Travel insurance in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa travellers need their own emergency medical travel insurance because OHIP pays little or nothing outside Canada and never advances funds. A Canadian plan from an insurer like TripCovered covers hospital, physician and emergency transport abroad, priced on age, trip length and coverage amount.
Key takeaways
- OHIP's out-of-country program ended in 2020 — assume no overseas coverage.
- Emergency medical pays for hospital, doctor, prescriptions and emergency evacuation.
- Under 60, no medical questions; 60+ complete a questionnaire that sets price, not eligibility.
- Pick Worldwide, Excluding-USA or Within-Canada to fit your destination.
- Buy and activate coverage before you leave the province.
Oshawa anchors the east end of the GTA, and residents here fly out of Pearson or Billy Bishop, drive across the border, or head south for the winter. On any trip outside Canada, your Ontario health card does far less than most people expect.
What OHIP does and does not do
OHIP is designed for care within Ontario. It has never paid foreign hospital bills in advance, and the small out-of-country reimbursement it once offered was discontinued in 2020. If you are hospitalized in the United States or overseas, you face the full bill, and the hospital expects payment or an insurer’s guarantee before treatment. Because foreign medical costs — especially American ones — can reach six figures quickly, emergency medical travel insurance is the practical protection every traveller needs.
Inside an emergency medical plan
These plans cover the sudden and unexpected: hospital admission, physician and specialist fees, diagnostic tests, emergency prescriptions, and emergency air transport or repatriation back to Canada. Our underwriting partner, a Canadian insurer operating since 1964, offers emergency medical coverage in Worldwide, Excluding-USA and Within-Canada forms, with an optional Sports & Activities add-on for higher-risk pursuits. There is no age limit to buy, and 24/7 assistance is offered in multiple languages, so help is a phone call away wherever you are.
Choosing coverage that fits
Match the plan to your trip. Pick the coverage region for your actual destination — an Excluding-USA plan is cheaper when your travels do not touch the United States. Decide between a single-trip policy for one holiday and a multi-trip annual plan if you leave the province several times a year. If you plan activities like skiing or scuba diving, look at the Sports & Activities option. The goal is coverage sized to how and where you really travel.
Useful add-ons
Beyond the medical core, Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage protects prepaid, non-refundable costs if you cannot travel or have to cut a trip short. Baggage coverage and Rental Car Protection suit longer or self-drive trips. Services such as telemedicine and MyFlyt flight-delay support often come alongside plans. Add only what your trip warrants — there is no benefit in paying for coverage you will not use.
Price and timing
Your premium depends on age, trip length, the coverage amount you select and, for travellers 60 and over, your health answers. Because of that, no honest flat price exists — a fair number comes only from your real trip details. The firm rule is to buy before you depart Ontario; coverage cannot be started once you are already abroad or after something has happened.
What to do if you need care abroad
Keep your policy number and the 24/7 assistance number within reach, and call the assistance team before non-emergency treatment whenever possible. They can guide you to an appropriate facility, arrange a guarantee of payment so you are not stuck paying up front, and open your claim right away. Keep every receipt, medical report and incident report, because a documented claim is a smoother claim. With TripCovered, claims are handled directly, and the assistance line operates around the clock in multiple languages — useful when an emergency happens overnight in another time zone.
The fine print on pre-existing conditions
These plans cover the sudden and unexpected, so pay attention to how yours treats pre-existing conditions. Many require a condition to be stable for a set period before you travel, meaning no new symptoms, treatment changes or medication adjustments during that window. Travellers 60 and over complete a medical questionnaire that sets the premium; answer it accurately, since an incorrect answer can jeopardize a claim. If a term is unclear, confirm it before you leave Oshawa.
Planning a trip out of Oshawa? Get a quote and compare your options before you leave.
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Purchase now →Frequently asked questions
Does OHIP help if I get sick in another country?
Not meaningfully. Ontario cancelled its out-of-country reimbursement in 2020 and never paid foreign bills up front, so you are responsible for the full cost abroad. Private emergency medical insurance is what covers those bills.
What if I only travel within Canada?
Your OHIP card covers most hospital and physician care in other provinces, but not everything — air ambulance and prescriptions can be billed to you. A Within-Canada emergency medical plan covers those gaps at a modest cost.
I'm over 60 with a health condition — can I still get covered?
Usually yes. At 60 and over you complete a medical questionnaire that sets your premium rather than deciding eligibility, so many pre-existing conditions can be covered. Answer the questions accurately so a claim is not jeopardized later.
TripCovered is a licensed insurance referral service operating in Ontario. Insurance is administered by North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd., doing business as TuGo®, a licensed insurance broker in all provinces and territories. The issuer of the contract is Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. and Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. This website provides general information only and is not a contract of insurance. Always read your policy wording before you travel.