A longer stay needs a different plan
Destination: Expat Essential is designed for Canadians working or living abroad: overseas employees, digital nomads, long-stay travellers and expatriate families. It is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and administered by The Destination Travel Group.
The plan offers up to $1 million CAD per injury or illness in emergency medical benefits, with a $0 deductible option. This is emergency coverage, not a promise of comprehensive routine health care.
Benefit highlights
Emergency hospital accommodation in a semi-private room, ambulance, emergency medical evacuation and an accompanying parent for a child: up to the policy maximum.
Outpatient services: up to $10,000 per person per illness or injury. Emergency dental care: up to $5,000. Home nursing: up to 12 weeks, maximum $10,000. Paramedical and professional services: up to $500 per profession.
Repatriation of remains or local burial: up to $10,000. Compassionate emergency travel: economy return airfare plus $150 per day, maximum $3,000. Pregnancy complications: up to $5,000, subject to the requirement that birth occur more than 10 months after the effective date.
A policy excluding the United States allows incidental U.S. visits of up to 14 days per trip, subject to policy conditions.
Who can apply?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged at least 15 days and under 65 at the effective date may qualify while working or residing outside their home province or Canada. The required premium must be paid before coverage starts.
Policies can be renewed in periods of no more than 52 consecutive weeks, subject to renewal terms. Coverage ends no later than 90 days after a permanent return to Canada, or when eligible for a Canadian public health plan.
The source describes a 10-day cancellation review period with a full refund if coverage has not started. Confirm the current policy wording and pre-existing-condition exclusions.
Weekly premiums and planning
The published schedule effective July 1, 2026 starts at $23.25 per week excluding the United States, or $42.23 including it, for ages 0–18 with a $0 deductible. Rates rise by age; these are not universal adult rates.
A minimum premium of 12 weeks applies. Partial weeks are rounded up and each policy covers no more than 52 weeks. Your final premium is confirmed at enrolment.
Before leaving, check tax residency with a qualified adviser, provincial health eligibility with your health authority, work permits, local medical costs, housing, banking, support networks and your return-to-Canada coverage. RAMQ absence rules have exceptions: do not assume that a long stay automatically ends or preserves your eligibility.
A question before you decide?
Let's find coverage that fits. Call 514.700.2828 or book a call.
This page is a summary, not an insurance contract. Benefits, rates, eligibility, exclusions and limits must be confirmed in the current policy and quote.