A grandparent over 80 can still buy visitors to Canada insurance. TuGo (iA Financial Group) and 21st Century Basic (Manulife) have no maximum age; Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) and Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) insure to 90; Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) to 89; Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life), 21st Century Enhanced and Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) to 85. The hard limit is pre-existing cover, which ends at 79 at GMS, Destination and Travelance, 84 at Secure Travel, 85 at Manulife and 89 at Allianz. At 85, budget about $405 a month without pre-existing cover and $454 with it, per PolicyAdvisor.
Which carriers insure a visitor over 80?
Most of them, for the policy itself. The age limits below apply on the effective date, so a grandparent who turns 86 during the stay keeps cover to expiry but may not be able to extend at a carrier capped at 85.
Maximum ages for a visitor policy and for pre-existing cover, carrier pages and SuperVisaDirect fact sheet, Oct 2026 — confirm with the insurer at quote time.
| Carrier (underwriter) | Maximum age to buy | Maximum age with pre-existing cover | Stability period at 80+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | None | None (Comprehensive) | 180 days to 85; 365 days 86+ (fact sheet) |
| 21st Century Basic (Manulife) | None | No pre-existing cover at any age | Not applicable |
| Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) | 90 | 84 | 180 days (70 to 84) |
| Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) | 90 | 79; “all pre-existing conditions are excluded” at 80+ | Not applicable |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | 89 | 89 | 180 days |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | 85 | 85 | 180 days |
| 21st Century Enhanced (Manulife) | 85 | 85 | 180 days; 15-day wait if bought after arrival over 85 |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | 85 | 79; 80+ excluded | Not applicable; $100,000 maximum from 70 |
| RBC Insurance (not a SuperVisaDirect carrier) | 84 (Plans I and II) | Depends on age | Confirm |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Under 80 | 79 | Not applicable |
What does cover cost over 80?
Roughly three times the rate at 65. PolicyAdvisor’s cost guide gives $300 to $450 a month at $25,000 and $400 to $550 at $100,000 for visitors 80 and over, with $150,000 and above “subject to special approval or limited options.”
Monthly premium, $100,000 coverage, 30-day policy, PolicyAdvisor, modified 12 Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Age | Without pre-existing cover | With stable pre-existing cover |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | $240.00 | $328.80 |
| 85 | $405.00 | $453.92 |
A six-week visit at 85 is therefore about $570 to $640; three months about $1,215 to $1,360. These are market averages; carrier prices at the exact age differ, and some carriers price in five-year bands so an 84-year-old and an 86-year-old can be far apart. Use the quoter for the exact age.
How much coverage should a grandparent over 80 carry?
As much as a carrier will sell, and at least $100,000. Admissions lengthen with age and the Hamilton case reached $96,311 in under three weeks for an 88-year-old. Secure Travel sells up to $1,000,000 to age 90; Travelance caps at $100,000 from 70; GMS sells $150,000 but only under 80.
| Coverage | Availability over 80 | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Widely available | Short visit, no conditions, family able to top up |
| $100,000 | Widely available | Minimum for any grandparent |
| $150,000 | Limited; special approval at some carriers | Recommended where sold |
| $300,000 or more | Secure Travel to 90; TuGo to $300,000 | Grandparent with conditions, long visit |
See coverage amounts for the hospital rates behind these figures.
Should the family choose a questionnaire plan or a no-questionnaire plan?
A questionnaire plan, if the grandparent’s conditions are stable and a carrier covers them at their age. No-questionnaire plans such as 21st Century Basic have no age limit but exclude every pre-existing condition, and the insurer reviews the medical history when a claim arrives. For a grandparent on cardiac or diabetes medication that excludes the likely claims.
| Grandparent | Recommended plan type | Carriers to shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| 82, hypertension stable 1 year | Questionnaire, pre-existing covered | Allianz, Manulife, 21st Century Enhanced, Secure Travel |
| 86, hypertension stable 1 year | Questionnaire, pre-existing covered | Allianz (to 89); TuGo (365-day stability) |
| 84, medication changed 3 months ago | Questionnaire; the condition excluded until stable 180 days | Allianz, Manulife, Secure Travel; disclose fully |
| 88, early dementia | Questionnaire; see the dementia page | Allianz; TuGo; confirm at quote |
| 91, no conditions | No-questionnaire, all pre-existing excluded | TuGo; 21st Century Basic |
Fill in the questionnaire with the grandparent’s doctor or pharmacy record to hand. The pre-existing conditions page explains what “stable” means.
