Costco travel insurance Canada review 2024, free quote

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Sunny Yadav updated on 25 July 2024

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Travel insurance, while not mandatory for all destinations, remains highly important. It protects against various potential issues during a trip (cancellations, lost luggage, theft, accidents, illness, etc.) and their financial consequences. Notably, Costco Travel Insurance offers solutions to make sure you travel without any hassle.

So, what does Costco travel insurance cover? What coverage does it offer? Will you benefit from Covid-19 coverage? What will your Costco travel insurance premium be? What are its pros and cons? How do you file for claims? We answer these questions and more in this detailed review of Costco Travel Insurance.

Costco Travel Insurance Canada: 5 Key Points

  1. Costco travel insurance is offered through Manulife.
  2. Get up to $5,000,000 in coverage for medical emergencies.
  3. You have the option to enroll online.
  4. Discounts for Costco members.
  5. 10% surcharge for smokers over 60.
  6. Medical questionnaire is required for members over 60.

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Our Costco Travel Insurance Canada Review for 2024

Costco travel insurance, underwritten by Manulife, offers comprehensive and adaptable coverage for various traveller profiles. With six different plans, insured members can choose the option that best suits their needs. The medical emergency coverage is particularly notable, with a limit of up to $5,000,000, which is competitive compared to other insurers like CAA and Blue Cross Travel Insurance.

In addition to medical care, the Costco Manulife travel insurance includes coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions up to $5,000 per insured, and benefits for paramedical services, ambulance transport, and emergency dental care.

Costco travel insurance stands out for its easy online enrollment, allowing members to quickly obtain and manage their coverage. Executive members receive a 5% discount on premiums for most insurance plans, making this option even more economical.

In the event of a medical need while travelling, the StandByMDMC service is available, offering assistance in finding a clinic, contacting a doctor, or facilitating emergency room admission. However, people aged 60 and over must complete a medical questionnaire, and a 10% surcharge applies to smokers in this age group.

Expert advice

Costco travel insurance is well-suited for Costco members, especially those who travel frequently or seek flexible and comprehensive coverage. Families and groups can also benefit from this insurance thanks to the discount options and extensive assistance services. Costco travel insurance stands out for its balance between cost and coverage, as well as its practical and accessible services.

Pros of Costco Travel Insurance Canada

  • Up to $5,000,000 covered for medical emergencies.
  • Emergency medical coverage for COVID-19.
  • Single and multiple trip options are available.
  • No medical questionnaire before age 60
  • 50% discount if you travel within Canada.
  • Your children have the same protection as you if they travel with you.
  • Exclusive discounts for Costco members.

Cons of Costco Travel Insurance Canada

  • No specific coverage for snowbirds.
  • 10% surcharge on premiums for smokers over 60.
  • Medical questionnaire is required after age 60.

In summary, Costco travel insurance offers robust coverage, flexible options, and practical services, particularly for Costco members. It is especially recommended for families, groups, and frequent travellers seeking comprehensive protection and economic advantages. Before choosing this offer, we recommend shopping around for the best online options.

You can get a free Costco Travel Insurance quote from our partner Manulife and compare it with other options right here using our tool below. Get free travel insurance quotes instantly.

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What does Costco travel insurance cover?

Costco Manulife travel insurance offers various plans tailored to your traveller profile, destination, and trip duration. Below are the details of the different travel insurances offered by Costco:

Emergency Medical Care Travel Insurance

This plan covers expenses related to a medical emergency, including:

  • Hospital or doctor’s office care.
  • Paramedical care – including services provided by a licensed podiatrist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath.
  • Ambulance transport.
  • Emergency dental care.
  • Emergency repatriation for medical reasons.
  • Repatriation of your travel companion or children in your care.
  • Additional expenses for meals and hotels.
  • Return of the vehicle to the place of residence.
  • Trip interruption without termination of coverage.
  • Death-related expenses.
  • Transport expenses for a person to stay at your bedside if you travel alone.

Good to know

If you're looking specifically for medical coverage during travels, you can check out our guide on the best travel health insurance options. Compare options and get instant quotes online.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Important points about this plan:

  • Up to the insured capital limit.
  • Reimbursement of the non-refundable prepaid portion of the trip that cannot be postponed, in case of an eligible situation requiring you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

All-Risks Travel Insurance

This plan covers:

  • Emergency medical care.
  • Trip cancellation and interruption.
  • Lost, delayed, or damaged luggage.
  • Flight and travel accident.

