Canada Super Visa Applicants: Your Guide to Emergency Medical Insurance
You’re coming to Canada as a super visa holder to be with your children or grandchildren and you must have proof of a private health insurance policy upon arrival. What do you need to know?
Super Visa applicants must have a minimum of $100,000 emergency medical coverage for a minimum of one year from their date of entry and it must be renewed when that policy expires. Super visa medical insurance is generally renewed yearly if holders are remaining in Canada for up to 5 years per visit.
Western Financial Group, a 100% Canadian company, can help you navigate your car, condo, tenant, and medical travel insurance as a newcomer to Canada on a super visa.
Did you know? TuGo is Western Financial Group's trusted travel insurance provider. TuGo offers emergency medical insurance for Canada super visa applicants.
Here’s what you need to know about emergency private medical coverage as a Canada super visa applicant
What is emergency medical coverage for Canada super visa holders?
A requirement for super visa applicants is that they must have a minimum $100,000 coverage in private medical insurance that’s valid for at least one year from their date of entry into Canada. If your health insurance will expire before you leave Canada, you will need to renew or maintain your health insurance during your stay.
Your private health care insurance can be from a Canadian insurance company or an insurance company outside Canada that is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) under the Insurance Companies Act to provide accident and sickness insurance.
Can provincial or territorial public healthcare systems cover Canada super visa holders?
- Super visa holders are not eligible for public health insurance in Canada’s provinces and territories. To meet visa requirements and protect against medical costs, super visa holders must buy and maintain private emergency medical insurance that meets the Canadian government’s criteria for the entire duration of their stay. The minimum is $100,000 in private coverage for each year of their stay of up to 5 years per visit.
How much does emergency medical insurance cost Canada super visa applicants?
Super visa private medical insurance policies typically provide $100,000 to $1 million in coverage.
The yearly cost of private medical insurance for Canada super visa holders in 2025 ranges from about $1,700 to $4,600, depending on age, health status, coverage limits, and deductible choices.
Emergency healthcare coverage plans can often be paid either yearly in full or as monthly installments, although only certain providers offer monthly payment options.
Generally, the costs for emergency medical care are lower for younger applicants and higher for older applicants, or those with health risks.
What are some examples of what emergency medical insurance covers?
Emergency medical insurance for Canada super visa holders would typically cover:
- Emergency hospitalization and medical care
- Emergency surgeries or procedures
- Prescription medications (usually limited to a 30-day supply per prescription)
- Emergency dental treatment
- Ambulance services, including air ambulance if medically necessary
- X-rays and diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, CT scans, and bloodwork
- Follow-up treatment related to the initial emergency
- Medical appliances, including crutches, braces, or wheelchairs
- Private-duty nursing and home care (if medically required)
- Repatriation of remains in case of death
- Companion accommodation if a family member needs to stay with the patient
What about pre-existing conditions?
Canada super visa emergency medical insurance generally does not cover pre-existing medical conditions by default. Coverage for pre-existing conditions depends on the specific insurance policy and provider.
Pre-existing condition coverage may be available under super visa health insurance if declared and considered stable. Some examples are high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, among others.
What isn’t covered?
Canada super visa emergency medical insurance generally does not cover routine vision care such as eyeglasses.
It generally does not cover plastic surgery if it is elective or cosmetic, and not medically necessary.
What else isn’t covered:
- Routine checkups
- Non-emergency medical procedures
- Experimental treatments
- Dental care such as hygiene visits
- Treatments sought after as a reason for travelling to Canada
What if parents or grandparents die while they’re in Canada on a super visa?
Emergency medical coverage includes the cost of returning your loved one back to their country of origin, but it doesn’t cover funeral expenses.
What factors affect your quote on private health insurance as a super visa applicant?
- Age
- Current health condition
- Length of stay
- What your emergency medical travel insurance includes
Note that your age as a Canada super visa applicant plays a significant role in determining your super visa private health insurance quote.
To recap: What is a super visa?
A super visa is a temporary visa for parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Super visa holders are permitted to come to Canada as visitors and stay five years at a time. A condition of their stay of up to 5 years per visit is private health coverage for the duration of their stay.
What about your other insurance needs as a Canada super visa holder?
Top tip: Western Financial Group has got you covered and can help you save!
Advantages of buying car, condo, or tenant insurance with Western Financial Group as a Canada super visa holder
- Western Financial Group is a national insurance broker partnering with Canada’s leading insurance companies to get your car, condo, or tenant insurance to help save you money.
- Western can help you customize your insurance.
- Western puts you, the customer, first.
- Western has been in the insurance business for over 100 years!
- We are 100% Canadian and we know the Canadian market.
How to reach us
You can reach a Western insurance expert by phone, text, or email. Fill out our form and get a quote for your insurance needs as a Canada super visa holder.
Speak to one of our insurance experts now: 1-866-860-1958.
Where are most of Canada’s new citizens from in 2025?
Most newcomers to Canada in 2025 are coming from countries in Asia and Africa, with India remaining the top source, followed by the Philippines and China (People’s Republic of China). Other significant source countries include Nigeria, Cameroon, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and the United States.
To sum it all up
Emergency medical insurance for Canada super visa holders is required and it protects you financially, helping to cover your medical expenses as visiting parents and grandparents.
Why Western?
100% Canadian!
Get the best home, car, business insurance
We’ll help you save
Insuring Canadians for over 100 years!
5 FAQs
Will parents/ grandparents still have private emergency medical coverage if they leave the country and return to Canada?
Yes, they will as long as they spend the majority of their coverage period in Canada. Note that this insurance doesn’t cover them for any health-care costs they incur when visiting their country of origin or residence.
What if parents/grandparents want to go back home before the expiry date of the emergency medical coverage policy?
Typically, the travel insurer will offer a partial refund based on the remaining number of days, provided there’s no claim on the policy but check the policy details. Did you know that TuGo is Western Financial Group's trusted travel insurance provider and that TuGo offers emergency medical insurance for Canada super visa applicants.
Should super visa applicants get more than the minimum required $100,000 in emergency private medical insurance?
It can be recommended to go above the $100,000 minimum in coverage because a single hospital stay can exceed $10,000, and serious emergencies, surgeries, or extended ICU care can quickly surpass the $100,000 minimum. Higher coverage provides greater financial security. Some insurers offer Super Visa plans with coverage up to $500,000 or even $1 million.
Does medical insurance for Canada super visa holders cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Canada super visa emergency medical insurance coverage for pre-existing medical conditions depends on the specific insurance policy and provider. Most standard super visa emergency medical insurance plans do not cover pre-existing medical conditions by default. Some insurers offer specialized coverage or optional add-ons for pre-existing conditions, provided those conditions have been stable (no new treatments, medication changes, or worsening symptoms) for a specified period before the policy start date, usually 120 to 180 days.
What steps can I take to ensure my pre-existing condition is covered under super visa emergency health insurance?
Choose a medical travel insurance provider that covers pre-existing conditions. Ensure that your condition is stable before applying for private emergency medical travel insurance and accurately and honestly describe your condition. Policies covering pre-existing conditions often require conditions to be stable for a certain time and may come with higher premiums.
