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megram - 55NovOttawa - Index

Canadian travellers should splurge
on vacation, not hospital bills
By Melissa Ray, freelance writer
How does a $7,500 bill sound for a onenight
hotel stay on your next trip to the
United States?
That could be what you get hit with if
your hotel room becomes a hospital room
after you become sick or injured.
The average hospital bill in the United
States totals about $7,500 USD a day,
including diagnostic testing. “Canadians
travelling without proper protection find out
too late that the cost to stay in a U.S. hospital
could be devastating financially for even
a short-term stay,” says David Rivelis, Senior
Vice President of PrimeLink Travel Medical
Insurance, a Canadian company based in
Windsor, Ontario.
“We want to help travellers avoid getting
hit with skyrocketing hospital bills by
informing them about their options.”
Recent Statistics Canada surveys have
reported Canadian overnight travel to the
United States reached an all-time high in 2007:
17.7 million persons crossing the border. Some
studies indicate over one third of travellers to
the U.S. never purchase travel insurance.
When travelling to the United States,
you need to take every precaution to ensure
you’re adequately protected in the event of
illness or accident.
“The single most important thing to
pack when travelling across the border is a
travel insurance policy that will address a
medical emergency should it occur,” says
Rivelis. “It truly is a small amount to pay for
peace of mind.”
“Canadian travellers
should only be thinking
about fun, relaxing
times while on vacation
and not worrying about
going into debt if by chance
they get sick or injured
while out of province,”
says David Rivelis.
November/December 2008 • 31 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
Without such insurance, you risk
potential financial peril. A 2005 study by
Harvard University researchers found 50 per
cent of bankruptcy filings were partially the
result of medical expenses.
“Currently there are 46 million
Americans with no health insurance and
85 million with inadequate health insurance.
Medical facilities carry the burden of
treating citizens but are not paid for services
rendered,” Rivelis notes. “As a result,
international patients, such as Canadians,
are often looked upon to offset some of
these losses.”
One of the only ways to ensure proper
coverage is to buy an appropriate insurance
package through a licensed broker.
“Choosing the right insurance is just as
important as choosing the right travel destination,”
says Rivelis.
This article was brought to you by PrimeLink™
Travel Medical Insurance. To speak to a qualified
travel insurance advisor call 1-866-379-8095
Visit www.primelinktravelinsurance.ca