Provincial government health care plans cover only a small percentage of the medical costs incurred during an emergency. If you were to require emergency medical assistance while outside of your home province, you would likely find yourself with a significant bill to pay. You might also feel overwhelmed by the experience of needing medical care in surroundings unfamiliar to you - at a time when coping is difficult due to the mishap itself.

Without proper travel insurance, a medical emergency outside of the province can cause considerable difficulty and emotional stress, and can ruin an extended trip or otherwise perfect vacation.

These problems can easily be avoided by having the right amount of emergency excess medical insurance. Appropriate insurance can help protect your financial stability and give you peace of mind in the event of an illness or accident while away from home. While you cannot predict the future, you can protect it.

Meet Jim and Lana
Jim and Lana (not their real names), are a typical Canadian couple who travelled down to the United States for a summer vacation in their recreational vehicle. They were accompanied by Jim’s younger sister and her teenage son. Although they had planned their trip down to the last detail, Jim and Lana had assumed that they would not need emergency medical insurance coverage. After all, everyone was healthy, and they had travelled South many times before without incident.

A few days into their vacation, while preparing for a family picnic on the beach, Jim’s back began to hurt. Resting did not help at all and, soon, the pain spread to his legs. In desperation, he and Lana took a cab to the local hospital. Here, Jim was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis - a common condition where the canal that houses the spinal cord becomes narrowed, pinching the spinal cord and nerves. Jim was hospitalized for seven days and was eventually flown back to his home province by air ambulance.

Unfortunately, Jim was the only member of the group who could drive the recreational vehicle, and so Lana and the accompanying family members had to fly home. Lana then had to make arrangements for return of their transportation. The total cost of this unforeseen emergency was $26,563 USD  - well over $36,000 in Canadian funds.

A Small Price to Pay
Travel insurance may seem like an unnecessary additional expense at a time when you are likely already overextended financially. However, it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Many types of travel insurance are available today and it is wise to include the investigation of your options in your travel planning. Not all insurance plans are alike and it is important to know the details of what you are purchasing. Although it may be tempting, buying the least expensive option may not be beneficial in the long run. Some of the features you need to consider include the following:

• Is there a deductible?
• Does the plan provide coverage for services/treatment related to an existing medical condition?
• Will you and your accompanying family members remain protected if you are hospitalized?
• Will you be flown home, if necessary?

Protect yourself and your loved ones from unnecessary expense and anxiety with bettertravel™ Emergency Excess Hospital/ Medical Travel Insurance from London Drugs. We offer a number of flexible plans with unbeatable options. From single trip daily plans through to multi-trip annual plans, bettertravel™ provides you with $5,000,000 CAD in coverage for out-of-province hospital and medical expenses. Our benefits offer both value and security. We offer flexible coverage plans to meet your medical needs, top-ups and extensions, as well as family and special group rates. To learn more, please call the Insurance Services Department of London Drugs at 1-877-566-1705 or click here.

Vacation Checklist
Find the following vacation essentials at your local London Drugs.

• Prescription medications
• Sunscreen with an SPF of 15+ and UVA protection
• First Aid kit with bandages and antibiotic ointment
• Film/camera supplies including  batteries
• Insect repellent
• Soothing lotion such as calamine
• Diarrhea medication
• Water purification tablets or solution
• Shaving kit
• Nail care supplies
• Contact lens supplies

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