TripCovered vs Blue Cross: travel insurance compared

TripCovered and Blue Cross are both familiar to Canadian travellers, so choosing between them is about fit rather than reputation. Comparing them well means looking past the brand to the details that decide what you can claim.

Confirm the coverage options

Begin by checking that each provider offers a plan for your kind of trip. Our range includes Emergency Medical in single-trip and multi-trip annual forms (Worldwide, Excluding USA and Within-Canada options), Visitors to Canada including Super Visa, Student plans, Trip Cancellation and Interruption (with Trip Interruption Only and Cancel for Any Reason), an All-Inclusive Holiday Package, Baggage, Rental Car Protection and AD&D, plus an optional Sports & Activities add-on. Pin down the specific plan you need and verify it is available before comparing the finer points.

Mind the OHIP gap

Whatever provider you choose, remember why the coverage matters. OHIP pays little or nothing for medical care outside Canada and never pays a foreign hospital up front; most out-of-country OHIP coverage ended in 2020. So your emergency medical plan is doing the heavy lifting abroad, and the coverage limit should be high enough to handle a serious emergency. This is the single most important reason Ontarians carry travel insurance, and it applies equally to any insurer.

Compare limits and exclusions

Look closely at the coverage limit, any deductible, and the exclusions. The exclusions and conditions are where two similar-looking plans diverge. Pay special attention to how each defines and applies the stability period for pre-existing conditions — the window before departure during which a condition must have been stable for related claims to be eligible. Reading the wording, not the summary, is how you find the real differences.

Weigh the assistance and claims service

When you are unwell abroad, the assistance line and claims process are what you actually use. Our underwriting partner provides 24/7 emergency assistance in multiple languages, has operated since 1964, settles claims through its own service, and offers support such as telemedicine via 1.800MD or Maple and MyFlyt flight-delay assistance. Compare how each provider delivers assistance and handles claims, since a smooth experience there is worth a great deal in a stressful moment.

Check eligibility and the questionnaire

Eligibility rules affect price and terms, especially for older travellers. With TripCovered there is no age limit, no medical questions under 60, and a Medical Questionnaire for those 60 and over that sets the premium, not eligibility. Compare how each provider approaches eligibility and medical underwriting if you are an older traveller or managing a condition.

Compare quotes, not headlines

Price depends on your age, destination (travel to or through the USA costs more), trip length, coverage amount and health, so there is no fixed cheaper provider. Get a quote from each for the same coverage and dates, and compare equivalent plans side by side. Watch for differences in deductibles and sub-limits when you do, because a lower headline premium can simply reflect a higher deductible or a lower benefit cap rather than better value.

The sound approach is to confirm the coverage fits your trip, weigh the service and eligibility, and compare equal quotes. Compare your options and get a quote so you can see how coverage and price line up for your trip.