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Common questions
- Life Insurance can protect your family from any financial crisis
- You leave a completely tax-free inheritance to your dear ones or beneficiaries
- Life Insurance can pay for your funeral expenses
- You can clear your debts and loans with Life Insurance
Industrial Alliance Travel Insurance
Why should you purchase Travel Insurance from iA Financial Group?
Travel Insurance from iA Financial group can offer coverage for all your travels no matter where you go, it can be to the tropics or across the border. Not to mention, this insurance also offers coverage for visitor’s who aren’t protected by the public scheme while their stay in Canada.
iA Travel Insurance meets all your Travel Requirements
Complete insurance coverage in case of any medical emergency
A maximum coverage of five million dollars
If you need to visit the emergency room while being away, we have an all-encompassing policy that offers coverage for all your treatments as well as ensures you get the best treatment available. The provincial health plans cover less than 10% of travel medical bills; if you don’t have Travel Insurance, you will have to pay everything out-of-pocket and that would include ambulance fees, emergency air transportation, prescriptions, X-rays, dental services, return of your travel companion and more.
Travel Insurance that offers coverage for your pre-existing condition
Whether you have a lung condition like asthma or taking medication for hypertension, our Travel Insurance will offer coverage for all your pre-existing conditions. The coverage is based on your aged, the length of your trip as well as the stability of your medical condition. Our simple Medical Health Questionnaire for travellers aged over 60 years determines the rate of interest, not your ability to get coverage.
Trip Cancellation & interruption coverage
And more:
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- All-inclusive holiday package
- Coverage for contact sports, adventure sports and extreme sports
- Non-medical package
- Rental car protection
- A visitor to Canada package
- Insurance for international students (in Canada) and Canadian students (outside of Canada)
Did you know?
If you don’t have Travel Insurance, you will have to pay your medical emergency expenses out-of-pocket, and it can be quite costly:
- The average cost of staying in a hospital during treatment in the US can be up to $10,000 per day
- The government will only cover less than 10% of the complete costs associated with an illness or injury outside of Canada
- Even something as minor as an ear infection can cost upto thousands of dollars if you have to take another flight.
Here are some tips that can help you avoid getting sick when you’re travelling
Before you leave:
No matter how you’re planning to spend your holiday, it can be a week in an all-exclusive resort, or crossing the desert, (it can be a mountain range too), your eating habits are bound to get disrupted and you may end up with digestive issues. Consider taking probiotics to reduce the negative impacts of an exotic diet that can leave your stomach in a tussle. Probiotics will also reinforce your intestinal flora. If you’re travelling alone or bringing children and grandparents on a family trip, or it can be a romantic getaway as well, always keep a first-aid kit. You may never know how it might come in handy. Not to mention, it will also help you avoid the headache of trying to find a pharmacy or a clinic.
You should that you pack your essentials:
- Antacids to relieve indigestion and heartburn
- Medication for travel sickness (nausea and vomiting)
- Medication to stop diarrhoea
- Anti-inflammatories to fight pain and fever
- Antihistamines to treat allergic reactions
You will also have the choice of visiting a walk-in travel health clinic and meet with a nurse who can help in determining whether your vaccines are all up-to-date or if you need to be immunized against illnesses that are specific to your travel destination. However, if you’re visiting a place like Cayo Coco or Riviera Maya, you may have some small cuts and scratches. You can always be ready by purchasing Travel Insurance beforehand. Everything from mishaps like going to the hospital, lost baggage to trip cancellation will be covered. Travel Insurance can help you avoid any unpleasant situation such as these. According to the Société Internationale de télécommunicationsaéronautiques (SITA), air carriers around the world lose approximately 80,000 bags every day, affecting approximately 1% of travellers.
While travelling
When you visit a new country, you would like to go all out on discovering its heritage and culture and that comes with trying out all the local dishes as possible. However, before you head out, you would want to check online comments for all the restaurants you would want to visit and check what its previous patrons had to say for them. Reading the comments would help you avoid any place where the dishes can cause digestion problems.
