Preparation is key for a rewarding snowbird travel season

TORONTO, July 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Spending the winter in the sunny south sure beats contending with the ice and snow of our Canadian winters. If you are truly going to enjoy the fruits of the snowbird lifestyle experience, preparation is key. The most important consideration is your health and that of your loved ones.

Some people regard travel medical insurance as an added expense or luxury, but the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) and its medical travel insurance provider Medipac International warn that even small, unexpected medical issues can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.

"Today, travelling without supplemental health insurance is akin to gambling with your life savings," said CSA president Bob Slack. "Provincial government health-insurance plans do not cover full medical expenses outside of Canada and 85-95% of any medical bills will usually be your responsibility."

Many people feel that they are adequately covered through their credit card or an employer benefit plan but, often, these have restrictive limits and conditions and should not be depended upon without a careful reading of the actual insurance policy.

The Canadian Snowbird Association urges all travelling Canadians to obtain travel medical insurance before leaving Canada. For the 20th consecutive year, the Canadian Snowbird Association has endorsed the travel medical insurance packages of Medipac International.

In order to assist their clients with budgeting and travel plans, Medipac offers an Early Bird discount and an opportunity to discuss any health issues for those wishing to take advantage of lower premium rates by purchasing in the summer.

Medipac also offers an easy payment schedule for their travel medical insurance and it is interest-free.

This year, everyone who purchases Medipac's Early Bird Travel Insurance® Program by August 13^th will save 5%. No qualifiers and no exceptions…just take 5% off of the bottom line.

There's an additional claims-free discount of up to 10% for returning clients, and even clients who are new to Medipac can receive up to a 5% discount if they have been claims free for at least three years with their prior insurance company.

And "the icing on the cake" is Medipac's Loyalty Rewards Program. Medipac allows an additional discount on their premium rates of up to 7% for returning clients who enrol in their program year after year.

Snowbirds can enrol online, now, at www.medipac.com.

You can also call the Medipac office at 416-633-4722, that's 416-MEDIPAC, or toll-free at 1-888-MEDIPAC.

The Medipac Walk-in Centre at 180 Lesmill Road in Toronto is open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Please remember that the Early Bird Travel Insurance® Program is only available until August 13^th, so make your plans to enrol today.

The Canadian Snowbird Association is a 70,000-member, non-profit, non-partisan organization representing Canadian travellers from across the country. The CSA works in partnership with government and business to educate and advocate on behalf of all travelling Canadians, helping to ensure access to safe, healthy travel with no restrictions on freedom of movement.

Michael MacKenzie
Executive Director
Canadian Snowbird Association
[phone]
[email protected]