Travel and Medical Insurance

[travelgal]

I'm hoping to go on my first Camino this summer. Do you have any advice on how and where to buy travel and medical insurance? I will be travelling from Toronto, Canada. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Vacajoe]

I used squaremouth.com to shop a policy between a number of providers. Ended up with a very reasonable one from Berkshire Hathaway for our 12 week trip.

 

[t2andreo]

First, check your insurance coverage at home to determine if it is useful at all in Europe, and especially in Spain. Some private carrier insurance DOES cover you internationally. However, I cannot speak to government schemes such as the one in Canada. I think the issue is whether they have a reciprocal policy with the European Union. For EU nationals, just showing their standard ID card gets them medical care.

Second, search for specialized travel insurance to cover you while you are away. Some folks use Allianz, or go through their local auto club (CAA?). There are others. Search here for travel insurance posts using the search function above. I KNOW the issue has been covered a lot in the past.

Personally, I stack my internationally valid Blue Cross / Blue Shield private cover, with travel insurance sold through my airline. As someone over 65, in the US I am also on Medicare (government insurance for seniors) but it is not available outside the US or territories. So, my 'secondary' cover' becomes my primary coverage for the duration of my time overseas.

I usually fly on Iberia, but book my flights through through American Airlines, so I can obtain the insurance they offer through Allianz IIRC. Iberia is a code share partner of American in the One World alliance.

In any event, my private cover takes care of lesser, ambulatory problems. The optional travel insurance will take care of major medical issues and evacuation back home in the event of something very serious.

This is an effective solution for me.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bodi]

I'm in Alberta and usually purchase my travel and medical insurance through the Alberta Motor Association.

 

[williamlittig]

I'm hoping to go on my first Camino this summer. Do you have any advice on how and where to buy travel and medical insurance? I will be travelling from Toronto, Canada. Thank you in advance for your help.

You might look at DAN it’s travel insurance for divers but not exclusive. The evacuation insurance is important.

 

[t2andreo]

Going to your local motor club, CAA, AAA, etc. is also a very good idea.

 

[Marbe2]

I use https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/

They are a really good and reliable company!

 

[travelgal]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I really appreciate your help.

 

[Godzgirlwalking]

I'm hoping to go on my first Camino this summer. Do you have any advice on how and where to buy travel and medical insurance? I will be travelling from Toronto, Canada. Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi, Travelgal. I'm departing for Spain out of Toronto on Sept. 1st. Can you suggest the best way to get to Toronto from Detroit/Windsor area?

 

[Godzgirlwalking]

Hi, Travelgal. I'm departing for Spain out of Toronto on Sept. 1st. Can you suggest the best way to get to Toronto from Detroit/Windsor area?

P.S. I've used RoamRight for a past trip to Costa Rica. It was inexpensive and was the travel insurance company that the travel company used as well.

 

[travelgal]

Hi Godzgirlwalking, To get to Toronto, I think you would need to either drive or take a train or bus. Try Via Rail for trains. Try Megabus or Greyhound for buses. I may not be the best person to help you with this as I haven't been to Detroit/Windsor. I suggest you post your question on tripadvisor on the Toronto or Detroit/Windsor forums for guidance.

 

[David Tallan]

Also from Toronto, I was going to go with CAA. Let me know if you find something better.

 

[Michelle Menhennet]

P.S. I've used RoamRight for a past trip to Costa Rica. It was inexpensive and was the travel insurance company that the travel company used as well.

If you are driving, get on the 401 TransCanada Highway going east, and don’t get off until you see signs for Pearson Airport in Toronto. If you aren’t driving, Greyhound bus line or other local bus will get you there the same route and cheaply. VIA rail is good, but pricey and schedules can be dicey. Consider also getting off the bus in Burlington, and taking the GO train the last hour into Toronto. It’s clean, fast, cheap, and you can hook up with another train at Union Station that will take you right to the airport. That line is the UP Express. . Buen Camino!

 

[C clearly]

This thread is a few years old. It is probably best to go to newer threads on the topic of travel insurance. You can find some here.