Visitor insurance for parents and relatives visiting from the Philippines

Parents and relatives from the Philippines need a visitor visa, or a $7 eTA if they have held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa and fly. Neither asks for insurance, but PhilHealth pays for care abroad only by reimbursement at its peso case rate, filed within 180 days of discharge, per Grant Thornton’s 2026 summary. A Canadian hospital bills a non-resident $3,750 to $4,005 a day and requires payment first. A 65-year-old pays about $337 for two months with stable pre-existing cover, roughly ₱15,000, derived from PolicyAdvisor’s October 2026 table.

Does PhilHealth cover my parents in Canada?

Not in any way that pays a Canadian hospital. PhilHealth members and dependants “are entitled to avail benefits through reimbursement of confinements overseas of applicable PhilHealth All Case Rate,” filed “within 180 days from the date of discharge,” per Grant Thornton. The case rate is a fixed peso amount set for Philippine hospitals, paid to the member after the family has already settled the Canadian bill.

Against Niagara Health’s non-resident rate of $3,750 a day on a ward and $4,500 in intensive care, or Queensway Carleton’s $4,005 and $15,642, a peso case rate is not protection. Niagara Health also states that non-residents must pay hospital and physician fees before receiving treatment. A Canadian visitor plan with a $0 deductible pays the hospital through its 24-hour assistance line.

Do my parents need a visa or an eTA?

A visitor visa in most cases, and an eTA for some. IRCC’s entry requirements page lists the Philippines as visa-required but notes that “some citizens of the Philippines may be eligible for an eTA if they meet certain requirements.” Since June 2023, per IRCC’s announcement, those who “have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air.”

IRCC’s eTA eligibility page is explicit that the visa is still needed “when arriving by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship.” Visitor visas issued to Filipino nationals fell from 79,015 in 2023 to 21,115 in 2025, per Go Far Global, partly because eTA-eligible travellers no longer need one. Neither document requires insurance; the visitor visa application asks for a passport, invitation letter, bank statements and travel history.

Can my parents use a Pacific Cross or Malayan policy?

IRCC will not object for a visitor visa, because it asks for no insurance; the problems are practical. Canadian hospitals bill non-residents up front and have no billing relationship with Philippine insurers, so the family pays and claims back in pesos later. Neither Pacific Cross nor Malayan is on OSFI’s register, so the policy cannot be reused if the family later applies for a super visa.

The Philippine super visa page explains why PhilHealth, Pacific Cross and Malayan lead to refusals on a super visa file.

What does it cost in pesos?

About ₱15,000 for two months at 65 with stable pre-existing conditions, and about ₱45,700 for six months. Plans are priced per day, so a three-week visit for a baptism or a graduation costs a fraction. A relative under 55 with no conditions pays considerably less.

Estimated premium, $100,000 coverage, derived from PolicyAdvisor’s monthly rates (modified 12 Oct 2026) divided by 30 — verify at quote time. Peso figures are approximate conversions at 1 CAD = 44.50 PHP (exchange-rates.org, 16 Oct 2026).

PolicyAdvisor’s carrier tables give monthly rates with stable pre-existing cover by carrier. Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) is $171 at 65 and $333 at 75; Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) $229 and $442; 21st Century Enhanced (Manulife) $272 and $485. Full tables are on the cost page. Several carriers let the host pay monthly; see monthly payments.

Which plan for a parent on maintenance medication?

A questionnaire plan that covers stable pre-existing conditions, from a carrier whose stability period the parent has already met. Hypertension and diabetes are common in the 60 to 75 group, and a no-questionnaire plan excludes both. The insurer reviews the medical history at claim time, which is how an Ontario family ended up with a $96,311 bill in 2024.

Answer the questionnaire with the parent on the phone and the prescription record open. The pre-existing conditions page lists every carrier’s stability period and age limit.

Should we apply for a super visa instead?

If the parent will come back every year, wants to stay beyond six months, or has been refused a visitor visa, and the host’s income clears the LICO table, yes. The super visa is approved 75 to 81% of the time, allows five years per entry over a ten-year visa, and took about 90 days from Manila on 22 September 2026, per Immigration.ca.

The application must be made from outside Canada, so a parent at the end of a visitor stay flies home first. The decision guide sets the two routes side by side. A parent who later goes home for a few months should read trips home from the Philippines, because the home country is excluded from side-trip cover at every carrier.

Ipadala ito sa iyong anak sa Canada. They should buy the policy in Canadian dollars after the visa or eTA is approved, set the start date to the flight, and email you the certificate to carry with the passport. Ask them to get a quote before anyone pays a Philippine insurer in pesos.

SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]). We serve Ontario residents; other provinces are planned for 2028. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.