Super Visa Insurance Cost in Canada: 2026 Price Guide
Understand Super Visa insurance costs by age, coverage and medical history, plus deductibles, payment options and current IRCC requirements.
Bringing a parent or grandparent to Canada involves more than booking a flight. Medical insurance is an important part of the Super Visa application, and its cost can make a significant difference to your family’s budget.
The Super Visa insurance cost in Canada depends on the traveller’s age, medical history, coverage amount, deductible and policy duration. Published annual rate examples for $100,000 of coverage range from around $1,200 for some younger applicants to more than $6,000 for older travellers. These are budgeting examples, not guaranteed prices.
This guide separates official immigration requirements from insurance pricing, explains what changes your premium, and helps you compare policies before requesting a personalized quote.
Research checked: October 3, 2026. All amounts are in Canadian dollars. Published rates may change, and an insurer’s current quote and policy wording determine the price and coverage available to you.
What Is Super Visa Insurance?
Super Visa insurance is private medical insurance purchased for parents and grandparents visiting Canada under the Super Visa program. A suitable visitors-to-Canada policy can meet the insurance requirement when its coverage, duration, payment arrangements and insurer satisfy IRCC’s rules.
These policies generally focus on unexpected medical emergencies. Depending on the contract, covered expenses may include emergency hospital treatment, physician services, ambulance transportation and repatriation.
Do not assume the policy works like provincial health coverage or a comprehensive family health plan. Routine appointments, ongoing prescriptions and planned treatment may be excluded. Read the benefits and exclusions carefully, especially if your parent takes medication or receives regular medical care.
Current Super Visa Medical Insurance Requirements in 2026
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the health insurance policy must provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage and be valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry.
- It must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
- It must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit; an insurance quote alone is not accepted.
- It must identify the insurance company issuing the policy.
- It must be valid for each entry to Canada and available for border officers to review on request.
Insurance can come from a Canadian insurance company or a qualifying company outside Canada. For a foreign insurer, IRCC requires authorization from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to provide accident and sickness insurance, inclusion on OSFI’s list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issuance of the policy while doing insurance business in Canada. The policy must include the required statement about that Canadian insurance business.
This does not mean any travel policy purchased overseas qualifies. Verify the actual insurer and documentation before paying.
These are government requirements, not government-set prices. Purchasing insurance also does not guarantee visa approval; the applicant and host must meet the other Super Visa requirements.
Source: IRCC Super Visa forms and documents.
How Much Does Super Visa Insurance Typically Cost?
There is no single Super Visa insurance price that applies to every family. A useful comparison starts with the same coverage amount, policy duration, deductible and approach to pre-existing conditions.
The estimates below draw on publicly available annual rate tables for the 21st Century Basic plan and Travelance Essential plan. Both example tables exclude pre-existing condition coverage. They are reference points for budgeting, rather than a survey of every Canadian insurer or confirmed 2026 offers.
Estimated Super Visa Insurance Cost by Age
| Age group | Estimated annual premium | Budgeting example |
|---|---|---|
| 45–54 | Approximately $1,200–$1,300 | A 50-year-old can use this range as an initial reference before obtaining quotes. |
| 55–64 | Approximately $1,300–$1,650 | A 58-year-old and a 63-year-old may fall into different pricing bands. |
| 65–69 | Approximately $1,800–$2,000 | A 67-year-old should compare both basic and suitable medical-condition coverage. |
| 70–79 | Approximately $2,700–$4,700 | A 72-year-old may pay substantially less than a 78-year-old within this broad group. |
| 80+ | Approximately $5,100–$6,900 in the published examples reviewed | Examples cover ages 80–85 and one 86+ band; eligibility and prices vary substantially. |
Estimates only: These rounded ranges describe selected published examples, not market minimums or maximums. Actual premiums may fall outside them and depend on insurer underwriting, exact age, health, deductible, trip duration, coverage and product eligibility. Policies covering eligible pre-existing conditions may cost more.
For two parents, obtain a separate assessment for each person. Different ages and medical histories can produce very different premiums. Do not assume a couple qualifies for a family discount or that the total will be twice one parent’s quote.
Pricing references: 21st Century Basic published rates and Travelance published rate examples.
What Affects Your Super Visa Insurance Premium?
Age and the Insurer’s Pricing Bands
Published rate schedules generally increase with age, sometimes sharply when the traveller enters a new age band. Insurers may determine age using the policy’s effective date or another contract-specific rule.
Provide the correct date of birth and expected arrival date. If a birthday occurs before coverage begins, ask whether it changes the quote. This is especially important when comparing Super Visa insurance for grandparents.
