Manulife Travel Insurance Review
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Understand what Manulife travel insurance offers before your next trip.
Manulife travel insurance provides protection for Canadian travellers facing unexpected medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other disruptions abroad. With over 155 years of experience serving Canadians, Manulife has built a reputation as a reliable travel insurance provider.
Whether you’re planning a single trip or travel frequently throughout the year, understanding your coverage options helps you make an informed decision. This guide breaks down what Manulife insurance covers and where it fits in the Canadian travel insurance market.
What Does Manulife Cover?
Manulife offers several types of travel insurance plans, each designed for different travel needs. The main coverage categories include emergency medical protection, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage coverage, and travel accident insurance.
Emergency medical coverage forms the foundation of most Manulife plans. This protection applies when you experience a sudden illness or injury while travelling outside your home province or country.
- Hospital and emergency care: Coverage for semi-private rooms, intensive care units, and emergency room visits when medically necessary
- Physician services: Consultations, examinations, and treatments provided by licensed doctors
- Ambulance transportation: Licensed local ambulance services and emergency air transportation to your country of origin when required
- Prescription medications: Coverage for medications prescribed to treat a covered emergency medical condition
- Diagnostic tests: X-rays, laboratory tests, and other examinations needed to diagnose your condition
- Professional medical services: Treatment from chiropractors, physiotherapists, and other licensed practitioners when referred by a physician
Beyond medical coverage, Manulife’s all-inclusive plans add protection for non-medical travel costs. These include trip cancellation before departure, trip interruption after you’ve left home, and baggage loss or delay.
Additional Coverage Features
Manulife includes several supplementary benefits across their plans. Dental emergency coverage provides up to $300 for relief of dental pain, while accidental dental coverage offers up to $4,000 for repair or replacement of teeth damaged by an accidental blow to the mouth.
The insurer also covers accommodation and meal expenses if a medical emergency prevents you from returning home as planned. This benefit typically provides up to $150 per day to a maximum of $1,500 for hotel, meals, and essential transportation.
Medical Coverage Limits
Manulife’s emergency medical plans offer coverage ranging from $15,000 to $10 million per person, per trip. The maximum coverage amount you select determines your premium cost and the upper limit of eligible expenses the insurer will pay.
Most Canadians travelling to the United States or other international destinations choose coverage between $1 million and $10 million. Medical costs in the United States can be significant, with hospital stays often exceeding $10,000 per day.
| Coverage Type | Maximum Benefit | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical | Up to $10 million | Per person, per trip for eligible emergencies |
| Emergency Dental | $300 | Relief of dental pain |
| Accidental Dental | $4,000 | Repair or replacement of damaged teeth |
| Trip Cancellation | Varies by plan | $5,000 to $10,000 depending on plan selected |
| Baggage Loss | Varies by plan | Coverage included in all-inclusive plans |
For Visitors to Canada plans, Manulife offers maximum benefits of $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, or $200,000. These plans serve visitors to Canada, new immigrants awaiting government coverage, and Canadians not eligible for provincial health insurance benefits.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions represent the most common reason for travel insurance claim denials in Canada. Manulife applies stability requirements to determine whether a pre-existing condition is covered under your policy.
A medical condition is considered stable when all of the following statements are true during the stability period: no new treatment prescribed or recommended, no change to existing treatment including medication adjustments, no new symptoms or worsening of existing symptoms, and no tests or investigations recommended but not yet complete.
Stability Requirements
For Visitors to Canada plans, Manulife offers two options with different stability periods. Plan A requires that conditions be stable for 180 days before your effective date. Plan B requires applicants age 40 and over to complete a medical questionnaire.
- 180-day stability period: Most common requirement for Visitors to Canada Plan A coverage
- 90-day stability period: Some travelling Canadian plans use this shorter window
- 12-month hospitalization exclusion: Conditions requiring hospitalization for two consecutive days or multiple times in the 12 months before coverage are excluded
- Specific condition exclusions: Lung conditions requiring oxygen or Prednisone treatment in the 180 days before coverage are not covered
For all-inclusive travelling Canadian plans, the stability period typically ranges from three to six months depending on your age and the coverage amount selected. Plans with coverage amounts below $20,000 generally require three-month stability, while higher coverage amounts may require longer periods.
