Every question, answered honestly.

IRCC requires proof of medical insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from the date of entry, purchased from a Canadian insurer or an approved foreign provider, and covering health care, hospitalization and repatriation. The certificate is submitted with the application, and border officers may ask to see it again on arrival, so keep a copy with the traveller.

Premiums depend mainly on the applicant's age, health history, coverage amount and deductible. As a rough national guide, parents aged 55 to 64 typically pay around $1,600 to $2,600 per year for a $100,000 policy, while applicants in their 70s and those needing pre-existing condition coverage pay noticeably more. Raising the deductible is the most common way to bring the premium down.

Often, yes. IRCC now accepts proof that the policy is paid in full or in instalments, and several Canadian insurers offer monthly payment plans, usually with an initial deposit of a couple of months' premium and sometimes a small financing charge. Missing instalments can cancel coverage, which would put the visa conditions at risk, so payments need to stay current for the whole year.

If the visa is refused and the policy has not yet taken effect, most insurers refund the full premium once you provide the refusal letter. If your parents arrive and later leave Canada early, many plans offer partial refunds for the unused period, provided no claim has been made. Refund rules differ by insurer, so it is worth confirming them before you buy.

The Super Visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and each traveller needs their own policy meeting the $100,000 minimum. Couples apply and are insured individually, though an advisor can arrange both policies together. Other relatives, such as siblings or in-laws visiting on regular visitor visas, are insured under standard visitor plans instead.

Usually, yes. When a policy is purchased after the visitor has already entered Canada, insurers commonly apply a waiting period — often around 48 hours to a few days — during which illnesses are not covered, though injuries from accidents typically are. Buying before departure avoids this entirely, which is one of the strongest reasons to arrange coverage before the flight.

Many plans include limited coverage for short trips outside Canada, including to the USA, often on the condition that the majority of the coverage period is spent in Canada and sometimes with day limits. Terms vary significantly between insurers, and some exclude US travel altogether. If a cross-border trip is planned, say so when getting quotes so the policy is chosen accordingly.

Generally, yes, provided you request the extension before the current policy expires and no claim or new medical problem has arisen. Insurers may re-ask health questions, and a condition that appeared during the first policy period may be excluded from the extension. Set a reminder well before the expiry date, because reinstating lapsed coverage is much harder than extending active coverage.

Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions that were not stable for the required period before the effective date, routine check-ups and non-emergency care, pregnancy and childbirth after a stated week, injuries from certain high-risk activities, and expenses from travel undertaken against medical advice. Every policy defines these differently, which is why reading the exclusions section — or having an advisor walk through it — matters more than the price.

Call the insurer's 24/7 emergency assistance line as soon as reasonably possible — ideally before or immediately after seeking treatment — and keep every receipt, prescription and report. The assistance team can often direct-bill hospitals so the family does not pay upfront. Claims are then submitted with the medical records; an advisor like Champp can help complete forms and follow up if the insurer asks questions.

Yes. Permanent residents can generally apply immediately, and many insurers also accept work-permit holders and other new arrivals, sometimes with conditions around how long they have been in Canada or their pathway to permanent residence. Rules differ by company, so being declined by one insurer does not mean all will decline. Applying early is often cheaper, since premiums rise with age.

Term insurance covers you for a set period — often 10, 20 or 30 years — at a lower premium, which suits mortgages and years with dependent children. Whole life lasts a lifetime and builds cash value, but costs considerably more for the same death benefit. Many families start with term for affordability and add or convert to permanent coverage later as budgets allow.

A Registered Education Savings Plan attracts the Canada Education Savings Grant, which matches 20% of contributions up to a yearly limit, with a lifetime grant maximum per child; lower-income families may qualify for additional amounts such as the Canada Learning Bond. The investments grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals for the child's post-secondary education are taxed in the student's hands, usually at a very low rate.

Provincial plans cover medically necessary hospital and physician care, but generally not prescription drugs for working-age adults, dental cleanings and fillings, eye exams and glasses, physiotherapy, or paramedical services like massage and chiropractic care. Private health and dental plans fill those gaps — particularly valuable for self-employed people, small business owners and families whose employers offer no group benefits.

Critical illness insurance pays a one-time, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a covered condition — commonly cancer, heart attack or stroke, among others defined in the policy — and survive a short waiting period. The money can cover lost income, treatment travel or the mortgage while you recover. It is worth considering for anyone whose household depends heavily on one or two incomes.

No. Consultations, plan comparisons and quotes are free, and there is no obligation to buy. Advisors in Canada are paid a commission by the insurer whose policy you choose, and premiums are filed rates, so working through Champp does not make your policy more expensive than buying directly from the insurance company. Claim-time support and policy changes after purchase are included at no extra charge as well.

Champp works in English, Hindi and Punjabi across every stage — quotes, policy walkthroughs, renewals and claims. This is especially useful for Super Visa coverage, where the insured person is a visiting parent or grandparent: they can join the call and have deductibles, exclusions and emergency procedures explained to them directly in their own language.

Champp advises families virtually across Canada, with a strong base in Ontario communities like Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga and in British Columbia, including Vancouver and Surrey. Because insurance licensing is provincial, the exact products available can vary by where you live; share your province when you reach out and Aniel will confirm what he can arrange for you.

You share basic details — who needs coverage, dates of birth, health highlights, travel dates or coverage goals — by phone, WhatsApp or the website contact form. Champp then compares plans from multiple Canadian insurers and sends back a plain-language summary of the best-fitting options with prices. If one fits, the application is completed electronically, often with documents issued the same day.

Yes, and this is central to how the practice works. At claim time, Aniel helps you notify the insurer correctly, gather medical records and receipts, complete the forms, and follow up until a decision is made. If a claim is denied for reasons that look wrong, he helps you challenge it — support that call centres and comparison websites typically do not provide.