Deductible
A deductible is the portion of an eligible claim that you must pay according to the policy. Choosing a higher deductible often reduces the premium, but leaves your family responsible for more of the medical bill.
For example, compare quotes with $0, $500 and $1,000 deductibles. Then ask whether the deductible applies per claim, per medical condition or over the policy period. The same deductible amount can work differently across contracts.
Choose an amount you could comfortably pay during an emergency. Premium savings are less helpful if the deductible creates financial difficulty when treatment is needed.
Coverage Amount
Super Visa insurance $100,000 coverage meets the current minimum amount, provided the policy also meets the other requirements. Higher limits may be available and generally increase the premium.
Request a comparison with higher coverage where offered. Look at the extra premium alongside the added protection, and check individual benefit limits. A higher overall limit does not necessarily increase every benefit or remove exclusions.
Health and Policy Eligibility
Medical history can affect which products are available, whether a condition is covered and how much a suitable policy costs. Some products use medical questionnaires; others apply eligibility and exclusion rules without detailed individual pricing.
A cheaper basic policy and a policy covering eligible stable conditions are different purchases. Compare their protection before comparing their prices.
Super Visa Insurance With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Finding Super Visa insurance for pre-existing conditions requires careful attention to the contract. Having diabetes, high blood pressure or another diagnosis does not automatically mean every insurer will cover it or exclude it.
Some policies exclude all pre-existing conditions. Others cover certain conditions that satisfy a defined stability period and other eligibility rules. Restrictions can also change with age.
For example, Travelance’s published Premier plan summary describes a 180-day stability requirement, with additional exclusions for certain heart, brain and lung conditions at ages 70–79 and no pre-existing condition coverage at ages 80–85. Those are product-specific terms, not rules applying to every insurer.
Source: Travelance visitors-to-Canada plan comparison. You can also review the Super Visa options with and without pre-existing condition coverage on Smile Insurance.
Understand What “Stable” Means
The insurer’s definition matters more than an everyday description of someone as healthy or well controlled. Review how the policy treats medication changes, new symptoms, hospital visits, specialist referrals and pending investigations.
Make a list of diagnoses, medications, recent treatment and upcoming tests before discussing options. Answer application questions accurately. If something is unclear, ask for an explanation tied to the policy wording rather than assuming the condition qualifies.
Also distinguish emergency treatment from routine management. A policy that covers an eligible emergency related to a stable condition may still exclude regular monitoring or maintenance prescriptions.
Super Visa Insurance Monthly Payment Options
IRCC accepts insurance paid in instalments with a deposit. However, a Super Visa insurance monthly payment arrangement is not necessarily a policy you can cancel freely after one month.
Availability and payment terms depend on the provider. Travelance currently publishes a monthly option requiring two months of premium at application and a $100 non-refundable billing fee. Its page also states that cancellation administration fees apply. By contrast, the Manulife travel product FAQ reviewed states that its visitors-to-Canada premiums must be paid in full.
Compare the total payable, deposit, billing fees, cancellation terms and consequences of a missed payment. Dividing an annual premium by twelve gives a budgeting figure, not necessarily the insurer’s monthly payment amount.
Sources: Travelance monthly payment terms and Manulife travel insurance FAQ.
Single-Trip, Annual and Multi-Year Coverage
A policy lasting one year is not necessarily an annual multi-trip policy. A visitors-to-Canada contract may cover one continuous stay, while a multi-trip product may restrict the length of each individual trip.
Check the actual insured duration instead of relying on the word “annual.” A short-trip travel insurance policy should not be assumed to satisfy the Super Visa requirement.
Although the Super Visa can permit a stay of five years, a one-year insurance policy does not cover all five years. IRCC says holders should maintain insurance throughout their stay and renew it if it expires before departure.
For a longer visit, ask about renewal eligibility, future age-based pricing and how medical changes could affect the next policy. Multi-year arrangements may be available for some products, but do not assume they lock in premiums or guarantee continued eligibility. Confirm how temporary trips home and re-entry affect coverage.
Source: IRCC insurance update and continuing coverage guidance.
How to Reduce the Cost of Super Visa Insurance
- Compare equivalent quotes: Use identical dates, limits, deductibles and medical-condition requirements.
- Consider an affordable deductible: Balance premium savings against the amount your family could pay during a claim.
- Check payment costs: Compare the total cost of instalments with paying upfront.
- Ask about applicable discounts: Confirm eligibility rather than assuming a discount is available.
- Review the traveller’s actual needs: Avoid paying for benefits you do not need, while keeping essential protection.
- Coordinate travel dates: Keep the policy’s start date aligned with arrival through an approved amendment.
- Plan renewals early: Discuss continued coverage before the existing policy expires.
