The short answer on travel insurance for volunteering abroad with MEDLIFE is that it’s already taken care of: every SLT trip fee includes travel insurance. Your MEDLIFE SLT includes emergency medical insurance for eligible, unforeseen medical emergencies during your trip. The policy has a $250 deductible, meaning you are responsible for the first $250 of covered medical expenses. Once the deductible is met, coverage is available up to $250,000, subject to the policy’s terms.

That matters, because your provincial health plan typically covers very little, if anything, once you leave Canada. Some students still choose to add extra coverage on top of what’s included. This guide covers when that might make sense and what to look for if you do.

When You Might Want Extra Coverage

For most students, the included insurance covers everything they might need. Adding more is a personal choice, usually for students with specific needs or concerns:

• A pre-existing medical condition. If you manage an ongoing condition, check how the included policy handles it. A plan that covers your condition more specifically may give you more confidence.
• Travel before or after your trip. If you’re extending your time abroad, check whether the included coverage applies outside your official trip dates.
• Valuable belongings. If you’re bringing expensive electronics or equipment, a separate plan may offer higher limits for lost or stolen items.
• Higher limits in general. Some students and families simply prefer more coverage, and that’s a reasonable call.

What To Look For In Additional Travel Insurance For Volunteering Abroad

If you decide to add coverage, compare it with what’s already included so you’re not paying twice for the same thing. The main areas to look at:

• Emergency medical and hospital coverage. Coverage limits for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and tests abroad.
• Emergency medical evacuation. Covers the cost of getting you to an appropriate medical facility, or home to Canada, if your condition requires it. Insurers usually need to approve and arrange this, so know how to reach them.
• Trip interruption and delay. Reimburses non-refundable costs if a cancelled flight or a family emergency changes your plans. Weather-related coverage varies, so read the terms.
• Baggage and personal belongings. Covers lost, stolen, or delayed luggage. Keep copies of your passport and documents separately either way.

One thing to check carefully: some policies exclude volunteer activities. If you buy extra coverage, make sure yours doesn’t. To learn more about the details of MEDLIFE’s SLT insurance coverage, check out our FAQ.

Check Your Student Plan

Many Canadian universities include basic travel coverage in the health plan you get through your student union. If you already have one, it may cover some of what you’d otherwise buy separately. Read the terms first, since coverage limits, maximum trip length, and exclusions vary a lot between plans.

Whatever coverage you end up with, save the policy details and emergency numbers on your phone, and keep a paper copy with your passport. Share the information with your family too, so they know who to call if something happens.

Before You Go

It’s not required for you to buy travel insurance for volunteering abroad on a MEDLIFE SLT, because it’s included in your trip fee. If you have specific needs or just want extra coverage, start early and compare any plan against what’s already included. Ask the provider directly about anything in the terms that’s unclear.

This guide is a starting point, not insurance advice. Only the provider can confirm exactly what a policy covers.

To learn more about MEDLIFE’s service learning trips and how you can get involved, fill out the form below today!