How to read your super visa insurance policy

Read six sections in this order: the certificate, eligibility, the definitions of “stable” and “pre-existing condition”, the exclusions, the benefit limits, and the claims procedure. Together they decide whether a hospital bill is paid. Do it inside the 10-day free look that the THIA Bill of Rights provides, so you can still cancel for a full refund.

The certificate is what IRCC and the border officer see. The policy wording, 20 to 60 pages, is what the claims adjuster reads. The Hamilton family in the CP24 report learned the difference through a $96,311 bill.

What do you need before you start?

The certificate, the full policy wording as a PDF, the parent’s medication list, and 20 minutes without interruption. Use the search function in the PDF for the words “stable”, “pre-existing”, “exclusion”, “maximum” and “notify”.

How long does it take?

Twenty minutes for the six sections. Another ten to test the stability definition against the parent’s actual medication dates. Do it in the first week after purchase so there is time to cancel and rebuy if needed.

The 8 reading steps

1. Check the certificate against IRCC’s list. Underwriter named, insured’s full name and date of birth, sum insured of at least $100,000, effective and expiry dates one year apart, hospitalization and repatriation listed, premium paid. The sample certificate page shows each line. The IRCC forms page lists the seven requirements.
2. Read the eligibility section. Maximum age on the effective date, residency conditions, and whether the parent must be in good health or free of certain conditions to be eligible at all. An ineligible insured has no policy regardless of what was paid.
3. Read the definitions of “stable” and “pre-existing condition”. Note the number of days and the list of changes that break stability. Test it against the parent’s medication dates. The stable definition page compares the eight insurers’ wordings.
4. Read the exclusions in full. Look for the pre-existing exclusion, any exclusion for conditions the insurer has listed by name, and the exclusion for treatment that could reasonably wait until the parent returns home.
5. Read the benefit schedule and its sub-limits. The $100,000 is a ceiling. Inside it sit smaller limits for repatriation, dental, follow-up visits, prescriptions and ambulance.
6. Read the claims procedure. When to call, what number, what happens if you do not, who the claims administrator is, and the deadline for submitting receipts.
7. Read the refund and cancellation clause. Fees, the visa-refusal provision, and the rule on claims voiding refunds. The refunds page summarizes all eight insurers.
8. Write down three facts on the front of the folder. The stability period in days, the assistance phone number, and the expiry date.

What do the six sections actually say?

Each section answers one question an adjuster will ask. The table maps the question to the section and to what a bad answer looks like.

GMS’s policy wording is a good example of a full document. It states the 180-day stability period, the age-80 eligibility cut-off, the $5,000 common-carrier repatriation cap, the 2-day and 7-day waiting periods for in-Canada purchases, and the refund rules, all in one PDF.

Which wordings differ most between insurers?

The stability period, the maximum age and the repatriation limit. The rest is broadly similar in structure. Terms seen October 2026 in insurer wordings and the PolicyAdvisor summary — verify in your own policy.

What if something does not fit?

Cancel inside the free look and buy a better fit. The THIA Bill of Rights gives a minimum 10-day review period with a full refund if the policy has not started and no claim was made. After the free look, the switching insurers page explains the cost of moving.

The claims page explains how the sections are applied when a bill arrives, and the doctor visits, dental and prescriptions page covers the everyday sub-limits.