Why 51% of Canadians Are Now Buying Travel Insurance Before Every Trip (2026)

Travel disruptions have pushed travel insurance from an afterthought to standard practice for more than half of Canadian travelers. Here's why demand is at a record high in 2026 and what to look for in a policy.

Travel Insurance Demand Has Hit a Record High

Travel insurance used to be an afterthought for a lot of Canadian travelers - something considered only for a long international trip, if at all. That's changed. Travel disruptions throughout 2025 motivated 51% of Canadians to purchase travel insurance, and that trend is continuing into 2026, meaning more than half of Canadian travelers are now building it into their trip planning as a matter of course rather than an optional extra.

Why the Shift Happened

The jump in demand tracks closely with real experience: widespread flight cancellations, delays, and unpredictable trip interruptions have made more travelers personally feel the cost of not having coverage - a cancelled connecting flight, an unexpected medical issue abroad, or a trip cut short can turn into a significant financial loss without insurance to fall back on. Once travelers experience that gap once, buying coverage tends to become a habit for every future trip.

Why Your Provincial Health Card Isn't Enough

It's worth repeating a point that catches many Canadians off guard: provincial health coverage generally doesn't apply outside your home province at all, and reimburses only a small, fixed daily rate for emergency medical costs outside Canada - a fraction of what an actual hospital stay or emergency treatment costs in many countries. Travel insurance is what actually closes that gap, whether the trip is within Canada or abroad.

What to Look for When Comparing Policies

• Emergency medical coverage maximum - and whether it's realistic against actual treatment costs at your destination
• Whether trip cancellation and interruption coverage is included, or needs to be purchased separately
• How pre-existing medical conditions are handled and what stability period, if any, is required
• Whether the policy includes 24/7 emergency assistance and a clear, accessible claims process
• Coverage for baggage loss, delay, and other trip-related inconveniences, if those matter for your trip

Even Short Trips Are Now Getting Coverage

Given how common disruptions have become, the trend isn't limited to long international vacations - many Canadians are now buying travel insurance for shorter domestic or short-haul trips as well, since a cancelled flight or an unexpected medical situation can happen just as easily close to home as it can abroad.