Also, you should be aware of street food vendors, the food may seem delicious, however, the food that is served by street-side vendors do not maintain health standards and they may be in contact with insects and general dust and pollution from the street. Not to mention, they might not be stored in hygienic storage conditions as well. It would be a shame to have to cut short a day out because you’re tied to the bathroom.
You should also be careful of the water you drink as well the icecubes you put in your drinks. The germs in the water may vary from one region to another and your body may not be used to them. There is a change of a strong adverse reaction if this foreign microbial florafinds its way into your system. Consider drinking bottled water whenever possible and if that is not an option, you should use water purification tablets or water filters.
Have a great trip!
You can visit the My Projects section has tons of tips to help you travel with peace of mind, You can check it out for tips on packing the perfect bag or for travel essentials.
7 Travel Essentials for your Health and Safety
We completely understand that you can’t wait to take your floaters off and relax on the beach or explore a new town. However, before you do that we want you to think about your health and safety. We have made a list just for you so you can travel with complete peace of mind with your health and safety intact. Have a look:
- Copies of your passport: Always bring along two copies of the identification page of your passport and place them in different areas of your travel luggage
- Verify your group insurance: Check if your group insurance plan comes with Travel Insurance. If it doesn’t, you should purchase individual Travel Insurance.
- Bring your group insurance card: If you do have Travel Insurance under your group insurance plan, do not forget to bring your card as proof as coverage.
- Think about your prescription drugs: Take enough prescription medication that can last you the entire trip- they may become useful
- Proof of Travel Insurance: When you have Travel Insurance, always remember to bring proof of your insurance especially if you’re planning to visit countries such as Cuba where it is necessary.
- Check the list of active travel advisories: Refer to the Federal government’s website for this list, check if there are travel advisories that may impact your trip.
- Student insurance: If you’re a student and are travelling outside your province, you must ensure that you have provincial insurance coverage. For this, you will have to visit your provincial government’s website for more information about its health insurance program. Planning this much may seem very tedious, but a little bit of planning ahead can help you in avoiding headaches that you can do without. Be well-prepared so you can have a stress-free travel experience.
Some tips for well-organizing your baggage:
- You should not forget anything important such as medication, adaptors, clothing for different climates etc
- If you’re travelling with a companion, make a shared list so both of you can pack efficiently by sharing certain items such as a hairdryer
- If you roll your clothes, it takes up less space in your luggage, you can also use compression bags that can both save space and protect your clothes
- If you’re carrying containers with liquids, place them in a plastic bag. This will protect your belongings if there is spillage
- Always avoid overpacking so you have space for souvenirs that you may purchase on the trip
Carry-on luggage:
- In your carry-on luggage, pack a few essentials just in case. If the airline misplaces your luggage or if your hotel room isn’t ready these essentials will help. You should pack an extra outfit, bathing suit, medication, camera, toothbrush etc. Keep in mind, that you’re limited to 100 mL containers for liquids and gels in your carry-on.
- Keep a pen nearby, you will need it when you’re filling up several immigration service documents
- Travel with a headphone so you can enjoy in-flight movies when travelling
- Keep your carkeys in your carry-on, you can avoid problems in the event your luggage is delayed
- Keep chewinggum, chewing themcan help you clear your ears when you are taking off or landing
Before you go to the airport
- Make sure that your contact information at your destination is visible on all of your luggage. If you have a black suitcase, attach something colourful to it so it can be easily identified
- Weigh your suitcase at home with a luggage scale as it can help you avoid additional fees for overweight luggage
- Purchase baggage insurance; in the unfortunate event your thing get lost, baggage insurance will cover your losses
Get the best Insurance Quote from iA Insurance
Call 1 844-542-4678 to speak to our advisors.
7 vacation safety tips
The key to a successful vacation is not only living in a 5-star hotel, or camping out under the stars, it is to spend your entire time completely stress-free without worrying about your health and safety. Here’s a checklist for you so you can plan just that
Your home:
- You can ask a neighbour or a friend to collect your mail, turn the lights on and off when needed, open and close the curtains and cut the grass if it gets too long. Otherwise, you can always suspend mail and newspaper delivery.
