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Money Matters
Canadian currency, traveller's cheques in Canadian dollars and personal
cheques drawn on Canadian banks are not widely or easily negotiable in
the United States. Accordingly, you should purchase traveller's cheques
in US dollars before you leave Canada.
All major credit cards are accepted throughout the United
States. There are banking machines that will accept Canadian bank
cards, but these may be limited depending on your account access
privileges (Interac, PLUS, etc.). Despite these difficulties, do not
carry large amounts of cash.
No limit is placed on the amount of money that travellers may legally
take into or out of the United States. However, if on any occasion you
carry more than US$10,000 in monetary instruments (such as US or
foreign coin, currency, traveller's cheques, money orders, and
negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form) into or
out of the United States, or if you receive more than that amount while
in the United States, you must file a report (Customs Form 4790) with
US Customs and Border Protection. Failure to comply can result in civil
and criminal penalties, including seizure of the currency or monetary
instruments.
Supplemental Health Insurance
Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get
sick or are injured while you are outside the country. At best, your
health plan will cover only a portion of the bill. It is your
responsibility to obtain and understand the terms of your supplementary
insurance policies. Some credit cards offer their holders health and
travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate
coverage.
Be sure to ask whether your policy:
- Has an in-house emergency hotline you can call if you are in
trouble. Find out whether it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
whether the operators are multilingual; and whether nurses or
physicians are on staff.
- Pays foreign hospital and related medical costs and, if so,
whether it pays up front or expects you to pay and be reimbursed later.
- Provides for your medical evacuation to the nearest place with proper medical care or to Canada.
- Pays for any required medical escort (doctor/nurse) to accompany you during evacuation.
- Excludes pre-existing medical conditions. If such conditions
exist, notify your insurance company and get an agreement in writing
that you are covered for these conditions. Otherwise, you could find
your claim “null and void” under a pre-existing condition clause.
- Covers premature births and related neonatal care.
- Allows for cash advances if a hospital accepts only such payment.
- Pays for the preparation and return to Canada of your remains should you die while travelling.
Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent,
a friend or a relative at home and your travelling companion how to
contact your insurer.
Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you leave the
United States. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get the
proper paperwork from thousands of kilometres away. Remember always to
submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions you
received while travelling. Most insurance companies will not accept
copies or faxes.
Other Insurance
Your provincial government health insurance plan cannot be maintained
after you have lived outside the province for a period of time. This
period varies depending on your province of residence. Individual
personal medical insurance for those working outside Canada, with both
occupational and non-occupational coverage, is available. These plans
consist of full accident and sickness coverage, including emergency
medical evacuation.
Lost luggage, theft of your purse or wallet, or flight cancellations
can happen to you. These annoyances may cause major disruptions when
they take place outside Canada. Consider purchasing a travel insurance
package that will compensate you for such inconveniences.
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