Why Your Credit Card Travel Insurance Won’t Save You Abroad
You pay $150+ a year for a premium credit card. “Travel Insurance” is listed in the benefits. You check the box and forget about it.
But here’s what the fine print actually says: most Canadian premium credit cards cap emergency medical coverage at $1,000,000 — which sounds like a lot until you realize the conditions that void it.
The Coverage Gaps Nobody Reads
Age Restrictions
Most credit card travel insurance cuts coverage at age 65. Some at 60. After that threshold, you have zero medical coverage — regardless of what you’re paying for the card.
Trip Length Limits
Coverage typically expires after 15–21 days of travel. Snowbirds spending 3 months in Florida? You’re uninsured after day 21 unless you purchased a standalone policy.
Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions
Most credit card policies exclude any condition that changed in the 90 days before departure. Changed your medication dose? New prescription? Even a routine doctor visit that adjusted your treatment plan can void your coverage.
The “Secondary Payer” Problem
Many US credit cards offer only secondary coverage — meaning they won’t pay until your provincial plan pays first. Since Ontario eliminated out-of-country coverage in 2020 (OHIP pays $0 abroad), this creates a bureaucratic nightmare.
The Real Cost of Being Underinsured
- A broken leg in the US: $50,000+
- Cardiac bypass surgery: $150,000+
- Air ambulance repatriation from Asia: $200,000+
- Your credit card’s limit: typically $25,000–$50,000
What Actually Works
Standalone travel insurance from a dedicated provider like TuGo offers up to $5,000,000 in emergency medical coverage, no secondary payer issues, and a 24/7 assistance team that coordinates directly with hospitals — including issuing a Guarantee of Payment so you’re admitted without paying upfront.
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