Americans visiting Canada need no visa or eTA, but they do need insurance, because Medicare “usually does not cover medical care you receive when traveling outside the U.S.” and most US employer and marketplace plans treat Canada as out of network or exclude it. A visitors to Canada plan costs roughly $2.40 a day at 25, $4.45 at 65 and $8.00 at 75 for $100,000, derived from PolicyAdvisor’s October 2026 table. A 7-day trip for a 65-year-old is about $31; a 30-day trip $133. Buy before crossing, so no waiting period applies.
Does US health insurance work in Canada?
Rarely, and never the way it works at home. Canadian hospitals bill non-residents at the point of care and do not have network agreements with US insurers, so the patient pays and claims afterwards. Three kinds of US cover behave differently.
| US coverage | In Canada | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare (Parts A and B) | “Usually does not cover” care outside the US. Exceptions: a direct route between Alaska and another state when the nearest hospital is in Canada; residents near the border whose nearest hospital is Canadian; cruise ships in US waters | Medicare Interactive |
| Medigap plans C to G, M and N | “Cover 80% of the cost of emergency care abroad”; subject to the plan’s deductible, limits and trip-length rules | Medicare Interactive |
| Medicare Advantage | Some plans cover emergency care abroad; contact the plan | Medicare Interactive |
| Employer or ACA marketplace plan | Typically out-of-network emergency only, US deductible and coinsurance apply; some exclude foreign care | Ask the plan in writing |
| Credit card travel benefit | Often trip cancellation and baggage only; medical benefits, if any, are small | Read the guide to benefits |
The 20% Medigap does not pay, on a ward bill of $3,750 a day at Niagara Health or $4,005 at Queensway Carleton, is $750 to $800 a day before physician fees. A Canadian visitor plan with a $0 deductible pays the hospital directly through its assistance line.
Do Americans need a visa or an eTA?
No. IRCC states “U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement” and recommends a valid passport as “the only reliable and universally accepted travel and ID document.” Green card holders are also exempt from the eTA and, per the entry requirements page, need only the green card by land or water and the green card plus a passport by air.
| Traveller | By air | By land or water | eTA or visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| US citizen | Passport | Passport recommended; other proof of citizenship accepted | Neither |
| US lawful permanent resident | Passport from country of nationality plus green card | Green card alone | Neither |
| Non-citizen living in the US on a visa | Depends on nationality | Depends on nationality | See visitor visa vs eTA |
Stays are normally up to six months per visit. Nothing in the entry process asks for insurance.
What does a short trip cost?
A few dollars a day. Visitor plans are priced per day, so a weekend costs a weekend’s premium. The table applies PolicyAdvisor’s monthly rates to the two trip lengths Americans most often take.
Estimated premium, $100,000 coverage, derived from PolicyAdvisor’s monthly rates (modified 12 Oct 2026) divided by 30 — verify at quote time.
| Visitor’s age | 7 days, no pre-existing cover | 7 days, stable pre-existing cover | 30 days, no pre-existing cover | 30 days, stable pre-existing cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | about $24 | about $27 | $101.70 | $115.50 |
| 55 | about $26 | about $30 | $110.70 | $129.60 |
| 65 | about $31 | about $39 | $133.20 | $168.60 |
| 75 | about $56 | about $77 | $240.00 | $328.80 |
| 85 | about $95 | about $106 | $405.00 | $453.92 |
PolicyAdvisor’s cost guide gives $50 to $150 as the range for 1 to 14 days across ages. Pre-existing cover matters for retirees on daily medication; see pre-existing conditions.
How much coverage does a short trip need?
$100,000, even for a week. The length of the trip does not change the size of a heart attack. A three-week ICU stay in Ontario can pass $100,000, and a US visitor transferred home by air ambulance adds a five-figure transport bill that the policy’s repatriation benefit covers.
| Coverage | 7-day premium at 65 (derived) | Covers a 3-week ward stay? |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Slightly less than $100,000 | No |
| $100,000 | about $31 | Yes, narrowly |
| $150,000 | A few dollars more | Yes |
Repatriation benefits differ: GMS caps repatriation at $5,000, RBC’s repatriation transport is unlimited. For a visitor from Florida or California, the transport benefit is worth checking; see coverage amounts.
When should an American buy?
