Travel Insurance for Canadians
Before you go
You have probably landed here from one of our resort guides, right around the point where the trip starts to feel real and there is still a list of dull things left to sort out. This is one of them.
So here is who we are, before anything else. We are a Canadian travel site. We are not brokers, and we are not licensed to sell insurance or to give advice on it. That means we are not going to tell you what coverage you need or what your policy should include. We cannot, and we would not want to guess on something like this.
What we can do is point you to TuGo, who arrange it, and be straight with you that we earn a commission if you buy through our link. It does not cost you anything extra.
This takes you to TuGo, who arrange and sell the coverage. You will deal with them directly, not with us.
About TuGo, and why they are the name on this page
TuGo was founded in 1964 by Herb and Georgina Robinson, under the name Travel Underwriters. The company has been at it ever since. Its own site describes the business as “proudly Canadian-owned and operated” for that whole stretch.
Head office sits in Richmond, British Columbia, and the company trades as TuGo under the corporate name North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd.
Travel is the only thing they do. The 24/7 emergency assistance line, the claims administration and the customer service are all handled in house rather than contracted out, with support offered in 27 languages.
TuGo belongs to the Travel Health Insurance Association. It also publishes a Travel Insurance Bill of Rights setting out what a customer can expect, including a ten day window to read a policy over after buying it. Their site lists them among Canada’s Best Managed Companies at Platinum level too. Those are all their own descriptions, and you can check them on their about page.
Here is our part in it. People ask us who we use. What we wanted was a Canadian company that does travel and nothing else, one that has been around long enough to have a record, and one that publishes what it actually pays out rather than just what it sells.
That last quality is rarer than it should be, and it is most of why their name is on this page. The claim further down came straight out of TuGo’s own library.
There is a commission in it for us when someone buys through our link, and we would rather say so up here than bury it at the bottom. We can tell you why we point at them. What we cannot tell you is whether their coverage suits you. Only they can do that.
A claim TuGo published
We cannot tell you what travel insurance is worth. TuGo can, and they publish real claims so people can see what actually happens when a trip goes wrong. This one is theirs, not ours, and we have not touched the numbers.
TuGo, Real-life traveller claim stories
An infection from walking barefoot on the beach could have cost Kirk over $130,000
Kirk, a 54-year-old Canadian, was enjoying a relaxing vacation in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he stepped on something sharp while walking barefoot on the beach. He initially dismissed the small cut on his foot, but within days, the pain and swelling grew worse, making it difficult to walk.
Concerned, Kirk visited a local clinic, where he was quickly referred to a hospital for further treatment. Blood work and an x-ray revealed multiple abscesses in his foot, which required emergency surgery. However, following the procedure, Kirk’s condition continued to worsen, leading to a second surgery.
Given the severity of the infection, doctors determined Kirk needed to be airlifted back to Canada for continued treatment. TuGo coordinated his medical evacuation, ensuring he received the care he needed as quickly and safely as possible.
| Hospital fees | $41,943.07 |
| Doctors’ fees | $38,675.11 |
| Pathology and radiology | $2,268.69 |
| Air ambulance fees | $56,351.82 |
| Amount paid by TuGo | $139,238.69 |
Source: TuGo, Real-life traveller claim stories, August 2025. TuGo’s note on these stories: “These examples are based on actual claims with specific traveller details changed to protect privacy.”
We chose that one because of where it happened. Not a ski hill, not a rented motorbike, nothing anyone would call reckless. A beach, barefoot, on a holiday that sounds a lot like the ones we write about.
When you are ready
Get your own quote and your own answers, from the people who are actually allowed to give them.
This takes you to TuGo, who arrange and sell the coverage. You will deal with them directly, not with us.
The Government of Canada publishes its own page on travel insurance, including the questions it suggests asking before you buy.
Still in the planning stage? Our resort guides are here for Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States. And if there is a beach in Mexico on your itinerary, our guide to beach flags and currents is worth five minutes before you get in the water.
Pack With Purpose is an independent Canadian travel site and is not affiliated with or owned by TuGo. We take part in TuGo’s affiliate programme, which means we earn a commission if you buy coverage after following our link, at no additional cost to you. We are not licensed to sell or advise on insurance. Insurance is arranged and sold by TuGo, and you will deal with TuGo directly. More in our affiliate disclosure. Last reviewed August 2026.
