Short Answer
If you become ill abroad, seek urgent help when needed, then contact the emergency-assistance number in your travel medical policy as soon as it is safe to do so. Keep records, receipts, your medication list, and the names of providers. Do not assume provincial coverage or a credit-card benefit will handle the cost without following the policy’s process.
Make the Plan Before You Leave
Put the insurer’s assistance number, policy number, medication list, allergies, emergency contact, and destination address in one small paper folder. A phone is useful, but it may be out of power or not reachable by a companion.
| Situation | First practical step |
|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | Call local emergency services or get to emergency care. |
| Non-emergency care | Call the policy assistance line before treatment when the policy asks you to. |
| Lost medication | Contact the insurer, pharmacy, and a local clinician; do not substitute medicines on your own. |
| Need to change travel home | Ask the insurer what approval and records it requires before booking a costly change. |
Keep Notes That Help Later
Write down the date, place, provider, diagnosis or instructions you were given, and every person you spoke to at the insurer. Keep original receipts and request written records where possible. This is not busywork—it makes it easier to explain a claim after a difficult day.
What To Read Next
Read the travel insurance checklist before booking and keep the travelling-with-medication checklist with your documents.
Sources checked July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call my travel insurer before receiving care?
In an emergency, get urgent help first. Otherwise, follow the policy’s emergency-assistance instructions as soon as you safely can; the exact requirement is in the certificate.
Marcus Webb, CFP, CIM
Certified Financial PlannerChartered Investment ManagerLead Canadian Retirement Strategist
Marcus Webb has spent over 18 years helping Canadian families design tax-efficient retirement drawdown strategies. Specializing in CPP optimization, OAS clawback mitigation, and RRIF meltdown forensics, his analysis bridges the gap between complex tax laws and practical retirement cash flow.