Health insurance glossary
Annual multi-trip plan
Plain-English definition
An annual multi-trip plan is travel medical insurance that covers every trip you take during a year, up to a maximum length for each trip. A trip longer than that per-trip limit is not fully covered unless you add a top-up, which extends coverage for the extra days. Long winter stays commonly need either a matching per-trip limit or a single-trip policy.
By the HealthRate editorial desk
How it works
The per-trip limit applies to each trip separately. Check when your policy starts counting a trip; it is commonly the day you leave your home province.
A top-up adds days to one trip. Some insurers require it to be bought before you leave, and it may come with new medical questions.
The coverage must run for every day you are away. If a trip lasts longer than the coverage, the extra days may not be covered at all.
Why it matters
A plan built for short trips can leave most of a six-month stay uncovered. Matching the per-trip limit to your real trip length, or adding a top-up, closes that gap.
Not to be confused with
Not the same as a single-trip policy, which covers one trip of a set length. An annual plan covers many trips, each up to its limit.