Summer Vacation & Your Insurance

A lot goes into planning the perfect summer vacation, from booking hotels or campsites, flights or ferries, to covering all your bases for weather and outing contingencies without over-packing.

With all that to think about, it can be easy to forget about insurance. So what do you need to think about, in terms of insurance, to be vacation-ready this summer?

Firstly, travel insurance.

Wherever you’re going, you will want to make sure you have medical coverage. If you are staying in your home province, your standard healthcare plan should cover you; however, if you are leaving your province, and especially if you are leaving the country, you will need to purchase travel medical insurance.

The coverage you need depends on where you are going and what you will be doing there. Trips to the United States generally cost a little more than those to other countries, and trips within Canada will typically cost the least.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition that you would like covered while you travel, the cost of travel medical insurance will likely increase.

The premium for your travel medical insurance will also increase if you plan on participating in extreme sports, like hang-gliding or BASE jumping, while you are away.

Along with travel medical, you can also purchase trip interruption insurance, to be reimbursed the non-refundable parts of your booking if you have to unexpectedly cancel your trip.

Buying travel insurance is simple – you can do it from home, by clicking here, or call our office at 1-800-595-5212.

If you will be travelling by car or motorhome, or staying in a trailer, make sure your vehicle/RV is ready for the journey.

Inspect your vehicle ahead of time and make any necessary repairs as soon as possible. For a full rundown on how to de-winterize your RV, click here.

Review your auto insurance policy to ensure you have the coverage you need before you leave on vacation. It may be a good time to add on roadside assistance coverage, so you will have coverage for towing expenses, rental vehicles, and more, should your vehicle break down during your journey.

Those travelling by motorcycle should also review their insurance policy. Megson FitzPatrick’s industry leading motorcycle insurance package can be customized to suit your individual needs, and a touring coverage package can be added before you depart, to make sure you have what you need while you are on the road.

Finally, before you leave, make sure your home is safe and secure.

Lock your doors and windows. Trim bushes and branches that may obscure entry points. Put lights on timers. Ask someone you trust pick up mail and newspapers, and to spend a bit of time in/around the home while you are away.

And, as tempting as it may be to pack your vehicle the night before you leave, to buy you a little extra time in the morning, avoid leaving a vehicle full of your belongings on the street or in your driveway. There is, of course, never a good time to have your car broken into and your things stolen, but it would be especially bad to wake up to the day you are leaving on a road trip.

Wherever you go this summer, be safe, have fun, and enjoy!