Is travel insurance worth it for students?
For students travelling or studying abroad, yes. OHIP does not cover care outside Canada, and a long academic term means extended exposure to illness or injury. Student plans are built for this, and being young and healthy keeps costs comparatively low — so the protection is usually well worth it.
Key takeaways
- OHIP does not cover out-of-country care, even for a long study term.
- A full term or year abroad is a long exposure window.
- Student plans are designed for Canadians abroad and intl students in Canada.
- Being young and healthy usually keeps the premium comparatively low.
- Check the trip-length cap covers the full term.
A term or year abroad is a long time to be without health coverage, and students are not exempt from the OHIP gap. The good news is that being young and generally healthy usually keeps coverage affordable, so the protection tends to be well worth the cost.
OHIP does not travel with you
OHIP pays little to nothing for care outside Canada and never pays a foreign hospital up front; most out-of-country OHIP coverage ended in 2020. A study term does not change this — a Canadian student in another country has the same gap as any other traveller. Emergency medical coverage is what fills it, so an illness or injury during the term does not become a large out-of-pocket bill.
A long stay is a long exposure
Students abroad are typically away for months at a time — a semester, a full academic year, or a co-op placement. That extended window raises the chance that something, from a bad flu to a sports injury, will need medical attention. Over a long term, the value of coverage is in being protected the whole time, not just for a short trip.
Student plans are purpose-built
Student coverage comes in two forms, and choosing the right one matters:
- Canadian students abroad — coverage for a Canadian studying in another country.
- International students in Canada — coverage for a visiting student studying here.
Match the plan to your situation, and confirm the trip-length cap covers your full term. A plan that only runs a few weeks would leave most of the term uninsured.
Cost on a student budget
A premium typically depends on age, trip length, destination, coverage amount and health. Students tend to be young and healthy, which generally keeps the cost comparatively modest, and there are no medical questions for travellers under 60. Set against the potential cost of an uncovered emergency overseas — a hospital stay far from home — the coverage is usually a small, sensible line in the budget rather than a luxury.
Practical things to check
Beyond price, a few details make student coverage fit real student life:
- Coverage area — does it include every country you will study in or visit, including the US if relevant?
- Activities — if you plan sports or adventurous activities, check whether an optional sports and activities add-on is needed.
- Trip length — confirm the plan spans the whole term.
- Assistance — 24/7 help matters when you are far from home; we offer assistance in multiple languages.
Know the process before you need it
It also helps to know what to do before you need care. Keep your policy details and the assistance number somewhere easy to reach, understand how to contact the insurer from abroad, and know how claims are filed so a stressful moment is not made worse by paperwork confusion. We offer telemedicine services and 24/7 assistance, which can be especially reassuring for a student handling a health issue alone in a new country.
The bottom line for students
For a student heading abroad, travel insurance is usually worth it: the OHIP gap is real, the stay is long, and youth generally keeps the price reasonable. Pick the student plan that matches your situation, confirm it covers the full term and all your destinations, and get a quote so you start the term protected.
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Frequently asked questions
Do students really need travel insurance?
For study or travel abroad, almost always. OHIP does not cover care outside Canada, so an illness or injury during a term overseas would otherwise fall on you. A long stay means a long exposure window, and student plans are built specifically for this situation.
Isn't it expensive on a student budget?
Cost depends on age, trip length, destination, coverage amount and health, and being young and generally healthy tends to keep the premium comparatively modest. Weighed against the potential cost of an uncovered medical emergency abroad, the coverage is usually a small, sensible expense.
What kind of plan do students need?
Student coverage comes in two forms: for Canadian students studying abroad, and for international students studying in Canada. Choose the one that matches your situation, and confirm the plan covers the full length of your term, not just a few weeks.
TripCovered is a licensed insurance referral service operating in Ontario. Insurance is administered by North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd., doing business as TuGo®, a licensed insurance broker in all provinces and territories. The issuer of the contract is Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. and Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. This website provides general information only and is not a contract of insurance. Always read your policy wording before you travel.