Thanksgiving weekend is almost here, and across Ontario, families are packing the car for the cottage, the highway to visit grandparents, or a flight somewhere warmer. Before you leave, a quick insurance check can save you from an unpleasant surprise.
Travel Medical: Start Here If You Are Leaving Ontario
If your Thanksgiving plans take you outside Ontario, this is the most important item on the list. Ontario's public health coverage applies outside the province in only a limited way, and outside Canada it covers a very small share of medical costs. A broken bone from a slip on wet steps or a hospital stay from a stomach bug can become an out-of-pocket problem fast.
Travel medical insurance fills that gap, and many plans are sold by trip length so you do not pay for a full year you will not use. If you already carry a multi-trip annual plan, check that it is still active and that your trip falls within the per-trip day limit.
If anyone in your group has a medical condition, read the stability clause in the wording. Many policies require a condition to have been stable, meaning no new treatment or medication changes, for a set period before departure. This is one of the most common reasons travel medical claims are denied.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption: Protect the Non-Refundable Stuff
Thanksgiving flights and hotel rooms are usually booked weeks ahead, and the cheapest fares tend to be the least flexible. Trip cancellation coverage reimburses prepaid, non-refundable costs if you must cancel for a covered reason, while trip interruption coverage helps with costs if something cuts the trip short.
The list of covered reasons matters more than the headline price. Typical wording covers illness, injury, a death in the family, and disruptions such as severe weather, but the list varies. Also watch the purchase deadline: some cancellation benefits only apply if you buy the policy within a set number of days of your first trip payment.
If You Are Driving: Rental Cars and Your Auto Policy
Many families rent a larger vehicle for the holiday because the family car is too small or too tired for a long haul. Before you pay the rental counter's daily insurance fee, find out whether your own Ontario auto policy already covers rental vehicles. Some policies extend your existing coverage to a rental car through an endorsement, usually with a set limit and your regular deductible, while others offer no rental coverage at all.
Call your broker before the trip. Ask whether your policy covers rental vehicles, what the limit is, and whether that coverage applies outside Ontario if your drive crosses the border. Either way, do not leave the question unanswered at the counter.
Your Home While You Are Away
Policies differ, but many require someone to check on the property regularly during absences, particularly in the heating season. Ask a neighbour, friend, or family member to stop by, and keep a note of when they visited.
October adds its own risks. A cold snap during the long weekend can freeze a pipe if the furnace hiccups, and a burst pipe is one of the most expensive common home claims. Set the thermostat to a reasonable level rather than turning the heat off, and clear the gutters so autumn rain does not find a path inside.
If you list your place on a short-term rental platform while you are away, check your policy first. Many home insurance policies exclude or limit coverage when the property is used as a rental, and that side income could complicate a claim if something goes wrong while guests are there.
If You Are Flying: Baggage and Delays
Baggage coverage reimburses the cost of replacing essentials while your bags are delayed, and compensates for bags that are lost outright, usually up to set limits. Keep receipts for anything you must buy while waiting, because insurers typically require them. Some credit cards include basic baggage and trip delay benefits when you charge the fare to the card, so check before you pay for a separate policy.
The Quick Pre-Trip Check
Take fifteen minutes before departure and run through this: confirm travel medical is in place for everyone travelling; confirm cancellation coverage if you have non-refundable bookings; check rental car coverage with your broker; arrange for someone to check on your home; and read the fine print on any new policy you buy. Insurance is one of the few things you buy hoping never to use, and the only way it fails you is if you discover the gaps while you are standing in them.
Related coverage: travel insurance.