Super Visa insurance is one of the most competitive corners of the Canadian travel-insurance market — and one of the easiest places to overpay. We regularly see the same parent get quotes from three different carriers that vary by $1,000–$2,000 per year for very similar coverage. The right choice depends on the parent's age, health, the trip length, and the kind of stability period and pre-existing condition coverage you need.
Below is a snapshot of the major carriers active in the Super Visa space for 2026. We work with most of these and run live quotes when you ask — so you don't have to call each one yourself.
The minimum requirements (unchanged for 2026)
- $100,000 minimum coverage per IRCC
- Valid for at least 1 year from date of entry
- Issued by a Canadian insurance company
- Includes health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
For the 2026 sponsorship rule changes (LICO using either of the last 2 tax years; combined sponsor + parent income now allowed), see our 2026 Super Visa Updates breakdown.
Provider snapshot
This is a working snapshot, not a ranking — every parent's situation produces a different "best" answer. The carriers below all meet IRCC requirements; the question is which one is most cost-effective and most appropriate for the specific parent.
| Carrier | Known for | Best fit when… | Pre-existing coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife | Long-established Canadian carrier with strong claims reputation. Comprehensive plans for healthy seniors. | Healthy parents under 75, sponsors who value brand familiarity | Yes (with stability period) |
| Secure Travel | Strong reputation for seniors aged 60–75 with stable pre-existing conditions. Competitive on age-banded premiums. | Parents 60–75 with stable pre-existing conditions | Yes (90-day stability common) |
| Travelance | Visitor-focused specialty carrier. Good options for families looking to combine cost and coverage. | Younger parents, sponsors prioritizing value | Yes (specific stability rules apply) |
| Destination Travel Group | Visitor and Super Visa specialist. Multilingual support, strong for South Asian and newcomer families. | Parents requiring multilingual claims support | Yes (with stability period) |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Long-running Canadian carrier (since 1949). 24/7 multilingual travel assistance, choice of $100K or $150K coverage. | Sponsors wanting established Canadian carrier with bilingual claims | Limited (varies by plan) |
| Allianz Global Assistance | Global emergency network with 24/7 multilingual assistance. Strong for parents who may travel within North America during the visit. | Multi-destination travel during visit | Yes (with stability period) |
| Desjardins | Established Canadian financial group with cooperative roots. Competitive on package plans for families. | Sponsors wanting an established financial-group carrier | Yes (varies by plan) |
| 21st Century / TuGo | Travel insurance specialists. Often competitive on premiums for healthy seniors. Quick policy issuance. | Quick coverage for healthy parents | Limited (varies by plan) |
What actually drives the premium
Three factors do the heavy lifting on price:
- Age of the visiting parent. The premium curve steepens at 70 and again at 80. A 65-year-old and an 85-year-old can pay 3–4× different premium for the same $100,000 of coverage.
- Pre-existing condition coverage and the required stability period. A plan that includes pre-existing conditions costs more, but for parents with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac history, or any chronic condition, it's almost always worth it. The "stability period" is the time before the policy starts during which the condition must be unchanged — typically 90 or 180 days.
- Coverage amount and deductible. $100K is the minimum; many sponsors choose $150K or higher for peace of mind. Higher deductibles ($1,000, $5,000) drop the premium meaningfully.
Six questions to ask before you buy
- Does this plan cover pre-existing conditions, and what's the stability period? The single most important question for parents with any health history.
- What does the deductible look like at different levels? A 20–30% premium reduction is typical when moving from $0 to $1,000 deductible.
- Is repatriation included, and what's the cap? Some plans cap repatriation at $5,000 or $10,000 — actual costs can run far higher from remote destinations.
- What happens if the visit is shorter than expected? Most plans offer prorated refunds if the parent leaves early — check the conditions.
- Is there 24/7 emergency assistance, and in what languages? Critical for non-English-speaking seniors. Many carriers offer Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
- How does claims work — pay-and-claim or direct billing? Direct billing means the carrier pays the hospital directly. Pay-and-claim means you pay first and submit for reimbursement. The latter can require holding several thousand dollars on a credit card during a hospital stay.
We run live quotes across multiple Super Visa carriers in one consultation. Send us the parent's age, basic medical history, and arrival date, and we'll come back the same day. Request a quote →
What we are not telling you
We have intentionally not listed specific premium dollar amounts in this comparison. Premiums change quarterly, are individually underwritten, and vary by carrier, age, condition, and plan. Anyone listing a specific premium online — including for "a 70-year-old with diabetes" — is showing you yesterday's number, which may already be wrong. The right way to compare is on actual quotes for the actual parent. That's what we do.