Flying South for Winter? Why Your Provincial Health Card is Useless in Florida
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| Flying South for Winter? |
For many retired Canadians, being a "Snowbird" is the ultimate reward for decades of hard work. Trading the slush and snow of January for the sunny beaches of Florida, Arizona, or Mexico is a dream come true.
But before you pack your sunscreen and golf clubs, you need to pack something far more important: Proper Travel Medical Insurance.
A common misconception among Canadian seniors is: "I am a Canadian citizen. My provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP) will take care of me if I get sick abroad."
This belief is dangerous. While some provinces might pay "peanuts," others pay absolutely nothing. Here is why relying on government coverage is a financial suicide mission in 2026, and how to navigate the tricky private insurance market.
1. The "OHIP" Reality Check: It Pays $0
Let's look at the cold, hard numbers. Many seniors still believe the old myth that Ontario (OHIP) pays $400 per day. This is false.
🇺🇸 The US Hospital Cost Shock
- Cost of a US ER Visit: Can easily exceed $10,000 USD just to walk in the door.
- Cost of a Heart Attack: Often $50,000 - $150,000 USD.
- What OHIP (Ontario) Pays: $0. (Yes, Zero. Ontario scrapped the Out-of-Country Travellers Program for emergency care).
- What Other Provinces Pay: MSP (BC) and others typically pay only roughly $75 to $100 CAD per day.
The Gap: If your bill is $100,000 and your province pays $0 or $100, you owe the rest out of pocket. That is enough to force many seniors to sell their homes.
2. The "Stability Clause": The #1 Reason Claims are Denied
So, you decide to buy private Travel Medical Insurance. Good move. But simply buying a policy isn't enough. You must understand the Stability Clause.
Most travel insurance policies for seniors (age 60+) will NOT cover "unstable" pre-existing conditions.
What Does "Stable" Mean?
Insurers typically require your medical condition to be "stable" for a specific period (usually 90 days or 180 days) before your departure date. "Stable" generally means:
- No new symptoms.
- No hospitalization.
- No new diagnosis or tests pending.
- NO CHANGE in medication. (This is the trap!)
3. The "Medication Change" Trap
This is where 90% of disputes happen. To an insurance company, a "change" in medication includes:
- Starting a new pill.
- Stopping an old pill.
- Decreasing the dosage. (Yes, even if your doctor says you are getting better and lowers your dose, the insurance company considers your condition "unstable" because the treatment changed.)
Scenario: You take blood pressure meds. Two weeks before your trip to Phoenix, your doctor lowers your dosage. You fly to Phoenix, have a stroke, and file a claim.
Result: DENIED. Why? Because your medication changed within the 90-day stability period.
💡 The Solution: "Stability Riders"
If you changed meds recently, don't panic. Ask your broker for a "Stability Rider" (or reduced stability period option). For an extra premium, this reduces the stability requirement to just 7 days instead of 90 days.
4. The Questionnaire: Don't Guess, Check Your Records
When applying for Snowbird insurance, you will have to answer a detailed medical questionnaire. It asks about everything from heart murmurs to lung issues in the past 5-10 years.
Do not guess.
If you answer "No" to a question because you forgot about a minor test 3 years ago, and the insurer finds it later in your medical records (which they will check upon a claim), they can void your entire policy for "misrepresentation"—even if the claim has nothing to do with that specific condition.
Pro Tip: Before you buy, ask your doctor for a printout of your "Medical Profile" or "Cumulative Patient Profile" so you can copy the answers exactly.
Pack Your Policy, Protect Your Retirement
Travel insurance is not just an extra cost; it is the most important item in your suitcase.
For 2026, look for policies with at least $5 Million to $10 Million in liability coverage. And if you have had any change in your health in the last 6 months, talk to a broker about "Individual Underwritten" policies. It is better to pay a higher premium now than to lose your life savings to a US hospital later.
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