- Store your important belongings in a safety box and it is also a good idea not to keep cash at home
- Always position your blinds and curtains in such as way that no one would be able to see what’s inside
- Lock all doors and windows
- Make sure you turn on the front and back door lights and put them on a timer
Travel reservations:
- Ensure that the website that you’re using to book your reservations is safe and trustworthy. Many sites offer their packages at a very low rate, however, some deals maybe too good to be true. Before you send your payment, make sure that ‘HTTPS appears in the website URL
Your social media posts:
- Wait until you get back from your holiday before you start posting your vacation photographs on social media. If someone knows that you’re out of town they may take advantage of the situation and break-in in into your home
Your confidential numbers:
- Make a list of your passport, credit card, debit card, traveller’s cheque and other important documents and keep them in a reference document such as an encrypted USB key
Your mobile and electronic devices:
- Ensure you have copies of your important documents and store them in an external drive
- Update all security software with the latest patches
- You should know that border agents are legally entitled to force you to disclose your phone and computer passwords
- If you’re not using electronic devices, then turn them off, do not put them on standby mode
Your baggage:
- You should Identify your luggage discretely. You can use your work address, also travel with minimum baggage required
- Carry your money and identification documents in a pouch and make sure you have a photocopy of all the documents in another location
- Carry chargers for your devices and do not use free charging stations, they can be infected with malware
- Never leave your valuable unattended, even if they are in a car, or in your room at the hotel
- All vital information such as important telephone numbers, addresses and accommodations should be in your possession
Your Travel Insurance:
- Before you leave for your vacation, purchase Travel Insurance for complete protection. Travel Insurance is always crucial whether your vacation is abroad or in another province
Now that you’ve read through the checklist and made sure that everything has been followed, all that is left for you to do is leave.
Vacation in your humble abode
Here are 6 useful tips that can help you create the perfect vacation while staying in the comfort of your home. You don’t always have to travel to far-off lands just enjoy a vacation, sometimes you can just stay at your home and enjoy a ‘staycation’ (the new word that has been making its rounds among Canadians). You can take the time off and just rest, get some household work done and go off exploring your neighbourhood. Have a look at the list below for more ideas:
Start a Garden:
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a big backyard, you can start a garden ona small balcony as well. Growing your own vegetable can become an infectious hobby if you really get into it. And why limit yourself to veggies, you can grow fruits, flowers, herbs that are easy to grow. You can grow them in pots or containers that would depend on you tough, but if you do start, by the beginning of summer you will have fresh food and not to mention beautiful birds and butterflies will also be attracted to your garden and you will get better acquainted with local wildlife.
You can grow plants to help out bees as well. They are very important to our ecosystem and their numbers have been suffering over the years. Especially with urbanization and the overuse of chemical products in agriculture, bees have fewer sources of healthy food. Thyme, raspberries, rosemary, lavender and sunflowers are all plants that will make the bees in your neighbourhood happy.
Here’s an article on Preparing your garden in the spring for you to find out how to get started!
Cool down with water games:
Some summer days can get really hot, and what better way to cool down than having fun with water games. You can sue the sprinkler or the garden hose, play water baseball where you can use water balloons instead of a real ball, you can also start a gunfight; there are tons of ways to cool down while you can have fun.
BBQ in the backyard:
Summer and barbeques go hand-in-hand and if you have never tried it yet, you should take it up this summer. Other than cooking up a delicious meal for your family, it also allows you to take a break and spend some quality time with people who you care about. You can find markets and other sources near you to prepare a feast full of local flavours. There are also several benefits of eating local. Make sure you’re careful when you’re cooking! To check out our tips, read our article Hot tips for BBQ safety.