Do not reduce costs by withholding medical information, selecting an unaffordable deductible or purchasing insufficient duration. Those choices can create problems far greater than the initial savings.
Why the Cheapest Policy Is Not Always the Best Fit
Searching for the cheapest Super Visa insurance Canada offers is understandable. However, the lowest quoted premium may exclude the medical condition you most need covered.
Two policies with the same $100,000 limit can differ in exclusions, deductibles, assistance requirements and refund terms. A basic policy may suit an eligible traveller who does not require pre-existing condition coverage, while another traveller needs a different product.
Focus on suitable coverage at a competitive price. Ask the advisor to explain what accounts for the price difference, including any important protection missing from the cheaper option.
What to Compare Before Purchasing
- The insurer’s eligibility under current IRCC rules.
- The coverage amount and full insured period.
- Medical eligibility, stability definitions and exclusions.
- Deductible amount and how often it applies.
- Limits on particular benefits and follow-up treatment.
- Emergency assistance contact procedures and approval requirements.
- Total premium, deposit and payment-plan fees.
- Refund, date-change, renewal and trip-break provisions.
Keep the policy confirmation, payment evidence and emergency contact details accessible to both the traveller and their family in Canada. Review the contract before departure so everyone knows what to do if medical care is needed.
Refunds and Changes if Travel Plans Change
If the Super Visa Is Refused
Some policies provide a refund following visa refusal, subject to documentation and contract conditions. Ask whether you must provide the refusal letter, when the request must be made and which charges remain non-refundable. A refundable insurance premium does not necessarily mean a refundable billing fee.
If the Visa or Arrival Is Delayed
Contact the provider before the scheduled effective date and request an approved date change. Obtain updated documents. Do not assume coverage automatically shifts to the new arrival date; an amendment may affect pricing, eligibility or the assessment of medical stability.
If the Traveller Returns Home Early
A partial refund for unused days may be available, but conditions vary. Proof of departure, minimum refund amounts, administration fees and claim history can affect eligibility. Manulife’s reviewed FAQ, for example, describes an unused-day refund subject to conditions including no claim and no assistance services.
Do not simply stop monthly payments. Request cancellation through the provider, confirm when coverage ends and obtain the refund calculation in writing. Check whether a temporary visit home is treated differently from ending the Canadian stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does Super Visa insurance cost in Canada in 2026?
There is no fixed price. Selected published annual examples for $100,000 coverage with a $0 deductible and no pre-existing condition coverage range from approximately $1,200–$1,300 at ages 45–54 to $5,100–$6,900 in the older-age examples reviewed. Obtain a current personalized quote.
2. Is $100,000 of medical insurance enough for a Super Visa?
$100,000 meets IRCC’s current minimum emergency coverage amount. The policy must also meet its duration, payment, benefit and insurer requirements. Higher limits may be available.
3. Can I pay for Super Visa insurance monthly?
Yes, IRCC accepts instalments with a deposit. The provider must offer that arrangement, and deposits, billing fees and cancellation conditions vary.
4. Does Super Visa insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Some policies cover eligible stable pre-existing conditions, while others exclude them. Coverage depends on the contract, medical history, stability requirements and age restrictions.
5. How much is Super Visa insurance for both parents?
The combined cost depends on each parent’s age, health and selected coverage. Obtain quotes for both travellers rather than assuming the total is twice one parent’s premium.
6. Can I get a refund if the Super Visa is refused?
A refund may be available under the policy’s refusal provisions. Confirm required documents, deadlines and non-refundable charges before purchasing.
7. Do I need to buy five years of insurance upfront?
IRCC requires insurance valid for at least one year from entry. A longer permitted stay does not extend the policy automatically; maintain coverage and arrange renewal when necessary.
8. Can I use insurance from outside Canada?
Yes, if the foreign insurer and policy satisfy IRCC’s specific requirements, including OSFI authorization and issuance while doing insurance business in Canada. Not every overseas policy qualifies.
9. What is the cheapest way to buy Super Visa insurance?
Compare equivalent policies, consider an affordable deductible and review payment fees. Choose protection suited to the traveller rather than relying solely on the lowest premium.
Request a Personalized Super Visa Insurance Quote
The most useful estimate is one based on your parent’s or grandparent’s actual circumstances. Smile Insurance serves clients in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and can help you compare Super Visa insurance options for your family.
Have the traveller’s date of birth, expected arrival date and intended stay ready for a quote discussion. Before sharing personal health information, ask which secure channel to use. Compare coverage limits, deductibles, payment options and any suitable pre-existing condition protection.
Request a personalized Super Visa insurance quote from SmileInsurance.ca today. Compare available options, understand the policy conditions and choose coverage that fits your family’s needs and budget.