Travel insurance for Nepal: coverage, costs & tips

Nepal is the world’s great trekking destination, and the single most important thing to get right is coverage for altitude and for the helicopter rescue that altitude can require.

Why OHIP leaves a gap

OHIP pays little or nothing toward care outside Canada and never pays the hospital up front — most out-of-country coverage ended in 2020 — so the bill lands on you unless you carry travel insurance. Medical facilities are concentrated in Kathmandu, while trekkers spend their time days from the nearest hospital. Altitude sickness is a real and serious risk on routes to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna and beyond, and OHIP reimburses almost nothing, so both treatment and rescue would be yours to pay. In practice that means you could be asked to pay a hospital directly, then claim back only a small fraction from the province later — which is why emergency medical travel insurance does the heavy lifting here.

What emergency medical coverage includes

A travel medical plan for Nepal is built around sudden, unexpected illness and injury. Coverage typically pays for emergency hospital and physician care, diagnostics, prescription drugs related to the emergency, and ambulance service, plus emergency medical evacuation and, if needed, a medically supervised return to Canada. Just as important is the help behind the coverage: TripCovered provides 24/7 emergency assistance in multiple languages, so a single call can confirm coverage, direct you to an appropriate facility and arrange payment or transport. Telemedicine services can also connect you with a doctor for minor issues before they become an emergency room visit.

What to look for in a plan for Nepal

This is the critical point: many standard plans exclude trekking above a certain altitude. If your route climbs high, you need a plan or a sports and activities option that explicitly covers trekking to your maximum elevation and includes emergency helicopter evacuation. Confirm the altitude ceiling in writing before you book. Check the coverage amount, the deductible, how pre-existing conditions are handled, and whether the activities on your itinerary are listed or need an add-on. If you are 60 or over, you will complete a short medical questionnaire; answer it carefully and completely, because an inaccurate answer is a common reason claims are reduced or denied.

Helicopter evacuation and altitude

A helicopter rescue from a high trekking route can be one of the most expensive medical transports there is. Choose a plan with a high medical limit, confirmed high-altitude trekking coverage and clear emergency evacuation, and keep the 24/7 assistance number saved offline. Acclimatise properly and descend at the first signs of altitude illness.

What drives the cost

Price reflects your age, trip length, coverage amount, declared health conditions and any high-altitude or sports add-on. Those 60 and over complete a medical questionnaire that sets premium, not eligibility. Insure only your travel dates, and do not reduce the coverage limit given the cost of a Himalayan rescue.

Before you buy: a quick checklist

Confirm the plan covers your full travel dates to and from Nepal, choose a coverage limit you are comfortable with given local medical costs, declare any health conditions honestly, and add a sports and activities option if your plans call for it. Save the 24/7 assistance number somewhere you can reach it offline, and keep a copy of your policy details with you. A few minutes of setup now is what turns a stressful emergency abroad into a phone call someone else helps you handle.

When you are ready, compare your options and get a quote for Nepal so the coverage matches your trip length, your activities and your health before you leave.