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BMO Insurance Summer Travel Study: Eighty-three Per Cent of Canadians Plan on Taking a Vacation This Summer

- Canadians plan on spending an average of $3,073 on vacations between May and September

- Top vacation concerns include: requiring medical attention, bad weather and losing something of value

- Only half regularly purchase travel insurance before leaving home

- Cost of a broken leg can cost up to US$20,000 in the U.S.; an air ambulance trip from Florida to Ontario can run up to US$15,000

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 16, 2013) - With Victoria Day weekend considered the unofficial start of summer, BMO Insurance today released the results of its Summer Travel Insurance Study which found that 83 per cent of Canadians plan on taking a vacation between May and September. The top international destinations include the U.S., Europe and Central and South America.

The study also found that only half reported that they regularly purchase travel insurance before heading on vacation, potentially leaving themselves and their families vulnerable to spiraling costs in the event they require medical attention.

The study is the first of a 'Summer Series' from BMO Financial Group that will examine personal finance issues and trends among Canadians during the season.

How much is being spent and what are our top vacation fears?

While Canadians plan on spending an average of $3,073 on summer travel this year, less than half will be using a portion of their budget to purchase travel medical insurance. This is despite the fact that requiring medical attention while on vacation is one of the top worries of travelers, along with bad weather and losing something important.

"While it's great news that so many Canadians will be taking advantage of the great weather to hit the road and get some rest and relaxation this summer, it's a concern that so few will be protecting themselves against the unexpected by purchasing travel medical insurance," said Julie Barker-Merz, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, BMO Insurance.

Ms. Barker-Merz noted that medical care abroad can be daunting without adequate travel medical insurance. For example, a broken leg in the United States can cost up to US$20,000, an air ambulance from Florida to Ontario US$15,000 and treatment for decompression sickness in Thailand up to US$40,000. She also points out that, even within Canada, Canadians may not be covered for all required medical attention when travelling to another province.

"Unless you and your family are covered through other means, it's critical to make sure you have travel medical insurance because emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime," said Ms. Barker-Merz. "Just like packing sunscreen and stopping the newspaper before leaving home, making sure you have travel medical insurance should be a high-priority item on any traveler's 'vacation to-do list'."

BMO offers insight when selecting a travel insurance policy:

  • Get enough coverage: Look for a travel medical policy that includes medical and dental coverage, air ambulance, private duty nurse expenses and airfare and lodging for a family member to fly out to be by your side.
  • Understand who pays: Some insurers pay the doctor directly while others require the traveler to pay up front and then get reimbursed at a later date.
  • Read the fine print: Make sure your insurance policy covers you for all your trip activities and is valid for the duration of your trip.

Regional Breakdown:

  Going on a
Summer Vacation
in 2013
  Average Amount
Spent on
Summer Vacation
Always Purchase
Travel Insurance
 
Atlantic 88 % $2,523 38 %
Quebec 70 % $1,978 62 %
Ontario 85 % $3,016 44 %
Prairies 92 % $6,030 45 %
Alberta 92 % $2,986 46 %
B.C. 89 % $3,572 51 %

For more information on BMO Travel Insurance: www.bmo.com/home/personal/banking/insurance/travel.

Get the latest BMO press releases via Twitter by following @BMOmedia.

The online survey was conducted by Pollara with a random sample of 1,000 Canadians 18 years of age and over, between May 9 and May 13, 2013.

 
For further information:
Media contacts:
Rachael McKay, Toronto
416-867-3996
rachael.mckay@bmo.com

Ronald Monet, Montreal
514-877-1873
ronald.monet@bmo.com

Laurie Grant, Vancouver
604-665-7596
laurie.grant@bmo.com