Plan Types Available
Manulife structures their travel insurance into three main categories: plans for Canadians travelling abroad, plans for visitors to Canada, and specialized plans for students. Each category includes multiple options to match different travel patterns and budgets.
Travelling Canadian Plans
Canadians with provincial health insurance can choose from single-trip or multi-trip annual plans. Single-trip plans cover one journey of a specified duration, while multi-trip plans cover unlimited trips throughout the year up to a maximum duration per trip.
The All-Inclusive plan combines emergency medical coverage with trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, and travel accident insurance. This comprehensive option suits travellers who have paid significant non-refundable deposits for flights, hotels, or tours.
The Emergency Medical plan focuses solely on health-related coverage without trip cancellation or baggage benefits. This option works well for travellers who have travel credit cards providing trip cancellation coverage or who have minimal non-refundable expenses.
Visitors to Canada Plans
Visitors to Canada can select from Basic, Standard, or Enhanced plans. The Enhanced plan provides the most comprehensive coverage including higher limits for professional medical services and extended healthcare benefits.
| Plan Level | Healthcare Practitioner Maximum | Extended Healthcare Maximum | Death Benefit Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $1,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Standard | $1,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Enhanced | $1,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 |
All Visitors to Canada plans include coverage during uninterrupted flights to and from Canada. If you purchase coverage before leaving home with an effective date matching your arrival time, protection extends during your flight to Canada at no additional cost.
New Plan Options for 2026
Manulife introduced several new products and enhancements in early 2026. The Non-Medical Inclusive Policy serves travellers who already have emergency medical coverage through work benefits or credit cards but need trip cancellation and baggage protection.
- Cancel for Any Reason rider: Provides up to 50 percent reimbursement when you cancel 10 or more days before departure for reasons not otherwise covered
- Government Travel Advisory rider: Overrides the standard exclusion for destinations with “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” advisories issued before departure
- Youth All-Inclusive and Youth Deluxe plans: Designed specifically for travellers age 29 and under, including students and youth group travel
Cost Factors
Manulife calculates travel insurance premiums based on several factors: your age at the effective date, trip duration, destination, coverage amount selected, and deductible chosen. Older travellers and longer trips result in higher premiums due to increased risk.
Choosing a higher deductible reduces your premium cost. Deductible options typically range from zero to $10,000, with each claim subject to the deductible amount before Manulife pays eligible expenses.
Multi-trip annual plans often provide better value for frequent travellers. If you take three or more trips per year, an annual plan typically costs less than purchasing separate single-trip policies for each journey.
Ways to Reduce Costs
- Select appropriate coverage limits: Choose the lowest coverage amount that provides adequate protection for your destination and health status
- Choose a deductible: Accepting a $100 or $250 deductible can reduce premiums by 10 to 20 percent
- Buy early: Purchase coverage when you book your trip to ensure eligibility for trip cancellation benefits from the date of purchase
- Family coverage: Insuring multiple family members under one policy costs less than separate individual policies
- Companion savings: Some Manulife plans offer five percent discounts when you travel with your spouse
How Manulife Compares
The Canadian travel insurance market includes several major providers alongside Manulife. Allianz Global Assistance, TuGo, and Destination Travel Group each offer competing products with similar coverage structures but different pricing and policy terms.
Manulife distinguishes itself through broad availability with no age limits on most plans, while some competitors restrict coverage or require medical questionnaires for travellers above certain ages. The company’s size and 155-year history also provide financial stability backing their coverage promises.
| Provider | Maximum Medical Coverage | Age Restrictions | Pre-Existing Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife | $10 million | No age limits (questionnaire for 60+) | Stability requirements apply |
| Allianz Global | $10 million | No age limits (questionnaire for 65+) | Stability requirements apply |
| TuGo | $10 million | None (form required for 61+) | Special pre-existing plans available |
All major Canadian travel insurers apply pre-existing condition stability requirements. Manulife’s 90 to 180-day stability periods align with industry standards, though the specific conditions and timeframes vary by plan type and age.
