TORONTO — CAA Travel Insurance is expanding its coverage ahead of the winter travel season, doubling emergency medical protection and adding benefits for extreme weather, flight delays and other travel disruptions.
The updates apply to CAA Travel Insurance, a product of Orion Travel Insurance, and are intended to provide broader protection and additional support as Canadians navigate changing travel risks and rising medical costs.
Emergency medical coverage is increasing from $5 million to $10 million. CAA says the change reflects the rising cost of medical care abroad, including routine treatment, emergency transportation and air ambulance services, which have increased by approximately 14 to 15% annually since 2019.
New benefits for weather and flight delays
The expanded climate-related coverage also introduces clearer policy language explaining what protection is available if a natural disaster affects a traveller’s destination accommodation or weather-related property damage at home disrupts their trip.
Eligible trip cancellation policies will also include a new CAA Flight Delay Benefit. Travellers whose insured flight is delayed by two or more hours will automatically receive a benefit in the form of an immediate cash payment or airport lounge pass, rather than having to go through a traditional expense-based reimbursement process.
Broader protection for travel disruptions
Additional changes include broader Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage for major travel disruptions and unexpected personal circumstances. New Major Travel Disruption coverage addresses eligible flight cancellations and unannounced strikes, while travel document protection now covers documents stolen before departure or lost or stolen at a destination.
Other newly covered situations include a stolen private vehicle, possible damage to a home or business and additional occupancy costs when a travel companion interrupts their trip but the insured traveller continues as planned.
“Today’s travellers face a broad range of risks, from flight disruptions and extreme weather to unexpected medical emergencies and events at home,” says Elliott Silverstein, director, government relations, insurance, CAA Manitoba. “These updates deliver clearer benefits, broader protection and new forms of support to travellers when plans change unexpectedly.”
Silverstein said the enhancements are part of the ongoing optimization of CAA Travel Insurance coverage, adding: “Travel insurance is not only about responding to major emergencies, it can also provide practical support during the more common situations travellers may experience while they are away from home.”