Student Travel Insurance

Costco offers three student profiles: Canadians studying abroad, Canadians studying in another province or territory, and foreign students studying in Canada. These profiles are covered for:

  • Emergency medical care.
  • Non-urgent medical care.

Visitor Travel Insurance to Canada

This insurance mainly covers emergency medical care but has two optional add-ons:

  • Trip interruption.
  • Travel accident: Covers replacement costs for passports, visas, driver’s licenses, or birth certificates.

For detailed information on what Costco travel insurance covers, download the informative brochures below:

Costco Travel Insurance Coverage Details

Here are details of what each of the protections offered by Costco typically covers:

Coverage optionDescription of Manulife Costco travel insurance
Trip cancellation
If you have to cancel your trip before departure due to covered reasons like illness, injury, or certain unforeseen events, the insurance may reimburse you for non-refundable trip expenses.
Trip interruption
In case your trip is cut short due to covered reasons, the insurance can provide reimbursement for unused portions of your trip and additional expenses incurred to return home.
Emergency medical expenses
This covers medical treatment and hospitalization costs if you get injured or fall ill during your trip. This includes COVID-related issues.
Emergency medical evacuation
If you require emergency medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility, the insurance can cover the expenses. Costco travel medical insurance can be purchased for extensive benefits tailored to medical needs during travel.
Travel delay
Should your trip be delayed due to covered reasons, the insurance may reimburse you for additional accommodation, meals and other necessary expenses.
Baggage Loss or Delay
If your checked baggage is lost, stolen, or delayed for a specified period, the insurance can provide coverage for the replacement of essential items.
Travel Accidents
In the unfortunate event of accidental death or dismemberment during your trip, the insurance may offer coverage to you or your beneficiaries.
Rental Car Damage
Some travel insurance Costco Canada plans may include coverage for damage to rental cars, but this can vary, so it's essential to check the policy details.
Travel insurance Costco Canada

What is the Price of Costco Travel Insurance in 2024?

The price of travel insurance depends on various criteria:

  • Traveller profile (student, snowbird travel insurance, expatriates, family, etc.).
  • Age.
  • Chosen destination.
  • Type of travel insurance desired (annual, single trip).
  • Options added to the contract (cancellation, travel insurance, and COVID-19, etc.).
  • Duration of coverage.

Below are some sample prices for Costco travel insurance for different traveller profiles:

Travel ProfileCostco Travel Insurance Price
22-year-old traveller to Cancún
COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan
$28.64
Emergency Medical Care - Single Trip
$21.81
All-Risks Single Trip Plan
$170.92
50-year-old traveler to the USA
COVID-19 Pandemic Travel Plan
$38.16
Emergency Medical Care - Single Trip
$28.98
All-Risks Single Trip Plan
$183.27
Manulife Costco travel insurance quote

We recommend you get Costco travel insurance quotes based on your needs. You can use our free tool below to compare travel insurance quotes from Canada's best companies in seconds. Get instant, personalized results.

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How to Make a Costco Travel Insurance Claim?

To file a claim with Costco travel insurance, visit the Manulife website to submit your claim online. You must inform Manulife (Costco’s representative) of your claim and provide proof.

You can call the Assistance Center for information on how to submit a claim or about an existing claim by dialling 1 855 841-4797 or 1 519 988-7009.

All correspondence related to claims should be sent to:

Travel Insurance c/o Active Care Management
P.O. Box 1237,
Stn A Windsor,
Ontario N9A 6P8

How to Cancel Your Costco Travel Insurance?

To cancel your Costco travel insurance, provide a written notice of cancellation, either posted or delivered to a Manulife office. You can also contact Manulife directly for further instructions. Ensure you include all necessary personal and policy details. Contact customer service at 1 844 837-9228 for assistance.

Modifying Your Costco Travel Insurance Contract

To make changes to your Costco travel insurance coverage, call 1 866 707-4922.

Single Trip or Annual Travel Insurance: What should I take?

Costco offers both:

  • Single-trip travel insurance with a limited duration.
  • Annual travel insurance for coverage on multiple trips within a year.

Single Trip Travel Insurance

Costco offers all its travel insurance plans in a single trip format.

Annual Travel Insurance

Costco's annual multi-trip insurance can be very convenient if you travel frequently. You sign one travel insurance contract for the whole year and are covered for an unlimited number of trips, provided you respect the maximum number of days allowed per trip.