A good time to explore your neighbourhood:
If you never had the time to explore your neighbourhood before, now could be the time. You can go for a walk, cycle around, ride a bike or a scooter down the street, whatever you like. Maybe you can go for picnics with your family in the parks nearby, (generally city parks are very well-maintained and laid out) You can also plan out a treasure hunt for your kids, across the neighbourhood. Challenge your young ones to spot, for example, two cats, three red cards, two basketball nets, say hi to a dog and much more. Use your imagination, it’s limitless.
Visit the national parks.
Any Canadian would know that our country is filled with huge national parks, and we have access to all of them. While you are staycation-ing in your home, you can explore the great outdoors at your convenience. Visit the website Parks Canada as well as your provincial park website for all the details that you are looking for about these places.
Clear of the task-list that’s been long overdue
When you’re vacationing in your home, you will have all the time to yourself, and you can use this time to clear off any pending tasks that you’ve been thinking of doing but haven’t. Here’s a list to organize the thing you choose to tackle:
- Finish the chores inside and outside your home
- Manage your finances with the help of a financial advisor and create a budget plan for the coming year
- Learn something new; it can be anything
- Update your homecar or life insurance
- Do a big clean of your home, or choose to make it more eco-friendly
- Get involved in your community
But if you do go on your summer vacation, make sure you have complete Travel Insurance coverage so you can enjoy your trip without any extra stress.
Some tips for managing your travel expenses
When you’re traveling, you might lose track of your budget and then fall into a cash crunch. To stay away from that, here are a few hints that can help you manage your expenses while you’re traveling abroad.
- Choose your destination carefully: Make sure you're visiting a place that is within your budget. You should compare the cost of airfare, exchange rates, the cost of living and think about the time of the year you're planning to travel. If you choose somewhere that is new and beginning to attract attention, you may be ableto set aside cash and get all the more value for your money. Several countries provide incentives if you encourage their tourism; this can be reflected in the cost of airfare.
- Save on where you live: Alternative to hotels, such as inns, room rentals, private residences, can help you save on your living expenses while traveling. In addition to having an authentic living experience, you will have access to a kitchen and cook your own meals.
- Limit eating out: If you’re eating three meals a day in restaurants, that can blow your travel budget. Yes, it’s understandable that while you're traveling, you would want to experience the local culture, but if you carefully choose when and where to eat, you can save a lot. Making breakfast for yourself or eating quick meals during the day can also help you in saving expenses. You can use this saved cash by eating out at a luxurious restaurant of your choice. You can make your travels all the more memorable by making these minor changes in your travel itinerary.
- Set your daily budget: If you can set your daily budget when you're traveling, it can help you save a lot. Determine how much money you should spend everyday and ensure that you will not overspend. You should subtract the amount allotted to accommodations and transportations. It will give you an idea of how much you will have to spend on meals, activities, and souvenirs.
- Use technology to help your budget: Use applications to track your expenses while you're traveling. Some applications can give you discounts on your reservations.
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Flying with a baby or young child? Here are some hints for a smooth journey
If you’re traveling with toddlers or children, here are some tips to help complete your trip with complete peace of mind.
- Always choose a direct flight: If your young one to traveling on a flight for the first time, you should choose the destination wisely. It shouldn't be a long one. Short flights can cut back on overtiredness and meltdowns for your little ones. Also, non-stop flights are always more preferable. Additionally, avoid long waits at multiple checkpoints, including the airport. Another tip that can help you is to choose a small carry-on and a foldable stroller, or a baby carrier as these are easy to handle.
- Make sure your children are in comfy clothing: If they are wearing comfortable clothing during traveling, they will be more relaxed throughout the trip. If you're traveling with a toddler, ensure that the diaper bag has outfits that are easy to change, as airplane bathrooms are notoriously tiny. You would want to carry a small blanket as some flights really blast their air conditioning, and you wouldn't want your little one to feel cold. Also, carry extra diapers just in case.
