instance when my friends have needed their help, anywhere worldwide promptly .

I have experience in this area and have had MedJet for years.

One more thing if you are travelling in more remote areas of Canada not as much Alaska, consider a sat phone and taking an advanced first aid course. It is lousy to come across a badly injured rider and see their ill prepared riding partners standing around not knowing what to do.

You could be waiting a long time for an ambulance to arrive and it is lousy to watch your riding partner die because you can't get cell service, or have the appropriate first aid skills to stabilize your friend until help arrives.

And another...

Geos Medivac
https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/medivacorder.aspx?refid=S

 

[Buckeye56]

Medex is another option that our employer works with. My wife was injured on a MC tour in Brasil and they not only monitored treatment in country recommending which medical facility we went to covering all expenses, but they also upgraded her ticket home to first class so she could keep her leg supported. These policies are not expensive and you really should not travel outside the US without them.

 

[elizilla]

I live 30 minutes from the Canadian border and cross over all the time. I have never been asked to produce proof of insurance for my vehicle for Canada. My insurance does cover me there - I go often so I make sure I have it. But the Canadians don't seem too concerned about hassling people for vehicle insurance paperwork.

In 2006 I rode through Europe and had a very different experience - once we left the EU, every border guard wanted to see insurance paperwork, and since the languages vary, they wanted to see that proof of insurance printed on a green card. The UK insurance company had provided me with a white card, and having the wrong color card caused hassles at every border. But Canada? They don't care. Get it for your protection, sure. But don't worry about crossing the border.

Another border hassle I can warn you of... turn off your cell phone. Because at least in the populated areas near the border, people will call you and text you and it will get through, and the phone companies will make you pay through the nose for that. It's one thing if I decided I need to make the call badly enough to pay the cost. But I don't like to pay those prices for spam texts or for people who call randomly "just to chat".

 

[tc9988]

I live 30 minutes from the Canadian border and cross over all the time. I have never been asked to produce proof of insurance for my vehicle for Canada. My insurance does cover me there - I go often so I make sure I have it. But the Canadians don't seem too concerned about hassling people for vehicle insurance paperwork.

In 2006 I rode through Europe and had a very different experience - once we left the EU, every border guard wanted to see insurance paperwork, and since the languages vary, they wanted to see that proof of insurance printed on a green card. The UK insurance company had provided me with a white card, and having the wrong color card caused hassles at every border. But Canada? They don't care. Get it for your protection, sure. But don't worry about crossing the border.

Another border hassle I can warn you of... turn off your cell phone. Because at least in the populated areas near the border, people will call you and text you and it will get through, and the phone companies will make you pay through the nose for that. It's one thing if I decided I need to make the call badly enough to pay the cost. But I don't like to pay those prices for spam texts or for people who call randomly "just to chat".

Canadian Border Services may not care, but if you are stopped by the police for any reason you will be asked to produce proof of liability insurance. They care