Can I buy a travel insurance policy for someone else?

Being able to purchase travel insurance on behalf of someone else is pretty useful, and unlike many other types of insurance, you actually can buy a plan for another person. Whether you have purchased a vacation as a gift for a loved one, or you are sending a child on a trip and want peace of mind, you might be looking to buy a travel insurance policy for someone other than yourself.

How does it work?

Much like buying any other type of travel insurance policy, you will need some basic details about the travellers as well as their trip. This includes the travellers name, age, gender, home address and birthdates, as well as where they are headed and for how long. Remember, even if the trip is just to another province, travel insurance is still important-your provincial medical care will only go so far! You should also be sure to note if they are heading on an adventure or sports holiday, such as skiing or snowboarding, as they will require extra coverage. Its best to buy the insurance policy as soon as possible, and this will ensure that you have cancellation protection, in case there are any unexpected changes to the trip.

What if they have a pre-existing medical condition?

If you know the travellers medical history, such as if you are buying a policy for a child or close family member, then be sure to list the pre-existing medical condition when you buy the policy. You may find yourself in a situation where you don’t know the traveller’s medical history, and are unsure if they have a pre-existing condition. In this scenario, the best thing to do is purchase a pre-existing conditions waiver. This way, even if they require medical assistance and have an unspecified condition, they will still be covered.

What if they need to cancel the trip?

One of the best things about buying travel insurance as soon as possible-as close to when you booked the trip as you can-is that you can qualify for ‘cancel for any reason coverage’. That means if, for an unexpected reason, the travellers can not make the trip, you will be refunded your money.

No matter the circumstances, you want to ensure that your loved one has an amazing trip, and part of that is making sure that if anything goes wrong, there is help at hand. Not only does travel insurance cover emergency medical care, it also supports the traveller from fees incurred as the result of unexpected cancellations, if their luggage or personal items or lost, or if they need to be evacuated in an emergency. Travel insurance is usually only a small percentage of the overall cost of a trip, but can save a bucket load of money if things come to the worst.