Manulife visitor to Canada insurance review (2026): Coverage, costs, pros & cons

Advisor insight: The Standard and Enhanced plans are often the safest option for seniors who want stronger financial protection against unexpected medical expenses during an extended stay in Canada.

How much does Manulife visitor health insurance cost?

The cost of a visitor to Canada health insurance policy from Manulife ranges from $73.20 to $726.60, depending on the age, coverage amount, duration, and health status. 

Here are the sample premium costs of the Manulife visitor health insurance based on an individual’s age and health status:

*Premium cost for $100,000 in coverage for a visitor to Canada insurance plan for 30 days.

How to reduce the cost of Manulife visitor health insurance?

To reduce your Manulife Visitor to Canada Insurance premium costs, you can utilize two primary methods:

• Apply as a group: Qualify for a 5% premium reduction when applying as a family or travel group.
• Select a higher deductible: Choose a higher deductible to lower your premium by up to 40%.

A deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket toward eligible medical expenses before your insurance starts covering costs. As a rule of thumb, a higher deductible results in lower premiums.

See how your Manulife Visitor to Canada insurance premiums change with different deductible amounts:

Who is eligible for Manulife visitor insurance?

Any non-resident in Canada meeting Manulife’s definitions and medical eligibility criteria and not covered by a provincial health care plan is eligible for Manulife’s visitor to Canada plan. 

This includes tourists visiting Canada, new immigrants, Super Visa holders, work permit holders, and returning Canadians who are not currently covered by a provincial plan.

However, you are not eligible for Manulife travel insurance for visitors if:

• You are travelling against the physician’s advice or have a terminal illness with less than 2 years to live
• You have been diagnosed with or received treatment within the last 2 years for pancreatic, lung, brain, or liver cancer
• You have ever been diagnosed with any type of cancer that has spread from one part or organ of the body to another (metastatic cancer)
• You have had or are waiting for an organ or bone marrow transplant (excluding corneal transplant) 
• You have ever been diagnosed with congestive heart failure or a kidney condition requiring dialysis
• You have used home oxygen in the past 12 months or reside in a nursing home, long-term care facility, or rehabilitation centre

Does Manulife visitor health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Yes, Manulife Visitor to Canada Insurance can cover certain pre-existing medical conditions, but coverage depends on the plan you choose:

• Basic Plan: Does not cover any pre-existing medical conditions
• Standard Plan: Covers conditions that did not exist within 180 days before coverage
• Enhanced Plan: Covers eligible pre-existing medical conditions that have been stable for at least 180 days before the effective date, subject to the policy terms

Applicants aged 55 to 85 must also complete Manulife’s medical declaration to qualify for the Enhanced Plan. Additionally, applicants aged 54 or younger do not need to complete the declaration.

What does Manulife consider a stable pre-existing condition?

Under Manulife’s definition, a pre-existing condition is considered stable only when all of the following requirements are met during the required stability period:

• No new or changed treatment: You have not started new treatment, had treatment changed, or stopped existing treatment
• No medication changes: You have not changed medication or been advised to start a new prescription drug
• No worsening of the condition or symptoms: Your medical condition has not deteriorated, and you have not experienced new, more frequent, or more severe symptoms
• No hospitalization or specialist referral: You have not been hospitalized or referred to a specialist because of the condition
• No pending tests or investigations: You do not have recommended tests, investigations, or treatment that remain incomplete, and you are not waiting for test results
• No planned treatment: There is no planned or pending treatment for the condition

Are there any exclusions or limitations to Manulife travel insurance?

While Manulife travel insurance provides comprehensive emergency medical and trip cancellation coverage, certain situations like medical tourism and high-risk activities are excluded or limited under the policy.

Here’s an overview of some of the common exclusions and limitations of Manulife travel insurance:

Note: This list summarizes the most common exclusions found across Manulife travel insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan and policy wording. It is recommended to refer to your policy for the complete list of exclusions, limitations, and definitions.

Key things to know before buying Manulife visitor insurance

Here are the major things you must keep in mind during your Manulife travel insurance for visitors policy period:

• 24-hour call requirement: Policyholders must contact Manulife’s Assistance Centre (1-877-878-0142) before obtaining emergency treatment or within 24 hours of hospitalization. Failure to do so may result in a 20% coinsurance penalty. 
• Pre-approval for diagnostic procedures: MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, biopsies, and certain cardiovascular procedures require prior approval from the Assistance Centre unless it is a life-threatening emergency. 
• Automatic policy extensions: The coverage may automatically extend at no extra cost for travel delays (up to 72 hours), hospitalization on the expiry date, or medical emergencies occurring within 5 days before the policy expires.
• TravelAid app: Manulife also has a dedicated TravelAid App that you can use to file claims or contact claim administrators. It can also provide directions to the closest medical facility wherever you are in the world.

