Secure Travel was the lower of the two for a parent with stable pre-existing conditions at every age from 55 to 75 on 18 October 2026, at $100,000 coverage with no deductible. The gap was $25 a year at 55 and $1,533 at 75. Secure Travel also insures to 90 and takes monthly payments; GMS stops at 79, is annual-pay only and caps repatriation at $5,000. GMS asks no medical questions under 55.
Both plans meet the IRCC super visa rule: $100,000 of emergency medical cover per applicant for a year from entry, from a Canadian insurer. Read the full reviews of Secure Travel and GMS for each plan on its own.
Who is the insurer behind each plan?
Secure Travel is a brand of RIMI Insurance Solutions, a Toronto managing general agent; the policy is issued by iA Financial Group and claims are run by MSH Assistance. GMS is Group Medical Services of Regina, which insures its own plan. Either certificate passes IRCC’s insurer test, but the names on the two documents are different.
| Item | Secure Travel | GMS |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriter named on certificate | iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.) | Group Medical Services (GMS Insurance Inc. outside Saskatchewan) |
| Brand or distributor | RIMI Insurance Solutions Inc., Toronto | GMS itself |
| Claims and assistance | MSH Assistance, 24/7 | GMS Travel Assistance (Robin Assist from 1 Nov 2025), 24/7 |
| Head office | Toronto, ON | Regina, SK |
Sources: PolicyAdvisor Secure Travel review and GMS brochure. Our underwriters guide explains why the underwriter, not the brand, is what IRCC checks.
What does each cost by age?
Secure Travel was lower at every age on 18 October 2026. The difference is almost nothing at 55, about $350 at 65 and more than $1,500 at 75, because GMS prices climb steeply after 65. GMS charges the same with or without stable conditions; Secure Travel is cheaper again without them.
Annual premium, $100,000 coverage, $0 deductible, stable pre-existing conditions covered, rates seen 18 Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Age | Secure Travel ($/yr) | GMS ($/yr) | Lower of the two | Difference ($/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | $1,577 | $1,602 | Secure Travel | $25 |
| 60 | $1,621 | $1,799 | Secure Travel | $178 |
| 65 | $2,051 | $2,405 | Secure Travel | $354 |
| 70 | $3,380 | $4,296 | Secure Travel | $916 |
| 75 | $4,000 | $5,533 | Secure Travel | $1,533 |
Sources: BestQuote and PolicyAdvisor. Without pre-existing cover Secure Travel drops to $1,026 at 55, $1,621 at 65 and $2,920 at 75; GMS does not change. The cost page has all eight carriers.
How do the age and stability rules compare?
Secure Travel insures to 89 and needs 90 days’ stability to 69; GMS stops at 79 and needs 180 days at every age. For a 62-year-old whose blood-pressure dose changed four months ago, Secure Travel covers the condition and GMS does not. GMS compensates with no medical questions under 55.
| Rule | Secure Travel | GMS |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum age on effective date | Under 90 | Under 80 |
| Pre-existing conditions covered to age | 84 (new emergencies only 85 to 89) | 79 |
| Stability period, to 69 | 90 days | 180 days |
| Stability period, 70 and over | 180 days (70 to 84) | 180 days (70 to 79) |
| Medical questionnaire | Not described | None under 55; disqualifying list from 55; daily-living test from 70 |
| Waiting period if bought before arrival | None | None |
| Waiting period if bought after arrival | 8 days if bought more than 30 days after arrival | 2 days within 30 days; 7 days after |
Sources: PolicyAdvisor Secure Travel review and PolicyAdvisor GMS review. The GMS disqualifying list is strict: stroke or TIA, congestive heart failure or GI bleed in the past 12 months, dialysis, transplant or active cancer treatment all make the parent ineligible. Test the parent’s history against our pre-existing conditions guide before choosing.
What are the benefit limits and payment options?
Secure Travel allows up to $1,000,000 of cover, deductibles to $3,000 and a monthly plan; GMS caps cover at $150,000, deductibles at $1,000 and takes annual payment only. GMS caps repatriation at $5,000, which is below the cost of an air ambulance to South Asia.
| Item | Secure Travel (Standard / Enhanced) | GMS |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum sum insured | $1,000,000 | $150,000 |
| Deductible options | $0 to $3,000 | $0, $100, $500, $1,000 |
| Prescription drugs (30 days) | $500 / $1,000 | Covered as emergency treatment; confirm limit at quote |
| Emergency dental, injury | $1,000 / $3,000 | $2,000 |
| Repatriation of remains | $5,000 / $10,000 | Up to $5,000, pre-approved |
| Hospital allowance | Not stated | Up to $1,000 |
| Side trips | Covered en route and on side trips; home country excluded | 30 days or 49% of days; not home country |
| Monthly plan | 2 months’ premium + $120 fee, then 10 instalments | Not offered |
| Provinces not served | Quebec | Quebec, New Brunswick, Nunavut |
Sources: PolicyAdvisor Secure Travel review, GMS brochure and PolicyAdvisor monthly plans. The Secure Travel monthly fee is the highest of the four monthly carriers, but at 65 the annual premium is still $354 below GMS. See monthly plans.
