Travel Insurance - 1 year - What did you do?

I'm facing some uncertainty now that I'm down to my final weeks in Canada. I want to make sure I'm 100% prepared and everything is taken care of before I go. Insurance is something I know very little about and have no idea how to approach. I'm going to Aus on a 1 year working-holiday visa with about 6 days in the states before flying over. I don't think that Canada is a part of the reciprocal health program with Australian Medicare. And it's going to be like $400-$600 for a year through a company like TIC which seems to be the only one that can give quotes for up to 365 days.

What happens if I decide to stay on in Australia. At what point am I able to start medicare? Do private insurance companies insure foreigners? Should I use my VISA's (the credit card company's) insurance for the maximum (180 days) and then only buy additional insurance for the remainder? Can I start insurance after I've left the country?

I have so many questions and I can't seem to find answers - so if anyone has gone through this let me know. What did you do?

Thanks so much,
Faye
(Arriving in about 3 weeks!)

Hello,

I am moving to new zealand next week (working holiday as well(, and the insurance my wife and I got was through our private insurance broker (ING) it was $830 for both of us for 365 days with medical/travel/cancellation insurance. You will have to put your Provincial Health Card on hold for the year or else you will have to renew it when you get back and that takes 3 months. Also it might be a stipulation on your working holiday visa that you need to provide adequate insurance before they give you your visa, as well as sufficient funds in a bank statement. For us its $4200 NZD each.

Good Luck with everything
Jim

Oh I already have my visa- electronically anyway. are you saying if I don't provide these things when I arrive into Sydney they will disapprove/unapprove it?

I went through BCAA (if you are not in B.C. there would be an equivalent automobile agency) I did a lot of research on medical coverage and that was the best option. For a bit more money you can add on your 6 days in U.S as well. Good luck!

I don't drive though. I know my mom is a member with CAA. I've contacted a broker and he'd great to talk to on the phone and seems very eager to help. I think the ballpark will be about $800 for 12 months. Does this sound reasonable?

has your visa already been approved?
did you click yes to having health insurance that would cover your trip when you applied?

i'm scared if i check no, my visa will get denied. but i dont want to spend $400+ on insurance before i get a visa. i wish there was a box so i could write that ha.

anyways,
i was told with bcaa you can get insurance for $1/day
im not sure if that still holds true at the moment but i do beleive you need to be a member to get that rate.

[edit]
i totally didnt clue in caa and bcaa were the same thing ha.

but i would think $800/yr is a little expensive. considering the person above said they got 1 yr for 2ppl for that amount.
i'd say look around at other insurance agencies. sometimes banks offer insurance.

Hi,
I am in the same position as well. I will be leaving for Australia in 3 weeks on a working holiday visa and I am looking for travel insurance. BCAA only provides insurance for a max of 183 days.

Previously, I went abroad to Japan for a year and got travel insurance from Travel Underwriters but it seemed quite expensive and I am looking for alternatives. I paid about $1100 for 1 year.

Any suggestions?

i just came across a pretty good travel insurance place.
it's $1.15/day (under 30yrs old. if older it's $1.45/day) and you can do upto a full year and it seems to have good coverage. i need to review it with my dad just to make sure ha. but my sister used it when she went to LA for week and was pretty happy.
but you can add on baggage insurance ect.

but a full years insurance for under $500 is pretty good

travelinsurance [dot] ca

check to see if there's somewhere in your provience that offers it.

Argh!! I just lost my post because I put in a url but it said I haven't posted enough to earn the privilege of being considered a non-spammer yet. Grr!

Anyway I ended up going with TIC travel insurance (Google it since I can't post the link!) As long as you're still covered by your provincial healthcare you get a certain rate... approximately $1.35/day (under 30.) I paid somewhere around $500 for the year for emergency medical and hospital coverage. The max coverage on that plan is 365 days.

I came from Quebec so the rule there is that the RAMQ will still cover you if you're out of the province for 183 days or less. You may leave for more than 183 days in a calendar year once every 7 years. You have to fill out a departure form and inform them when you return or when your plans change.

Since I will have been out of the province for more than 183 days (6 months) this year (2009) I will need to look into expatriate insurance which is far pricier. I haven't done the research yet so I'm not sure if maybe I can find something more affordable in Australia that'll give me dental and all that too. I'm staying on working on a new temporary business (long stay) visa but I'm still not eligible for Medicare. Poo.

What happend to all ur benefits from quebec after one year(medicare,drivers licsence,social security number,etc)?Its unclear but it looks like after one year outside the country,they revoque all that....is that true?Did you take any steps to avoid that?Or is that just bs.
Another thing,what was your time frame for your work holyday visa,from filling application to beiing granted?