CAA doubles travel medical cover as overseas healthcare costs rise
The Canadian insurer has also expanded extreme weather protection and introduced automatic benefits for travellers experiencing qualifying flight delays
CAA Travel Insurance has doubled its emergency medical coverage limit to CA$10 million as rising overseas healthcare and medical transport costs increase the potential financial exposure from serious travel claims.
The Canadian travel insurer, a product of Orion Travel Insurance, previously provided up to $5 million in emergency medical cover.
CAA said costs associated with medical treatment, emergency transportation, and air ambulance services while travelling abroad had increased by approximately 14–15% annually since 2019.
The higher medical limit forms part of a wider overhaul of CAA’s travel insurance products ahead of the winter travel season, including expanded protection for extreme weather, flight disruption, and trip cancellation and interruption.
“Today’s travellers face a broad range of risks, from flight disruptions and extreme weather to unexpected medical emergencies and events at home,” said Elliott Silverstein, Director, Government Relations, Insurance at CAA Manitoba.
Automatic benefits for flight delays
CAA has also introduced a Flight Delay Benefit for eligible trip cancellation policies, providing an automatic benefit when an insured flight is delayed by at least two hours.
Rather than requiring travellers to incur costs and subsequently submit them for reimbursement, eligible policyholders can receive an immediate cash payment or airport lounge pass.
The approach reflects a wider move within travel insurance towards technology-enabled disruption benefits that can be triggered using flight data, reducing reliance on traditional expense-based claims processes.
CAA has also introduced Major Travel Disruption cover for eligible flight cancellations and unannounced strikes, alongside broader protection for lost or stolen travel documents.
Extreme weather protection has also been expanded, with policy wording specifying cover available when a natural disaster affects accommodation at the destination or weather-related property damage at home disrupts travel plans.
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