New study shows Canadians are willing to roll the dice when it comes to protecting themselves on vacation

Canadians are taking unnecessary risks when it comes to protecting themselves on vacation. A new study shows almost a third (27%) of Canadians still travel without proper insurance. Of those who do get coverage, less than a quarter (23%) actually read their policy thoroughly to know what they’re covered for.

According to the Winter Vacation Confidence Index conducted by Ipsos for Allianz Global Assistance Canada, a leading travel insurance and assistance provider, the biggest risk-takers are 18-34 year-olds, with 31 per cent opting for no coverage. Regionally, Atlantic Canadians, at 36 per cent, are most likely to travel uninsured. 

While 73 per cent of Canadians do in fact purchase travel insurance, a concerning finding of the study is that only 23 per cent take time to read their policy thoroughly. Some 38 per cent say they scan it, while 13 per cent say they don’t read it at all. 

“Canadians are typically savvy travellers, but this lack of knowledge on the importance of travel insurance and what is covered, suggests we’re still taking unnecessary risks abroad,” says Dan Keon, Vice President, Market Management, Allianz Global Assistance Canada. 

The percentage of Canadians who travel uninsured is even more surprising given that 37 per cent of Canadian travellers indicated that their main concern while abroad was safety and security, with that number climbing to 40 per cent among Boomers. 

“When you consider that Canadians spend an average of $2,700 for an annual vacation, not having the protection of trip cancellation or interruption is a genuine financial risk,” adds Keon. “And if you are injured or fall ill, the cost of out-of-country healthcare can be devastating – easily in the thousands of dollars. For example, we know from our own claims experience that a broken ankle requiring surgery and admission to hospital in Florida could cost as much as $45,000.” 

The study also indicates that Canadians obtain their travel insurance through a variety of means, led by workplace benefits plans (18%), purchasing when booking their trip (15%) and coverage through a credit card (14%). While only seven per cent of those surveyed indicated 2 they buy travel insurance from a broker, which rises to 19 per cent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and 14 per cent in B.C. 

“It is encouraging that most Canadians purchase travel insurance,” says Keon. “But they need to understand that travel insurance doesn’t cover every situation. There are different types of insurance plans and levels of coverage so it is important that they review their policy thoroughly and speak to a travel insurance professional if they have questions.” 

The results of the Winter Vacation Confidence Index, conducted by Ipsos, are considered accurate within +/-2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. A vacation was defined as a leisure trip of at least one week outside the respondent’s home province.

Allianz Global Assistance (Canada)

For over 30 years, Allianz Global Assistance has supported travelling Canadians when they need it most with value-added travel insurance and assistance services. More than 800 employees support long-term partnerships with some of the best known brands in the travel and financial services markets. Allianz Global Assistance also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call centre services and claims administration for health insurers, property and casualty insurers and credit card companies. Allianz Global Assistance is a specialist brand of Allianz Partners for assistance and travel insurance, and is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc. and AZGA Insurance Agency Canada Ltd. For more information, visit the Allianz Global Assistance Canada website. 

Allianz Partners 

Dedicated to bringing global protection and care, Allianz Partners is the B2B2C leader in assistance and insurance solutions in the following areas of expertise: assistance, international health & life, automotive and travel insurance. These solutions, which are a unique combination of insurance, service and technology, are available to business partners or via direct and digital channels under four commercial brands: Allianz Assistance, Allianz Care, Allianz Automotive and Allianz Travel. 

This global family of over 19,000 employees is present in 78 countries, speaks 70 languages and handles 54 million cases per year, protecting customers and employees on all continents. For more information, visit the Allianz Partners website. 

Press Contact: 

Communications@allianz-assistance.ca