soNomad Travel Insurance Review
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soNomad travel insurance is an online service that sells travel medical, trip cancellation, visitors to Canada, and working holiday coverage to people living in or coming to Canada. Its pitch rests on two claims: a single health questionnaire built to accept travellers with pre-existing conditions, and lower prices than traditional brokers. This review checks both against what soNomad and its insurance partner actually publish, as of October 20, 2026.
You will see what each plan covers, who underwrites it, what the company does not publish, and when another option makes more sense. For other providers and guides, start with our insurance hub.
What soNomad is
soNomad is a travel insurance distributor that sells directly online. It does not present itself as an insurer. The company says its questionnaire lets you get a quote "from our partner insurers in minutes," which means the policy you buy is issued by an insurance company, not by soNomad itself.
The business model is part of the pitch. On its "Who we are" page, soNomad says traditional brokers take commissions of up to 45%, while it charges "a small revealed fee per transaction." That is soNomad's own claim. We have not audited its fee structure.
Who underwrites the policies
On November 15, 2022, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) announced a partnership with soNomad to offer travel medical insurance in Canada. According to that announcement, National Liability & Fire Insurance Company, part of the Berkshire Hathaway group, underwrites the plan in Canada.
The announcement covers the travel medical plan for Canadians travelling outside their home province or territory, including abroad. For any other product, the insurer named in your policy wording is the one that counts. Read it before you pay.
The soNomad product range
soNomad organizes its offer by traveller profile rather than by a single all-purpose plan. The table below sums up what each product page states as of October 20, 2026.
| Product | Who it is for | What soNomad publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Travel medical | Canadian residents travelling outside their province | Multi-trip annual plans of 7, 15, 30, or 45 days per trip; pre-existing conditions covered if eligibility and stability rules are met |
| Trip cancellation and interruption | Travellers with prepaid, non-refundable costs | Reimburses non-refundable costs up to the sum insured; first trip payment no more than 18 months before departure |
| Visitors to Canada | Visitors, foreign students, returning Canadians, future residents | Coverage from $25,000 to $300,000; refund of the unused portion |
| Super Visa | Parents and grandparents applying for a Super Visa | Coverage of $100,000, the IRCC minimum |
| Working holiday | Working holiday visa holders in Canada | Coverage from $25,000 to $300,000; at least 51% of the stay in Canada; renewable |
Travel medical coverage for Canadians
Emergency medical insurance is the core of the offer. It pays for unexpected medical costs when you are outside your home province, where your provincial plan pays only part of the bill or nothing at all. Our guide on what travel insurance covers explains the usual benefits in detail.
soNomad offers multi-trip annual plans. You choose the maximum length of each trip covered during the year:
- Option 1: 7 days per trip
- Option 2: 15 days per trip
- Option 3: 30 days per trip
- Option 4: 45 days per trip
Check in the policy how a trip that runs past the duration you picked is handled. Match the option to your longest planned trip, not your average one.
Early return refund
If you come home earlier than planned, soNomad says you can request a refund for the unused portion of your premium. Two conditions apply: you must not have made a medical claim or have one pending, and you must have returned to your province of residence.
What to do in an emergency
soNomad states that you must contact the emergency assistance number on your travel insurance card before seeking care. Save that number in your phone before you leave. Skipping that call can complicate or reduce your claim.
Pre-existing conditions and the health questionnaire
This is where soNomad tries to stand out. The company says its plans cover pre-existing medical conditions "as long as you meet the eligibility and stability requirements." It built a medical declaration tool to simplify underwriting, and one questionnaire is meant to return quotes from several partner insurers.
What soNomad does not publish on its product pages is the stability period itself. Most Canadian insurers define it as a number of days or months without a new diagnosis, treatment change, or hospital stay. With soNomad, that rule depends on the product and insurer you are matched with, so the quote is where you will see it.
If you take medication, have had a recent change in treatment, or are over 60, compare the stability wording line by line. Our guide to the best travel insurance for seniors shows what to look for.
Trip cancellation and interruption
soNomad's trip cancellation coverage reimburses non-refundable, non-transferable travel costs up to the sum insured when a covered event stops you from leaving. The company cites a serious illness, the death of a loved one, or the bankruptcy of your airline or cruise line as examples.
Trip interruption reimburses unused, non-refundable costs if you have to cut your trip short. It also covers the extra transportation cost to return home or rejoin your trip.
Two timing rules appear on the product page. The first payment for your trip must not be made more than 18 months before departure. Cancellation and interruption benefits take effect on the date you buy the policy, so buying early protects you for longer. Our article on trip cancellation insurance covers the usual exclusions.
Visitors to Canada and Super Visa
soNomad sells emergency medical coverage for people coming to Canada. Its visitors page lists short- and long-stay travellers, Super Visa holders, foreign students, returning Canadians, and future residents waiting for provincial health insurance.
The visitors product offers coverage from $25,000 to $300,000, according to soNomad. The company also states there are no fees or penalties and a full refund of the unused portion if the visitor leaves early or cancels before arriving in Canada.
What the Super Visa requires
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets the insurance rules for the parent and grandparent Super Visa. Check them against any quote before you apply. Our guide to travel insurance for visitors to Canada compares the main plans.