- Strategically book your seats: Youngsters love to move around and having space, so it's smarter to book situates that are more reasonable for them. You can choose the front-row seats that have more legroom so your young ones can extend their legs now and again with sufficient room.Yes, you're right; these seats usually come at a premium, so expect to pay at least $40 extra per flight—an investment that would be worth it! Additional advantages of choosing these seats include; closer bathrooms and sometimes also bassinets for babies, and they can be extremely useful on longer flights. A few carriers additionally have a free child club open on the web, with breathtaking advantages remembering fast check-for, need boarding, and even tidbits and shock treats for the children. Thus, ponder marking your youngsters up before they travel to partake in the advantages.
- Carry-on for your kids: Children who have their own seats are also entitled to their own hand luggage. You can pack this luggage with a change of clothes, as well as flight accessories, snacks, games, and other items that your kids will enjoy! On some flights, snacks are for purchase only. If you have some food on hand, your children will be happy and will stay seated longer, not to mention, also give you a few minutes of peace. The same is for headphones: sometimes they are complimentary, other times you would have to buy them, and sometimes they may not be available. Regardless, they're typically not the right kind for babies, and they'll require them to watch motion pictures. When contemplating toys for the flight, they ought to be little, commotion free, and independent, in light of different travelers in your line:
- Sticker books
- Reading books
- Colouring books
- Small stuffed animals
- Toys
- Always expect hiccups on the way: During flight take-off and landing, changes in air pressure can give your child a headache or an earache, or both. You should be ready with a pacifier or a bottle for younger children to suck on; you can have biting gum or hard confections for the more seasoned ones. This will lessen the effect of the pressing factor change and will save their psyches off it for a couple of moments. Also, keep in mind that motion sickness is something that kids cannot control; pack sickness prescription or whatever might assist with indigestion. Also, definitely, inquire as to whether you need a hand—they're exceptionally useful and understanding with youthful families! When vacationing with young children, preparation is always the key. Besides the luggage and the reservations, you will also want to take out Travel Insurance that suits your requirements. And make sure to leave your property safe for greater peace of mind so you can enjoy your trip fully. Happy and safe travels!
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What should you do before you travel?
Are you traveling soon? Ensure you don’t forget anything; here are some necessary precautions that you should take before you leave.
Pay a visit to a travel clinic.
It’s better to check if you need vaccines or specific medication before you travel. The best way to do this is to visit your doctor or specialized clinic. Sometimes, you may require several doses for a certain amount of time before you can travel. This ensures that you’re protected.
Keep check on your passport expiration date.
This is a general mistake that you can make if you’re not aware, and it can hamper your travel plans altogether. Before you book a trip, see to it that you have a valid passport. If your passport is nearing its expiry date, it will give you time to renew it.
Check if you will need a visa?
Before you start your trip, check if the country you’re visiting needs a visa. While several countries do offer visa on arrival, you won’t want to take that risk. You don’t need your vacation to end before it begins by being denied entry upon your arrival!
What is your Travel Insurance coverage?
This also comes under several essential factors to check on before you start your travel. While group insurance plans and many credit cards offer certain base travel coverages, ensure that you find out what is included in yours. If you don’t have Travel Insurance, you should consider buying one now as Travel Insurance coverage can help you travel with relaxed mind. If something happens to you abroad, it can help you avoid a financial crisis. Also, make sure that you have all your information with you. Different time zones and remote areas can make a simple call to verify your coverage quite tricky.
Advise your credit card company
You can protect yourself against fraud by blocking your credit card if you observe any unusual transactions. Even if you were the one who made a reservation at this lovely Italian inn, the credit card company may determine otherwise and block the transaction. Avoid such problems by informing your credit card company about your travel plans. Several institutions also allow you to tell them of your travel plans on their website or mobile app.
Keep your dear ones informed.
Make copies of your flight information, travel documents, reservation confirmations, insurance documents, and itinerary; everything related to your travel. You can share this information with a family member or a friend who can help you if you run into trouble abroad. For example, if you lose your passport, this individual can also consult these documents in case of a catastrophic event or huge mishap in the region where you’re traveling. All that’s left to do is to pack your bags!
Tips for a successful year off
If you are planning to take the year off, you better take the necessary repercussions before going ahead with it. You never know what might be installed for you.
