- Emergency Medical Coverage a Must More Than Ever for Canadian Snowbirds-

The cool crisp weather of autumn heralds the inevitable coming of the Canadian winter and, for many of us, it is also a reminder that it is time to begin planning that extended winter getaway.

This year, more than ever, a key component of that winter escape is insurance coverage for medical emergencies to help ensure that an extended break in the sun doesn’t turn into a financial catastrophe. Provincial government and employee health insurance plans don’t always cover all medical emergency costs incurred abroad.

In 2009, Canadians made 18 million overnight trips to the U.S., staying an average of eight nights.  This accounted for nearly 70% of all overnight trips by Canadians outside the country. In particular, snowbirds (defined by insurers...