Working holiday coverage
soNomad also has a plan for working holiday visa holders in Canada. The product page lists emergency medical and dental care, hospitalization, ambulance, prescription drugs, physicians, 24/7 emergency assistance, and repatriation. Coverage runs from $25,000 to $300,000.
The main condition is time spent in Canada: at least 51% of your total stay must be in the country. Short visits outside Canada are covered. The plan can be renewed if you extend your stay, and soNomad refunds the unused portion if you leave early.
Price and the "up to 25%" savings claim
soNomad advertises that you can "save up to 25%" on travel insurance compared with other providers. That figure comes from soNomad, not from an independent study. Your actual premium depends on your age, health, destination, trip length, and the coverage you choose.
The company does not publish a price grid, so the only way to compare is to request a quote with the same dates and coverage you would use elsewhere. Our guide on how much travel insurance costs explains which factors move the price most.
For snowbirds, soNomad's own blog (April 29, 2024) points out that premiums often adjust at age thresholds such as 60, 65, or 70. If a birthday falls just before your departure, getting a quote before that date can lower the price.
Strengths and limits
Here is our read of soNomad as of October 20, 2026.
- Pre-existing conditions accepted: coverage is possible if you meet the eligibility and stability requirements.
- One questionnaire, several insurers: a single health declaration returns quotes from soNomad's partner insurers.
- Annual multi-trip options: 7, 15, 30, or 45 days per trip.
- Wide range of profiles: Canadians abroad, visitors to Canada, Super Visa applicants, and working holiday visa holders.
- Refund for unused days: available on the travel medical, visitors, and working holiday products, under conditions.
- No published limits for Canadians: the product pages do not state the maximum for the Canadian travel medical plans, deductibles, or age limits.
- Stability rules only in the quote: the stability period for pre-existing conditions depends on the product and insurer.
- Savings claim not independent: "up to 25%" is soNomad's advertising, not a third-party comparison.
- Annual trips capped at 45 days: the multi-trip options stop at 45 days per trip, short for many snowbirds.
- Call first in an emergency: you must contact the assistance line before seeking care.
How soNomad compares to credit card insurance
Many premium credit cards include travel medical insurance, but the coverage often stops after a short number of days and can be shorter again after a certain age. Our guide to credit card travel insurance explains how it works and where it runs out.
A stand-alone policy like soNomad's makes sense when your trip is longer than your card's coverage, when you have a pre-existing condition, or when you are buying for a visitor. Quebec residents planning a long winter away should also read our article on RAMQ days outside Quebec before they book.
To compare a soNomad quote with other insurers, use our travel insurance comparison tool. You can also check the Blue Cross travel insurance review for a provincial alternative.
Conclusion
soNomad travel insurance is worth a quote if you have a pre-existing condition, travel several times a year, or need coverage for a visitor, a Super Visa applicant, or a working holiday stay. The single questionnaire and the refund for unused days on several products are practical advantages.
The limits are on the disclosure side. soNomad's product pages do not list maximum limits for its Canadian travel medical plans, deductibles, age limits, or stability periods. Treat the quote and the policy wording as the real product sheet, and compare them line by line before you pay. You can get a soNomad quote here.
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Frequently asked questions about soNomad travel insurance
Is soNomad an insurance company?
No. soNomad is an online distributor that sells policies issued by partner insurers. Its travel medical plan for Canadians is underwritten by National Liability & Fire Insurance Company, part of the Berkshire Hathaway group, according to the partnership BHTP announced on November 15, 2022. The insurer named in your policy wording is the one responsible for paying claims. See our insurance hub for other providers.
Does soNomad cover pre-existing medical conditions?
soNomad says its plans cover pre-existing conditions as long as you meet the eligibility and stability requirements. It does not publish one stability period for all products, because the rule depends on the plan and insurer. Answer the health questionnaire completely, then read the stability clause in your quote. Our senior travel insurance guide explains how these clauses work.
How long can each trip be with a soNomad annual plan?
soNomad's multi-trip annual plans let you choose a maximum of 7, 15, 30, or 45 days per trip. Each trip during the year is covered up to that length. Pick the option that matches your longest planned trip, not your average one. For trips beyond 45 days, ask soNomad about single-trip coverage before you leave.
Is soNomad really 25% cheaper?
"Up to 25%" is soNomad's own advertising claim, compared with other providers. We have not verified it, and your result depends on your age, health, destination, and trip length. The only reliable test is to request quotes with identical dates and coverage from soNomad and at least one other insurer. Our guide on how much travel insurance costs lists the main price factors.
Does soNomad sell Super Visa insurance?
Yes. soNomad sells visitors to Canada coverage that lists Super Visa holders among its target travellers. IRCC requires a policy valid for at least 1 year from entry with at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, among other conditions. Compare any quote with the government's rules, and see our guide to travel insurance for visitors.
Can I get a refund if I come home early?
For travel medical coverage, soNomad says you can request a refund of the unused portion of your premium if you have no medical claim made or pending and have returned to your province of residence. Its visitors and working holiday products also refund the unused portion. Check the refund clause in your policy, since the wording can differ by product.
Do I still need soNomad if my credit card has travel insurance?
It depends on your trip. Card coverage often stops after a short number of days and can shrink with age, and it may exclude pre-existing conditions. A stand-alone policy fills those gaps. Read our guide to credit card travel insurance to see what your card actually covers.
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