First, an important note: This document is not insurance advice or a recommendation. As a travel agency and tour operator, we're not permitted by law to give insurance advice or answer questions about what a specific policy covers. We can share general information, provide quotes and policy documents from the insurers we work with, and point you to the insurer for anything policy-specific.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend it. At a minimum, please have emergency travel medical coverage. Your provincial health plan covers little or nothing of the cost of emergency care outside Canada, and a hospital stay or evacuation abroad can cost thousands of dollars or more.
Travel insurance is not included in the price of any Wheel & Anchor trip.
What kinds of insurance should I consider?
There are two main types:
- Emergency travel medical insurance. Covers the cost of medical care if you're injured or fall ill while away, and sometimes the cost of getting you home if needed.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This reimburses what you've paid for your trip if you have to cancel before departure, or cut the trip short and return home, for a reason the policy covers. The financial risk is real, but it's limited to the cost of your trip and your way home, which is usually far less than a medical emergency.
Most insurers also sell packages that combine both, often called "all-inclusive" or "comprehensive" plans. These may add baggage, flight delay, or other benefits.
Some insurers also offer a Cancel for Any Reason option, which lets you cancel for reasons a standard policy wouldn't cover. It usually reimburses only part of your trip cost, has to be bought within a short window after booking, and can add to the total cost.
When should I buy it?
Sooner is almost always better. Many cancellation policies must be bought at the time of booking, or within a short window after your first deposit, to get full coverage. Some benefits only start after a waiting period, so the insurer isn't selling coverage for a problem you already know is coming.
Buying early also protects you from "known events." Once a storm, strike, conflict, or government travel advisory is public, insurers generally won't cover losses caused by it for policies bought afterward.
What happens if Wheel & Anchor cancels or changes a trip?
We work hard to avoid it, but events outside our control sometimes make it necessary. What we owe you in that situation is set out in the terms and conditions for each trip, and our obligations are also governed by Ontario's Travel Industry Act, 2002.
If we cancel a trip outright, your cancellation insurance may cover you. If we postpone it or offer a credit toward a future trip, insurance may not cover that amount. Insurance covers actual losses, so it won’t refund your money and also leave you with a credit for a future trip.
Which insurance company should I choose?
Wheel & Anchor can provide quotes from two of Canada's largest travel insurers, Manulife and Travel Guard. Quote prices depend on many factors like your destination, residence, current health, and activities.
Download the full guide
There's more info in the full guide. Download a PDF copy of the full Travel Insurance Guidelines to print or keep:
[LINK to PDF]