Key information about Costco’s annual multi-trip insurance:

  • Costco offers its travel insurance plans for Canadian travellers and visitors to Canada in a multi-trip format.
  • For student travel insurance, it can be extended up to 365 days.

Note: If you purchase annual travel insurance, you are only covered for a limited number of days per trip. However, you can be covered for more days per trip by paying an additional premium to your insurer.

How to contact Costco Travel Insurance?

Here’s how to contact Costco travel insurance:

Contact MethodCostco Contact Details
Phone
1 844 837-9228
Email
[email protected]
Reservations
1-866-921-7925
From U.S. or Canada while travelling
1-866-317-4711
From Europe, Cook Islands, Fiji, or Tahiti
001-1-866-317-4711
From Costa Rica or Mexico
00-1-866-317-4711
From The Caribbean
1-1-866-317-4711
Travel Insurance in general
1-844-246-8470
Travel Insurance Costco Canada Contact

<strong>Costco Travel Insurance Canada for seniors</strong>

The company offers travel insurance options that can be tailored to seniors' needs, considering their unique requirements and potential health concerns during their trips. However, seniors may be required to fill in a medical questionnaire to check for any pre-existing conditions. The premiums of Costco Travel Insurance Canada for seniors may also be relatively higher for older adults. If you're looking for travel coverage tailormade for seniors, you can check out our guide on travel insurance for seniors and compare the best options and get free quotes online.

We recommend that you compare the coverage of Costco with other travel providers to make sure it's the best choice for you. All you need to do is use our comparator below to compare coverage, pricing, and offers, and get free travel insurance quotes from the best providers in Canada.

Compare the best travel insurance plans on the market!

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CIBC Costco Mastercard travel insurance

Does CIBC Costco Mastercard have travel insurance?

This credit card is offered by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in partnership with Costco. While the card doesn't itself provide travel coverage, CIBC Costco Mastercard travel insurance refers to certain trip benefits such as discounts and cashback offered by the card provided the cardholders use their credit card to book trip-related expenses such as flights, hotels, and rental cars.

But does Costco Mastercard have travel insurance? There are other Costco credit card travel insurance options, like the The Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® that provide one with significant insurance for rental cars, medical requirements when out of province, trip interruption, cancellation, and more.

The BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* also provides significant travel benefits like coverage for rental car damage and emergency medical insurance, among others.

Good to know

You can use our free tool HelloCard to explore all the coverage included in your credit card insurance. You can also compare multiple credit cards and their coverages online using our tool.

What does Costco Manulife travel insurance not cover?

Costco Manulife travel insurance, like most travel policies, has certain exclusions and limitations. While the specific details may vary depending on the plan and policy, here are some common things that Costco Manulife travel insurance typically does not cover:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions: Most travel insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing medical conditions unless you have purchased a specific waiver or rider for those conditions. Costco travel insurance reviews mention this as a drawback.
  • Intentional self-inflicted injuries: Any injuries or harm caused intentionally by the insured are not covered by the insurance.
  • Participation in hazardous activities: Injuries or incidents that occur while participating in high-risk activities like extreme sports, mountaineering, or racing may not be covered.
  • Claims resulting from alcohol or substance abuse: If an incident occurs while the insured is under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs, the claim may be denied.
  • Travelling against medical advice: If you travel despite being advised not to do so by a medical professional, related claims may be excluded.
  • Losses due to war or terrorism: Damages, injuries, or trip cancellations resulting from war, acts of terrorism, or political unrest are typically not covered.
  • Travel to restricted areas: If your travel destination is listed as a restricted or high-risk area by government authorities, related claims may be excluded.
  • Unattended baggage: Loss or theft of baggage that was left unattended in a public place may not be covered.
  • Financial insolvency of travel suppliers: If a travel supplier, such as an airline or tour operator, goes bankrupt or becomes financially insolvent, resulting losses may not be covered.
  • Non-medical evacuations: Evacuations not related to medical emergencies may not be covered, such as those due to civil unrest or natural disasters.

Is Costco travel insurance worth it?

Manulife Travel Insurance for Costco Members provides robust coverage options, including emergency medical and trip cancellation benefits. It's particularly appealing for frequent travellers and Costco members due to exclusive member discounts that can help you save big on premiums.

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Sunny has over six years of experience curating engaging content spanning across industries. Specifically in finance, his expertise is insurance reviews and lending and investment topics.

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