A super visa insurance deductible reduces the annual premium by roughly 10 to 15 per cent at $500 and 18 to 22 per cent at $1,000. At $2,500 the saving is 28 to 32 per cent and at $5,000 it is 33 to 38 per cent, according to the BestQuote deductible table. Manulife quotes about 15 per cent at $500 and 35 per cent at $5,000. 21st Century discounts up to 40 per cent and Travelance up to 45 per cent at their highest deductibles.
IRCC does not set a maximum deductible. Its rule is $100,000 of emergency coverage per applicant for one year from entry, and a $100,000 policy with a $5,000 deductible meets it. The deductible is a decision about the family’s cash, not about the visa.
How much does each deductible save?
On a $2,051 premium for a 65-year-old, a $500 deductible saves about $205 to $308 and a $1,000 deductible about $369 to $451. A $2,500 deductible saves about $574 to $656, and a $5,000 deductible about $677 to $779. On a $5,427 premium at 75, the $5,000 deductible saves about $1,790 to $2,060.
Approximate annual saving by deductible, $100,000 coverage, stable pre-existing conditions covered, rates seen Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Deductible | Saving range | Secure Travel, 65, from $2,051 | Manulife Plan B, 65, from $2,874 | Manulife Plan B, 75, from $5,427 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| $500 | 10 to 15 per cent | $205 to $308 | $287 to $431 (Manulife quotes about 15 per cent: $431) | $543 to $814 |
| $1,000 | 18 to 22 per cent | $369 to $451 | $517 to $632 | $977 to $1,194 |
| $2,500 | 28 to 32 per cent | $574 to $656 | $805 to $920 | $1,520 to $1,737 |
| $5,000 | 33 to 38 per cent | $677 to $779 | $948 to $1,092 (Manulife quotes about 35 per cent: $1,006) | $1,791 to $2,062 |
Percentages are from the BestQuote table and the Manulife, 21st Century and Travelance figures in the fact sheet. Each insurer applies its own schedule, and some cap the discount at a lower deductible than $5,000. The quoter shows the exact figure for each.
Where is the break-even?
The deductible is worth taking if the expected claims in the year are less than the saving. A $500 deductible saving $250 breaks even at one claim of $250 or more. A $5,000 deductible saving $1,000 breaks even if the parent has no claim above $1,000 all year. For older parents the probability of a claim rises faster than the saving.
| Deductible | Typical saving at 65 (Secure Travel, from $2,051) | Pays off if | Loses if |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $205 to $308 | No claim, or one claim under the saving | One claim above about $300 |
| $1,000 | $369 to $451 | No claim over about $450 | One claim above about $450 |
| $2,500 | $574 to $656 | No claim over about $650 | One claim above about $650 |
| $5,000 | $677 to $779 | No claim over about $780 | One claim above about $780; a hospital admission can exhaust the whole $5,000 |
The asymmetry is the point. The saving is bounded at a few hundred dollars. The exposure is the full deductible on the first serious claim, and serious claims are the reason the policy exists. The $96,311 Hamilton bill covered almost three weeks in hospital, an average of more than $4,500 a day. On a $5,000-deductible plan the family would have owed $5,000 even once the insurer paid, against a saving of around $2,000.
Per policy year or per claim?
Most super visa plans apply the deductible once per policy year: after it is paid, later claims in the same year are covered in full. Some apply it per claim. BestQuote recommends per-policy wordings. A per-claim $1,000 deductible on a year with three clinic visits costs $3,000; per-policy costs $1,000.
| Wording | Three claims of $900 each | One claim of $20,000 |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 per policy year | Family pays $1,000; insurer pays $1,700 | Family pays $1,000; insurer pays $19,000 |
| $1,000 per claim | Family pays $2,700; insurer pays $0 | Family pays $1,000; insurer pays $19,000 |
Check the wording before buying. The difference does not show on the certificate, only in the policy document. The claims page explains how the deductible is collected: usually by the hospital at discharge where direct billing is in place, or netted from the reimbursement.
When is $0 the right choice?
For parents aged 70 and over, for parents with any pre-existing condition covered, for families who could not pay $2,500 without borrowing, and for anyone buying monthly to manage cash flow. The premium saving is small in absolute terms and the exposure lands at the worst possible moment.
| Profile | Suggested deductible | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 60, no conditions, family has savings | $500 to $1,000 | Low claim probability; saving is real money |
| 60 to 69, controlled conditions | $0 to $500 | Admission risk rising; keep exposure small |
| 70 and over | $0 | Admission risk high; saving does not justify exposure |
| Any age, monthly plan to manage cash | $0 | A $5,000 bill defeats the purpose of paying monthly |
| Any age, $150,000 or $300,000 coverage | $500 | Higher limit, modest deductible, balanced |
Use a deductible to trim the price of the right plan, not to make the wrong plan affordable. The cost page shows what each insurer charged at $0 in October 2026; the quoter applies the deductible you choose on top. Compare the 8 insurers on stability period and refund terms first, then set the deductible last.
Questions people ask
Does IRCC allow a deductible on super visa insurance?
Yes. IRCC's rule is $100,000 of emergency coverage per applicant for one year from entry. It does not mention deductibles. A $100,000 policy with a $5,000 deductible meets the rule. The deductible affects what the family pays at claim time, not compliance.
How much does a $500 deductible save?
About 10 to 15 per cent of the premium. On a $2,051 premium for a 65-year-old at Secure Travel in October 2026, that is roughly $205 to $308 a year. The parent then pays the first $500 of any claim. Break-even is a single claim above about $300.
Is the deductible per claim or per policy year?
Per policy year at most super visa plans, so it is paid once and later claims in the same year are covered in full. Some plans are per claim. The policy wording says which. BestQuote recommends per-policy wordings for exactly this reason.
Should I take a $5,000 deductible to afford the policy?
Only if the family can pay $5,000 at short notice. The saving is about 35 per cent, roughly $1,900 on a $5,427 Manulife Plan B premium at age 75. One ICU day costs more than that. A $1,000 deductible captures about 20 per cent of the saving with a quarter of the exposure.
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