Your provincial health card does very little once you leave Canada. Here is what families and seniors heading to India for the winter should know before they fly.
Quick answer: do I need travel insurance for an India trip from Canada?
Yes. Provincial health plans pay little or nothing outside Canada. Ontario’s OHIP ended out-of-country emergency coverage in 2020. BC’s MSP pays up to $75 a day for emergency hospital care abroad, and Alberta’s plan pays $100 a day. A hospital stay in India can cost far more. A good policy covers emergency medical care, has a clear stability clause for pre-existing conditions, and includes trip cancellation and delay cover. Speak to a licensed insurance provider before you buy.
Why winter is the busy season for India trips, and for claims
Every December, thousands of families fly from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Winnipeg to India. School winter breaks run from late December to early January, so children go with their parents. Grandparents go for longer, often six weeks to three months, to escape the cold and spend time with family.
Winter is also when things go wrong. Dense fog delays flights in Delhi and Punjab. Seasonal illness spreads. Older travellers spend longer away from their own doctor. Be covered properly before you leave.
What your provincial health plan actually pays outside Canada
Most people assume their health card follows them. It does not. Here is what the main provinces pay for emergency care outside Canada, based on their published rules.
Province | Emergency hospital care abroad | What it means in India |
Ontario (OHIP) | No out-of-country emergency coverage since 1 January 2020 | You pay the full bill unless you have travel insurance. |
British Columbia (MSP) | Up to $75 CAD a day for emergency inpatient hospital care | A fraction of a private hospital’s daily rate. The rest is yours. |
Alberta (AHCIP) | $100 CAD a day inpatient, $50 a day outpatient, physician fees at Alberta rates | Alberta’s own website says travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. |
Other provinces | A small fixed daily amount, or nothing, depending on the province | Check your province’s health ministry page before you travel. |
Every province says the same thing in its own words: buy travel insurance. The Government of Canada does too. Its travel insurance guidance is worth ten minutes of your time.
What a good policy for India should include
Policies vary a lot. These are the parts that matter most for a winter trip to India.
Coverage type | What it does | Who needs it most |
Emergency medical | Pays hospital, doctor, ambulance and medical evacuation costs if you fall ill or are injured. | Everyone. This is the one you cannot skip. |
Pre-existing condition stability clause | Covers known conditions, such as diabetes or blood pressure, only if they have been stable for a set period (often 90 to 180 days) before departure. | Seniors and anyone on regular medication. Read this clause twice. |
Trip cancellation and interruption | Refunds non-refundable fares and bookings if you must cancel or come home early for a covered reason. | Families booking peak December fares, and anyone caring for an unwell relative. |
Flight delay and missed connection | Pays for meals, hotels and rebooking when fog or a late flight breaks your connection. | Anyone connecting through Delhi or flying to Punjab in December and January. |
Baggage | Covers lost, delayed or stolen luggage, up to a limit. | Families carrying gifts, wedding outfits and medication. |
Seniors, long stays and super visa parents
Parents and grandparents are the travellers we worry about most. A few points to raise with your insurance provider:
- Age limits. Some policies cap the age they will insure, or raise the price sharply after 65 or 70. Ask before you book the flights.
- Trip length. Many policies have a maximum number of days per trip. A three-month stay needs a policy that covers three months, not a 30-day one with a hope.
- Medication. Carry enough for the whole trip plus a buffer, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription.
- Provincial residency rules. Most provinces require you to be physically in the province for a set number of months a year to keep your health coverage. Check your province’s limit before planning a long winter stay.
One point of confusion we see often: super visa insurance is a separate thing. It is the medical insurance parents and grandparents must hold when they come to Canada on a super visa. It does not cover a Canadian resident flying to India. If you are a Canadian resident heading to India, you need ordinary travel medical insurance for your own trip.
Does my credit card cover me?
Some premium credit cards include travel medical cover, and it can be good. But read the limits. Card coverage usually applies only for a fixed number of days per trip, often around two to four weeks, and the limit is commonly shorter for travellers over 65. It may also require you to have paid for the flights on that card. For a long winter stay, or for a parent over 65, card coverage is rarely enough on its own. Call the number on the back of your card and ask for the certificate of insurance.
7 practical tips before you fly
1. Buy insurance when you book the flights
Trip cancellation cover usually only applies if you buy it within a short window of paying for the trip. Buying it the week before departure protects the medical side but may leave the fare unprotected.
2. Declare every condition honestly
A claim can be denied if a condition was not declared, even if it had nothing to do with the illness. Be thorough, especially for parents.
3. Check the stability period against the calendar
If a medication dose changed in September, and the policy asks for 90 days of stability, a December departure may fall inside that window. Ask the provider what counts as a change.
4. Cover the whole trip, not the flights
If you fly out on 20 December and return on 15 February, the policy must run to 15 February. Get the dates right at the start.
5. Keep the emergency number where you can find it
Save the insurer’s 24-hour assistance line in your phone and give it to the family you are staying with. Most policies require you to call before treatment where possible.
6. Keep every receipt and report
Hospital bills, pharmacy receipts, the airline’s delay confirmation and a police report for lost items. Photograph everything on the day.
7. Allow fog buffer days and insure the connection
If you are connecting through Delhi to Amritsar, Chandigarh or anywhere in the north in December or January, read our guide to flights from Edmonton to Amritsar for the fog advice, and make sure delay and missed-connection cover is included.
Why book your India trip with Mann Travel?
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped families across Canada get home to India. Our team in Surrey, BC speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English and is available round the clock, which matters when a flight is delayed at 3 am in Delhi. We specialise in family and group bookings, so parents, children and grandparents stay on one booking with seats together. We do not sell insurance, but we will remind you to arrange it and tell you honestly when a fare is non-refundable so you know what to protect.
Let’s take you home this winter, covered.
Search live fares at manntravel.ca/flights or call our team on (604) 265-9000. Students and education staff can save with MannPass. Questions? Contact us any time.
frequently asked questions
Does OHIP cover me in India?
No. Ontario ended out-of-country emergency coverage on 1 January 2020. You need travel insurance.
How much does BC's MSP pay for a hospital stay in India?
Up to $75 CAD a day for emergency inpatient hospital care, according to BC’s published rules. That is far below what a private hospital charges.
What is a pre-existing condition stability clause?
It is the rule that says a known condition is only covered if it has been stable, with no change in treatment or medication, for a set period before you leave, often 90 to 180 days.
Is super visa insurance the same as travel insurance for India?
No. Super visa insurance is for parents and grandparents visiting Canada. A Canadian resident flying to India needs standard travel medical insurance.
Does my credit card's travel insurance cover a three-month trip?
Usually not. Card coverage is often limited to a few weeks per trip, with shorter limits for travellers over 65. Check your card’s certificate of insurance.
This article is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Provincial figures are from provincial government sources, checked 7 October 2026, and may change. Policies differ. Speak to a licensed insurance provider about your own situation.