Before leaving home, with the effective date set to the crossing date. Buying after arrival brings a 48-hour to 7-day illness wait at most carriers and is not possible at RBC after 5 days. On a 7-day trip, a 72-hour wait leaves four covered days.
| Timing | Illness covered from | Injuries covered from |
|---|---|---|
| Bought before crossing | Effective date | Effective date |
| Bought within 30 days of arrival | 2 to 3 days later (GMS 2, Manulife and 21st Century 72 hours, Secure Travel 48 hours) | Effective date |
| Bought later | 7 to 8 days later | Effective date |
Full carrier rules are on the buying after arrival page.
Which carriers suit American visitors?
Any of the eight in our comparison; the one sold on SuperVisaDirect is TuGo’s plan, underwritten by iA Financial Group. The useful filters are a short minimum term, a low cancellation fee for a trip that may not happen, and a side-trip clause that fits a visitor who will cross back and forth. Policies cover travel outside Canada, including a return to the US mid-trip, only within the side-trip limits: 30 days and under 50% of the term at GMS, 45 days at Travelance, the lesser of 30 days or 49% at Manulife. Trips to the home country, the US for an American, are excluded from side-trip cover at every carrier.
| Carrier (underwriter) | Note for US visitors |
|---|---|
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | No questions under 55; repatriation capped at $5,000 |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | No maximum age; coverage up to $300,000 |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Full refund before the effective date if the trip is cancelled |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | 10-day free look; $50 early-return fee |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | 10-day refund window; pauses cover during home-country trips |
| Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) | Coverage to age 90 |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | Deductibles to $10,000 for visitors who want catastrophe-only cover |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | Basic plan has no age limit |
Americans who make repeated short trips should read the side trips page: a policy bought for one visit does not cover the next.
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
Does Medicare cover me in Canada?
Almost never. Medicare 'usually does not cover medical care you receive when traveling outside the U.S.' The Canada exception applies only when travelling a direct route without unreasonable delay between Alaska and another state and the closest hospital is in Canada, or for residents near the border whose nearest hospital is Canadian. A visit to grandchildren in Toronto does not qualify.
Does Medigap cover emergencies in Canada?
Plans C through G, M and N cover 80% of emergency care abroad, per Medicare Interactive, subject to the plan's deductible, lifetime limit and trip-length rules; check the policy. The remaining 20% of a Canadian hospital bill at $3,750 to $4,005 a day is still a large sum, which is why many Medicare visitors buy a Canadian visitor plan on top.
Does my US employer or marketplace plan cover Canada?
Usually only as out-of-network emergency care, with US-style deductibles and coinsurance, and some plans exclude foreign care entirely. Canadian hospitals bill non-residents up front and do not bill US insurers directly, so you pay and claim later. Ask the plan in writing before relying on it.
Do Americans need a visa or an eTA?
No. IRCC states 'U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement' and need only proof of citizenship, ideally a passport. US lawful permanent residents are also exempt from the eTA and need a valid green card, plus a passport from their country of nationality when flying. Neither group has Canadian health coverage.
How much is a 7-day policy for a retired American?
About $31 at 65 and $56 at 75 for $100,000 without pre-existing cover, dividing PolicyAdvisor's October 2026 monthly figures by 30; roughly $39 and $77 with stable pre-existing cover. A 30-day policy is $133 and $240. These are averages; the quoter gives the carrier's exact day rate.
Can I buy once I have crossed the border?
Yes, with a 48-hour to 7-day illness waiting period depending on the carrier; injuries are covered from the effective date. RBC requires purchase before arrival or within 5 days. For a weekend trip the waiting period consumes the trip, so buy before you leave home and set the effective date to the crossing date.
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Sources
- Medicare Interactive – Traveling with Medicare (no coverage outside the US; Alaska-route exception; Medigap 80%)
- IRCC – eTA facts (US citizens and lawful permanent residents exempt)
- IRCC – Entry requirements by country (US citizens; green card holders by air, land and water)
- PolicyAdvisor – Visitor insurance Canada (monthly premiums by age, Oct 2026)
- PolicyAdvisor – Cost of visitors insurance to Canada (1-14 day ranges)
- GMS – Visitors to Canada travel insurance (waiting periods; side trips)
- RBC Insurance – Compare visitors to Canada plans (buy before arrival or within 5 days)
- Niagara Health – 2026-27 non-resident rate schedule
- Queensway Carleton Hospital – Fees without health insurance