- Co-insurance penalty: Manulife reduces coverage to 80 percent of eligible expenses if you fail to contact their assistance centre within 24 hours of hospitalization
- Waiting period: A 48-hour waiting period applies to Visitors to Canada coverage purchased after arrival or after an existing policy expires
- Side trip limitations: Coverage outside Canada for Visitors plans is limited to the lesser of 30 days or 49 percent of total coverage days
Rates and terms may vary by financial institution. Before choosing any travel insurance provider, compare the specific coverage details, exclusions, and pricing for your particular situation.
Bottom Line
Manulife travel insurance delivers comprehensive emergency medical coverage and trip protection for Canadian travellers and visitors to Canada. Their range of plan options accommodates different travel patterns, from single trips to multi-trip annual coverage, with emergency medical limits up to $10 million.
The pre-existing condition stability requirements demand careful attention. Review your medical history against the policy’s stability period before purchasing, and complete any required medical questionnaires accurately. Understanding these exclusions before you travel helps avoid claim denials when you need coverage most.
If you travel frequently, compare Manulife’s multi-trip annual plans against single-trip policies. Calculate the break-even point based on your typical number of trips per year and average trip duration. Consider what other insurance coverage you already have through credit cards or employer benefits to avoid paying for duplicate protection.
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Manulife Travel Insurance – FAQ
What is the maximum coverage amount for Manulife travel insurance?
Manulife offers emergency medical coverage up to $10 million per person, per trip for Canadians travelling abroad. Visitors to Canada plans provide maximum coverage between $15,000 and $200,000 depending on the plan selected. The coverage amount you choose affects your premium cost.
Does Manulife cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Pre-existing conditions are covered only if they meet stability requirements for a specified period before your coverage begins. Most plans require conditions to be stable for 90 to 180 days, meaning no new symptoms, no treatment changes, and no medication adjustments during that time. Conditions requiring hospitalization in the 12 months before coverage are typically excluded.
Can I purchase Manulife travel insurance after leaving Canada?
You can purchase or extend Manulife coverage after departure in some situations, subject to approval from their assistance centre. Extensions require that you have had no change in health status and no events that resulted or may result in a claim since your original effective date. Trip cancellation coverage only applies to deposits paid before purchasing insurance.
Is there an age limit for Manulife travel insurance?
Manulife does not impose maximum age limits on most travel insurance plans. However, travellers age 60 and older may need to complete a medical questionnaire when applying for coverage. Age affects premium pricing, with older travellers paying higher rates due to increased health risks.
What happens if I need to file a claim with Manulife?
Contact Manulife’s 24/7 assistance centre within 24 hours of hospitalization to avoid a 20 percent co-insurance reduction in benefits. Submit your claim within 90 days of your loss, including all original receipts, bills, and invoices. Manulife has appointed Active Care Management to handle all assistance and claims services.
Does Manulife cover trip cancellation for any reason?
Standard Manulife plans cover trip cancellation only for specific covered reasons such as medical emergencies, death of a family member, or other listed events. The new Cancel for Any Reason optional rider provides up to 50 percent reimbursement when you cancel 10 or more days before departure, regardless of the reason.
What is the difference between single-trip and multi-trip plans?
Single-trip plans cover one journey for a specific duration you select at purchase. Multi-trip annual plans cover unlimited trips throughout the year, with each trip limited to a maximum duration such as 30 or 60 days. Multi-trip plans typically cost less for travellers taking three or more trips annually.
Are COVID-19 related expenses covered by Manulife?
Manulife includes coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs in many of their plans. This coverage applies even when travelling to destinations with government “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” advisories, though you may need to purchase the Government Travel Advisory rider for full protection. For cruise travel with COVID-19 coverage, passengers must be fully vaccinated.
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