What practical steps reduce the risk for an elderly visitor?
Buy before the flight, buy the full term, and keep the paperwork with the grandparent. The waiting period for a policy bought after arrival is 15 days at 21st Century over 85, and extensions are refused after any treatment.
| Step | Why it matters more over 80 |
|---|---|
| Buy before departure | Waiting periods are longer (15 days at 21st Century over 85) |
| Buy the full stay, not a short policy to extend | Extensions need no treatment; GMS also needs under 80 at extension |
| Carry the certificate and assistance number in hand luggage | A companion must call the assistance line before or at admission |
| Bring a medication list and recent test results | Speeds triage and supports the claim file |
| Check the age limit against the effective date | A birthday before departure can move the grandparent out of a carrier’s range |
| Consider the super visa if the grandparent will return | Age is not a bar; 6% of applicants are over 75, per IRCC’s report |
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.
Questions people ask
Which insurers cover a visitor aged 85?
TuGo (iA Financial Group) and 21st Century Basic (Manulife) with no age limit; Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) and Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) to 90; Allianz (CUMIS) to 89; Manulife CoverMe and 21st Century Enhanced to 85; Travelance (Old Republic) to 85; RBC Plans I and II to 84. GMS stops at 79. Confirm the age applies on the effective date.
Are pre-existing conditions covered at 85?
At Allianz (180-day stability, to 89), Manulife and 21st Century Enhanced (180 days, to 85), and TuGo (365-day stability from 86 per our fact sheet). Not at GMS, Destination or Travelance, which exclude pre-existing conditions at 80 and over, nor at Secure Travel, whose pre-existing cover ends at 84. 21st Century Basic covers no pre-existing conditions at any age.
How much does it cost at 85?
About $405 a month for $100,000 without pre-existing cover, or $454 with it, per PolicyAdvisor's October 2026 table. PolicyAdvisor's range for visitors 80 and over is $300 to $450 a month at $25,000 and $400 to $550 at $100,000, with $150,000 and above subject to special approval or limited options.
Should a grandparent over 80 buy $150,000?
If a carrier will sell it. Hospital stays lengthen with age, and the $96,311 Hamilton bill involved an 88-year-old in under three weeks. PolicyAdvisor notes $150,000 and above for visitors over 80 is subject to special approval or limited options. Secure Travel sells up to $1,000,000 to age 90; ask what is available at the grandparent's exact age.
Is a no-questionnaire plan a good idea for an elderly grandparent?
Only with eyes open. 21st Century Basic has no age limit and asks no questions, but excludes every pre-existing condition and reviews the medical file at claim time. For a grandparent on heart, blood pressure or diabetes medication, that excludes the most likely claims. The Hamilton case was first denied on exactly this basis.
Can a grandparent over 80 get a super visa instead?
Yes; age is not a bar, and 6% of super visa applicants are over 75. The insurance is harder: the policy must be $100,000 for 365 days, and only Allianz (to 89), Secure Travel (to 90, without pre-existing cover from 85), Destination (to 90, no pre-existing from 80), TuGo and 21st Century Basic sell a full year at that age. Our super visa pages cover it.
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Sources
- PolicyAdvisor – Visitor insurance Canada (monthly premiums at 85, Oct 2026)
- PolicyAdvisor – Cost of visitors insurance to Canada (ranges for 80 and over)
- PolicyAdvisor – Allianz visitor review (15 days to 89; 180 days 60-89)
- PolicyAdvisor – Secure Travel (RIMI) visitor review (to 90; pre-existing to 84; up to $1,000,000)
- PolicyAdvisor – Destination visitor review (quotes to 90; pre-existing excluded 80+)
- PolicyAdvisor – Travelance visitor review (to 85; 80+ pre-existing excluded; $100,000 cap 70-85)
- PolicyAdvisor – 21st Century visitor review (Basic no age limit; Enhanced to 85; 15-day wait over 85)
- Manulife CoverMe – Visitors to Canada Standard plan (apply up to age 85)
- GMS – Visitors to Canada travel insurance (under 80 on the effective date)
- iA Financial Group – TuGo Visitors to Canada (age limit: none)
- RBC Insurance – Compare visitors to Canada plans (Plans I and II to 84)
- CP24 – $96,311 Hamilton hospital bill, 88-year-old visitor (Apr 2025)
- IRCC – Report to Parliament on the super visa (applicant age distribution)