Health insurance glossary
Snowbird
Plain-English definition
A snowbird is a Canadian who spends part of each winter in a warmer place, often several months in the United States. Two rules shape their coverage: how long their province lets them be away while keeping public health coverage, and how much of a long trip their travel medical insurance actually covers. Provincial plans may cover only a small part of the cost of care in the United States.
By the HealthRate editorial desk
How it works
Each province sets its own limit on time spent outside the province before public coverage is affected, and the limits differ.
Travel medical insurance has to cover every day of the trip. Annual multi-trip plans have a per-trip limit that may be shorter than a winter stay unless a top-up is added.
Pre-existing conditions are covered only if they meet the policy's stability rules for its look-back period.
Why it matters
A long winter away can put both provincial coverage and travel insurance at risk if the dates do not line up. Checking both before booking avoids a stay with no coverage at the end.