InsuranceVancouver (no walk-in visits; phone lines also in Toronto and Calgary)
BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency
Suited to people who want to choose Canadian working holiday or student insurance by comparing refund conditions too.
Official websiteKey facts
- Type
- Insurance
- Based in
- Vancouver (no walk-in visits; phone lines also in Toronto and Calgary)
- Languages
- English
- Cost
- Quotes are free (premiums vary by plan and conditions; MedEC is about $1.65 to $2.70 a day)
- Countries
- Canada
- On this site
- 5 plans listed
What you can do
You can compare insurance for IEC working holidaymakers, international students and visitors to Canada through online quotes. Premium, deductible, coverage and refund conditions are lined up on one screen, so you can check the differences before choosing. If you buy online, your confirmation of coverage, policy wording and proof of coverage arrive by email right away.
From applying to after you arrive
Enter your dates, destination, date of birth and other details in the quote form.
Compare the coverage amount, deductible, refund conditions and included benefits of the plans shown.
If you buy online, the documents arrive by email. You are advised to also carry a printed copy to show at entry.
If you need urgent treatment in Canada, contact the insurer's 24-hour line right away. If you are late to notify them, your coverage may be reduced.
What sets it apart
You can choose with working holiday entry in mind. To validate an IEC work permit, you need insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation for your entire stay, and if the insurance is shorter than the permit, the permit period may also be shortened. The quote shows IEC-eligible insurance separately for this condition.
Its own MedEC plan (underwritten by Lloyd's) has features for people whose plans change midway. If you return home early without making a claim, you can apply for a daily pro-rated refund of the premium for the unused period. If you get a job and join a provincial health plan (such as MSP in BC or OHIP in Ontario), you can claim 25% of the remaining premium (less a $25 fee).
MedEC includes online medical consultations through Maple, so you can talk to a Canadian doctor at any time, 24 hours a day. The consultation cost is included in the insurance, while medication and tests are covered only in emergencies.
As an official guide, MedEC for ages 18 to 35 without winter sports costs $594.95 for 12 months and $1,191.53 for 24 months (example with $100,000 coverage and $0 deductible, in Canadian dollars).
It suits people on a Canadian working holiday who may return home early or move to a provincial plan. The official website and phone guidance are in English. If you want to choose with advice in Japanese, it's worth comparing it with other agencies.