Can you cancel or get a refund on Manulife Visitor Insurance?

Yes, Manulife Visitor Insurance allows policy cancellations and refunds under certain conditions. The refund amount depends on whether coverage has started, whether a claim has been filed, and the reason for cancellation. 

Here are Manulife visitor insurance cancellation and refund rules at a glance:

• 10-day free look period:

You may be eligible for a full refund if you cancel within 10 days of purchase, before your departure date, and no claim has been made. Terms and conditions apply.

• Visa refusal refunds: 

Full refunds may be available if your visa or Super Visa application is refused before coverage begins. However, proof of visa refusal is required.

• Early return refunds:

      Partial refunds for unused coverage days may be available if you:

• Return to your country of origin early, or
• Become eligible for a provincial or government health insurance plan (GHIP)
• No claim can have been paid or denied

Note: Proof of departure or GHIP coverage is required. Refund eligibility is subject to policy conditions, and refunds are generally unavailable if a claim has been paid or denied.

However, a handling fee applies to partial refunds once a claim has been initiated. Manulife will deduct this fee from your refund amount according to the terms and conditions.

Here are the deductions for refunds with claims:

• Claim withdrawn: refund issued minus a $300 file handling fee per claim
• Claim denied: refund issued minus a $500 file handling fee per claim

How to extend Manulife visitor insurance coverage??

If you are thinking about extending your coverage instead of cancelling, you must purchase a new Manulife policy before your current coverage expires.

To avoid a new waiting period, the new policy must:

• Start immediately after the old policy ends
• Not reduce the deductible
• Not increase the coverage limit
• Not switch from a non-pre-existing condition plan to a pre-existing condition plan tier (Basic to Standard/Enhanced)

Note that eligibility for an extension may depend on factors such as your claims history, health status, and the length of coverage requested. Additional premiums will apply, and certain conditions may need to be met.

How does Manulife compare to other visitor insurance options?

Here’s a quick overview of the Manulife visitor health insurance policy compared to similar policies offered by GMS, TuGo, Allianz, and others:

Does Manulife visitor medical insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Yes, the Enhanced plan covers pre-existing medical conditions under certain specific rules. The Enhanced plan covers stable pre-existing medical conditions for at least 180 days before coverage begins.

Is Manulife suitable for Super Visa? 

Yes, all three plans are eligible for the Manulife Super Visa insurance when the coverage amount is $100,000 and above.

What is the maximum coverage available under Manulife visitor insurance?

Manulife offers emergency medical coverage limits up to $200,000 under the Basic, Standard, and Enhanced plans.

Does Manulife visitor to Canada insurance include dental coverage?

Yes, the Standard and Enhanced plans of the Manulife visitor insurance include up to $4,000 for accidental dental treatment and up to $300 for emergency dental pain relief. However, the basic plan has no support for dental work.

Are side trips outside Canada covered by the Manulife Visitor to Canada Insurance?

Yes, the Manulife Visitor to Canada Insurance supports any trip taken to other countries from Canada (starts and ends in Canada). However, it must not exceed the lesser of 30 days per policy or 49% of the total number of coverage days in your policy.

What is a stable pre-existing condition in the Manulife Visitor Insurance?

Under Manulife visitor insurance, a pre-existing medical condition is considered stable if there have been no new treatments, medications, or changes to existing treatment plans within the required stability period. The condition must not have worsened, produced new or more severe symptoms, required hospitalization or specialist referrals, or involved any pending tests, investigations, or planned treatments. 

Can you buy Manulife Visitor to Canada insurance after arriving in Canada? 

Yes, you can buy Manulife Visitor to Canada insurance after arriving in Canada, but this will incur a waiting period. For Basic, Standard and Enhanced, the waiting period is 72 hours if purchased within the first 30 days after arrival and 7 days if purchased 31 days or more after arrival. However, travellers aged 86 or older have a 15-day waiting period for the Basic plan.

Can you leave Canada and return without cancelling Manulife visitor insurance? 

Yes, Manulife allows both side trips outside Canada and approved trip breaks to your country of origin. However, a covered side trip must start and end in Canada and cannot exceed the lesser of 30 days per policy or 49% of your total coverage days.

Can families be covered under one Manulife Visitor to Canada policy? 

Manulife allows more than one person to be insured under the same policy, provided their effective and expiry dates are identical. According to Manulife, a family consists of two parents/legal guardians and unmarried dependent children under age 22 visiting Canada with them.