Studies have found that many Canadians who travel within Canada but outside of their home province don’t purchase travel insurance, assuming — often mistakenly — that their provincial government or employee health plans would cover everything. All too often, unfortunately, that turns out not to be the case.

Expenses such as prescription drugs, air ambulance service, X-rays and other costly procedures may not be covered by your plan when you’re outside Manitoba — even if you’re still in Canada. Therefore, if you’re planning a summer vacation this year, it’s probably a good idea to include purchasing travel insurance as part of your trip. It’s also a good idea to carry proof of that travel insurance with you, along with the name and phone number of the insurance provider. You may also want to leave a copy of the details with a neighbour or close relative, just in case you lose your copy.

With travel insurance in place to cover any unforeseen illnesses, you’ll be able to relax, rest easy and enjoy your summer getaway.