How do refunds and claims rules compare?
Both refund a refused applicant less an administration fee with the IRCC letter, and both refund pro-rata on early return with no claims. GMS publishes a harsher late-call penalty: benefits drop to 70 percent or $50,000 if the assistance line is not called within 24 hours.
| Rule | Secure Travel | GMS |
|---|---|---|
| Visa refused, letter supplied, before effective date | Full less administration fee | Full less administration fee |
| Early return, no claims | Pro-rata less administration fee | Partial from departure date, less fee |
| Claim made or pending | No refund | No refund |
| Monthly policy fee | $120, never refunded | Not applicable |
| Call the assistance line | Within 24 hours; 20% of eligible expenses otherwise | Within 24 hours; benefits reduced to 70% or $50,000 otherwise |
| Proof of claim deadline | 90 days | Notice 30 days, proof 90 days |
Sources: PolicyAdvisor Secure Travel review and PolicyAdvisor GMS review. Step-by-step claim instructions are on how to claim with Secure Travel and how to claim with GMS.
Which profile does each plan fit?
Secure Travel fits a parent 55 to 75 with stable conditions, a parent over 79, and any family that needs instalments. GMS fits a parent under 55 who wants no medical questions and a direct insurer on the certificate, bought before arrival so there is no waiting period.
| Profile | Lower or better fit on 18 Oct 2026 | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Parent 55 to 59, stable conditions | Secure Travel, by $25 a year | Near-identical price; Secure Travel has 90-day stability and $1,000,000 limit |
| Parent under 55, no questions wanted | GMS | No medical questions; same price with or without conditions |
| Parent 60 to 69, dose changed 4 to 5 months ago | Secure Travel | 90-day stability to 69 against GMS 180 days |
| Parent 70 to 79 | Secure Travel, by $916 to $1,533 | GMS prices climb sharply after 65 |
| Parent 80 and over | Secure Travel only | GMS maximum age is 79 |
| Monthly payments needed | Secure Travel only | GMS is annual-pay |
| Host in Quebec | Neither | Both exclude Quebec; SuperVisaDirect does not serve Quebec |
| Likely to need medical repatriation | Secure Travel Enhanced ($10,000) | GMS cap is $5,000 |
Neither plan is sold on SuperVisaDirect; the plan we sell is TuGo, and the 2026 comparison shows all three side by side. For the next comparison in this group, read GMS vs Destination, where GMS is the lower of the two under 70.
Questions people ask
Which is lower in price, Secure Travel or GMS?
Secure Travel was the lower of the two for a parent with stable pre-existing conditions at every age we compared on 18 October 2026: $1,577 against $1,602 at 55, $2,051 against $2,405 at 65 and $4,000 against $5,533 at 75, all at $100,000 with no deductible. The gap is small under 60 and wide from 70.
Who underwrites Secure Travel and GMS?
Secure Travel is a RIMI Insurance Solutions brand underwritten by iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.), with claims administered by MSH Assistance. GMS is Group Medical Services of Regina, a direct insurer, so GMS itself appears on the certificate. Both satisfy the IRCC requirement for a Canadian insurer.
Which plan is better for a parent over 79?
Only Secure Travel. GMS requires the applicant to be under 80 on the effective date and will not renew at 80. Secure Travel insures to 89, with pre-existing conditions covered to 84 and new emergencies only from 85 to 89. A parent turning 80 during the year keeps GMS cover to expiry but must then move.
Does either plan ask medical questions?
GMS asks none under 55; from 55 the application lists disqualifying conditions such as stroke or TIA in the past 12 months, dialysis, transplant or active cancer treatment. Secure Travel's published terms do not describe a questionnaire; eligibility rests on the stability definition, 90 days to 69 and 180 days from 70 to 84.
Can I pay monthly with Secure Travel or GMS?
Secure Travel yes: two months' premium plus a $120 non-refundable fee, then 10 equal instalments, at $100,000 for 365 days. GMS is annual-pay only. IRCC accepts either full payment or instalments with a deposit, but a missed Secure Travel instalment lapses the cover and leaves the parent uninsured.
What happens if the super visa is refused?
Both refund the premium less an administration fee when you send the IRCC refusal letter before the effective date. Neither publishes the fee amount in the summaries we checked, so confirm it on the certificate. No refund is paid at either insurer once a claim has been made or is pending.
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Sources
- PolicyAdvisor, Secure Travel (RIMI) Visitor to Canada Insurance Review
- PolicyAdvisor, GMS Visitor to Canada Insurance Review
- GMS, Visitors to Canada brochure (April 2025)
- PolicyAdvisor, Cheapest Super Visa Insurance in Canada (rate tables)
- BestQuote, Super Visa Insurance rates
- PolicyAdvisor, Visitor insurance monthly payment plans
- IRCC, Super visa: documents and insurance requirement