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- Sun Life travel insurance is offered through Sun Life but underwritten by TuGo, a Canadian travel insurance provider
- Coverage typically includes emergency medical treatment, trip cancellation/interruption, and flight delay benefits
- Optional add-ons allow travellers to expand protection with sports coverage, baggage insurance, rental car protection, and cancel-for-any-reason options
- Plan options include single-trip insurance, multi-trip annual coverage, and all-inclusive travel insurance packages
Travel insurance isn’t something most of us think about when we are booking flights or planning itineraries. But one unexpected hospital visit, a cancelled trip, or lost baggage can quickly turn an exciting getaway into a financial headache.
Here’s how Sun Life’s travel insurance (underwritten by TuGo) helps you protect the trip, and your wallet.
How Sun Life travel insurance works
Sun Life Financial provides travel insurance in partnership with TuGo, a Canadian travel insurance company. The travel insurance policies are underwritten by TuGo, meaning TuGo is responsible for the policy contract, coverage terms, emergency assistance services, and claims handling.
This arrangement allows Sun Life to include travel insurance as part of its broader range of financial and insurance products while relying on TuGo’s specialized travel insurance expertise. The company offers emergency medical coverage, trip interruption and cancellation protection, and travel assistance services to help travellers manage unexpected situations while abroad.
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What is covered under Sun Life travel insurance
Sun Life travel insurance is designed to protect you from unexpected medical and travel-related disruptions while you’re away from home. The coverage focuses on emergency medical needs, trip disruptions, flight delays, and certain higher-risk sports activities.
| Coverage | Details |
| Emergency medical care | Covers unexpected illnesses or injuries during your insured trip and the emergency treatment required to stabilize or treat your condition. This includes hospital stays and treatment, ambulance services (ground, air, or sea), diagnostic tests such as X-rays and lab work, prescription medications and medical supplies, emergency dental care, vision or hearing support, and professional services like physiotherapy. |
| Trip cancellation and interruption coverage | Reimburses unused, prepaid, and non-refundable travel arrangements if a covered event forces you to cancel or interrupt your trip while you’re already on vacation. Covered events typically include death in the family, a cancelled flight or tour, natural disasters or other unforeseeable events, travel visa denial, job loss, or job transfer. An “optional cancel for any reason” rider is also available. |
| Help for flight delays | Provides instant access to an airport lounge pass or a cash payout if your flight is delayed by 2 or more hours. |
| Sports & activities coverage | Some sports and activities are automatically covered. An optional add-on can be purchased for other higher-risk sports and activities, such as backcountry skiing and snowboarding, BASE jumping, boxing, downhill mountain biking, hang gliding and paragliding, high-risk snowmobiling, and motorized snow biking, and more. Some extreme activities can remain excluded. Always confirm your activity’s status in the current policy wording. |
What’s not covered (common exclusions)
- Unstable pre‑existing conditions (check the stability period)
- Travel against medical advice or after receiving a terminal prognosis
- Trips to destinations under “Avoid non‑essential/All travel” advisories if restricted by the policy
- High‑risk activities without the required add‑on
- Claims without required documentation/receipts
Types of travel insurance plans available
Sun Life offers access to several types of travel insurance plans through TuGo. Each plan category is designed to address different travel needs.
- Single-trip travel insurance
Single-trip insurance provides coverage for one specific trip, with defined departure and return dates.
This type of plan can include emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and optional add-ons depending on the package selected. Coverage applies only for the duration of the insured trip.
- Multi-trip annual insurance
Multi-trip annual insurance is designed for travellers who take multiple trips within a 12-month period.
The multi-trip plans provide coverage for multiple trips during the policy year, subject to a maximum number of covered days per trip as defined in the policy.
This plan structure eliminates the need to purchase separate insurance for each individual trip.
- All-inclusive holiday package
The all-inclusive holiday package combines multiple coverages into one plan. This package can include:
- Emergency medical insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Baggage insurance
This bundled option is intended for travellers who want both medical and non-medical protection under one policy.