Plan a long way ahead
- It's a good idea to plan your year off at least a year ahead of time, no matter what you've planned to do with it.
- Start planning at least a year before you go ahead and take your time off.
- If you want to go traveling, you may want to consider learning a new language and finding accommodation and transport and all the bare necessities you need while moving around. Make an expenses plan as well.
- Are you renovating your home? Choose your contractors well ahead of time and also get some quotes.
- If you're planning to start a business, you should draw up a business plan, prepare your website, and get in touch with prospective clients.
Set milestones for yourself
It’s essential that before you take a year off, you should consider setting goals for yourself. Organize your time off down to every second so you can get the most out of it.
Plan your finances
Budget
Start planning your finances a year in advance. Here are some considerations you should make.
- Your everyday expenses which would include accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment
- You should create a budget for your additional expenses as well. If you’re planning for higher studies, you should create a budget for your tuition fees and textbooks.
- Include your insurance coverage cost in your budget; you should also know that your employer won't contribute to your plan while you're away.
- Even if you’re taking time off to try out a new job, your salary and working conditions may not necessarily be the same.
Start Saving
You should check if your employer offers you the option to take a deferred salary leave. That means you would set a chunk of your salary aside for a few years (20% for four years), and the money you set aside will be paid to you during your leave. If this option can be arranged, you will have some money left aside- in a tax-free savings account (TFSA). It will take a significant bit of discipline and can mean some sacrifices.
Plan your return
It would help if you considered planning your return as well, as it might take some to adjust. You would’ve learned some skill in-between, and your priorities might have shifted. Speak with your employer before you go back to the office. Understand what has been happening during your absence. Also, discuss your expectations when it comes to working and what options might be open for you.
The advantages and disadvantages of taking a year off
It is a big decision, and you should weigh up all the pros and cons before taking the plunge.
The benefits
If you have decided something that you will take a year off, you must have some plans in your mind. Here are some of the common reasons why people choose to take a gap year:
- To get new abilities: After years on the job market, you've finally found your calling may think you need to take stock of your career and professional goals. Perhaps you'll make the most of your time off by learning a new language, returning to school, or trying out a new profession.
- Do something you’ve always wanted to do: Maybe you would like to check some things off your bucket list. If you take a year off, it can be a great time to write that book that’s been in sitting in the back of your mind for years or travel around the world or do some volunteer work, maybe even start a business.
- Look after your kids: You can finally spend quality time with your family, especially your kids. A year off can be the perfect opportunity to bond more with your kids and strengthen family ties.
- Enjoy some R&R: Maybe after working for many years, you will be ready for a while. Everyone can get advantage from taking time to relax, enjoy life, and calm, whether it's a week-long vacation or an extended vacation.
More things to think about
- You should be well-prepared and point out what your employer stands to gain from saying yes.
- When you're planning to get back to the office, you might want to change your line of work as well. You can discuss your options by meeting with your employer before you go back to work to discuss your options.
- According to your plan, one year of rest will have a significant impact on your spouse and children. Consider the financial aspects first, but remember how your family will react to your new focus. Traveling abroad, going back to school, and moving are all things that can have a significant impact on others too.
- Before you take your time off, you should start saving. If your employer offers deferred payments, you can opt for it. For example, if you set aside 20% of your salary for four years, you can take a year off and still enjoy 80% of your average wage. It will take a while to get used to the idea, and there'll be some sacrifices to make.
- Make sure you can afford to take time off from a financial perspective. Talk it over with a financial security advisor if need be to draw up an action plan.
- If you’re craving R&R and family time, taking an extended vacation for a few weeks might be a better fit for your needs. Ask yourself what’s motivating you to take such a long time off.
So, what’s the verdict?
The primary thing is to think things through properly and make sure you’re well-prepared. If you can plan it right, a year off can be a highly enriching experience. If your finances and responsibilities will stretch to it, and if your employer gives you the green light, go for it. It can be a great opportunity for you to grow as a person, learn new skills, and recharge your batteries—which could be just as beneficial for your employer too!