Optional add-ons available under Sun Life travel insurance
While the core Sun Life travel insurance benefits cover emergency medical needs and trip disruptions, there are additional optional add-ons you can include in your travel insurance plan to expand your protection.
1. Sports & activities coverage: Protection when participating in higher-risk sports and activities
2. Baggage insurance: Protection against loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings
3. Rental car protection: Coverage for physical damage or loss of a rented vehicle
4. Cancel for any reason (CFAR): Enhances trip cancellation benefits (availability and terms vary by plan)
How much does Sun Life travel insurance cost?
Travel insurance costs are not standard or fixed. They are influenced by multiple factors.
- Your travel destination
- The length of your trip
- Your age and health profile
- The type and level of coverage you need
- The benefits or add-ons you want included
Because pricing depends on a combination of age, destination, trip length, insured trip cost, and selected benefits, the only way to know your exact premium is to obtain a personalized quote through Sun Life.
Pros and cons of Sun Life travel insurance
| Pros | Cons |
| Backed by a well-established Canadian financial brand | Additional optional coverages increase total premium cost |
| Includes a flight delay benefit (lounge pass or cash payout after a delay of 2 or more hours) | Some competitors provide multi-tier delay benefits (meals, accommodation, etc.) |
| Offers single-trip, multi-trip, and all-inclusive package options | |
| Optional coverage available for higher-risk sports and activities | |
| Flexible payment plans available for premiums over $1,000 |
Who should consider Sun Life travel insurance
Sun Life travel insurance may be suitable for travellers who value brand familiarity and want access to travel insurance through an established Canadian financial services company.
Based on the types of plans and optional coverage available, this travel insurance may be appropriate for:
- Occasional travellers: If you travel once or twice a year, a single-trip travel insurance plan can provide emergency medical coverage and trip interruption protection for that specific trip.
- Frequent travellers: For travellers who take multiple trips in a year, multi-trip annual plans can provide coverage for several trips within a 12-month period.
- Travellers participating in higher-risk activities: If you plan to participate in sports or higher-risk activities while travelling, optional sports & activities coverage can be added.
- Travellers who want flight delay support: Sun Life travel insurance provides access to an airport lounge pass or a cash payout when flight delays are 2 or more hours.
The rules for medical plans in Canada’s other provinces and territories differ slightly but are generally the same. Check with your region’s territorial health authority to see what rules you need to follow to retain your provincial or territorial health plan status before you leave for your trip.
Call 1-888-601-9980 to speak to our licensed advisors right away, or book some time with them below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sun Life travel insurance a standalone policy?
No. Sun Life travel insurance is offered through a partnership with TuGo, and the policies are underwritten and issued by TuGo. Sun Life acts as the distribution and referral partner.
What does Sun Life travel insurance cover?
The main coverage categories under Sun Life travel insurance include emergency medical care, trip interruption coverage, help for flight delays, and optional sports & activities coverage.
Are sports-related injuries covered?
Yes, some sports and activities are automatically covered under emergency medical plans, but higher-risk activities require optional sports & activities coverage.
What happens if I need to extend my policy while travelling?
If you’re planning to stay away longer than originally covered, you can manage or request a policy extension by contacting the insurer’s customer service.
Do I need to update my travel details after purchase?
Yes. If your contact or trip details change, you should update the information or contact your insurance advisor, as changes could impact your Sun Life travel insurance coverage.
Can I cancel my travel insurance policy?
Most travel insurance policies can be cancelled before or on the policy effective date. To cancel a policy, contact your insurance advisor or the insurer’s customer service.
This blog explains how Sun Life travel insurance works, including coverage options, exclusions, pricing factors, and available plan types. Policies are underwritten by TuGo and provide protection for emergency medical expenses, trip cancellations, flight delays, and certain sports activities. The guide also explores optional add-ons, advantages and limitations, and which travellers may benefit most from this travel insurance.
