Canada trip

[John in Michigan]

We recently updated our tmobile plan to include unlimited talk, text and data in Canada... Useful for us, as we don't live far from the border. At times in the US, we are close enough to the border that we inadvertently roam to Canadian carriers

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Yes it seems we all are headed north!

I hate to go even further off topic, so I apologize in advance.

But I understood that my Consumer Cellular phone would NOT work in Canada and was designed that way to prevent unexpected charges.

This site says:

Our customers also don’t have a roaming problem. They are never charged a roaming fee for domestic U.S. usage, and that includes Alaska and Hawaii. And their Consumer Cellular phone will not work beyond the U.S. borders, thus protecting them from any outrageous international roaming fees, which are mostly unregulated and can vary widely.

Did you have to authorize coverage in Canada?


I was just planning on not having cell phone coverage in Canada.

Unless you have an international plan on your cell phone you will want to do at least one thing before heading anywhere near the Canadian (or Mexico) boarders. Go to the settings and make sure you disable its ability to "roam". Otherwise you will have a shockingly large bill. Even in the USA phones can roam up to Canada such as when driving inside the USA along the Puget Sound coast line on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Many times a phone will jump to their cell towers because the signal out of Canada is the stronger one. When I lived in Port Townsend, WA I had to turn it to no roaming, I could see the lights of the city of Victoria from my house and was living in a dead zone with extremely poor signals for my USA provider.

[thrifty bill]

I've seen conflicting information on whether a Canadian insurance card is required. I've had to show it in the past when I got pulled over for speeding (low speed limits in much of Canada and I wasn't towing). Its a simple task to get one, so I always do it. At a minimum, it is proof that your insurance coverage is valid in Canada.

[John in Michigan]

Originally Posted by John in Michigan

We recently updated our tmobile plan to include unlimited talk, text and data in Canada... Useful for us, as we don't live far from the border. At times in the US, we are close enough to the border that we inadvertently roam to Canadian carriers

Yes, as k corbin pointed out, way to avoid the roaming over the border problem is to set your phone to not roam. In our case we have six people/six lines, so sometimes it just "happens". The good news is that our updated plan is the same price as the previous plan and the roaming over the border risk goes away.

[Tom 72]

Tensions being what they are [kidding] the Canadians are still a little sore about the U.S. invading Canada in the War of 1812, so leave your firearms at home [not kidding].

"The war began with an attack on Canada, both as an effort to gain land and to cut off British supply lines to Tecumseh's Indian confederation, which had long troubled the US. The initial battles in Canada were not as easy as the War Hawks hoped, and the inexperienced American soldiers were pushed back rapidly. In fact, only by virtue of clutch naval victories by Oliver Hazard Perry on Lake Erie and Thomas Macdonough on Lake Champlain was a serious northern- front invasion of the United States, including New York, prevented. General William Henry Harrison's forces did manage to kill Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames in 1813, in the midst of a decisive victory against the British General Isaac Brock's smaller force."

SparkNotes: The War of 1812 (1809-1815): Summary

[gordon2]

I wonder what they did for insurance coverage when "visiting" Canada in 1812...

[John in Michigan]

Fascinating history. Canada a colony at the time. My ggg grandfather fought on the US side.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Tom 72

Tensions being what they are [kidding] the Canadians are still a little sore about the U.S. invading Canada in the War of 1812, so leave your firearms at home [not kidding].

Can you explain how this happened when Canada was not even a country for another 55 years.

[Glenn Baglo]

Alternative facts, Jim.

[Bruce H]

My son and I turned our cell phones off when we travelled across Canada.

But to change the subject: How do "free" Canadian government healthcare emergency medical services compare to emergency medical services in the US? I am talking about serious medical conditions like heart attack or stroke or major injuries from accident or otherwise. Should a US citizen consider an air medivac policy to provide transport back to the US in case extensive medical treatment is needed.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Bruce H

Should a US citizen consider an air medivac policy to provide transport back to the US in case extensive medical treatment is needed.

That's what travel medical insurance is for. I get mine through BCAA here in British Columbia.

[LissieK]

You only need current rabies certificates for pets.

[Lee Senn]

Thanks to all for the good info. I hadn't even thought about the cell phone situation so one more thing thing to look into . Lee

[robgagne]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

I can't speak to the requirements for US citizens in Canada, but in Alberta, Canada, there are no requirements for insurance on a trailer. One slightly higher then $100 (cdn) life time registration fee, and I am done. Since I have towed my uninsured trailer from BC to Ontario, I have to guess that it is not required for an Alberta resident anywhere in Canada. But I really am just guessing.

Samething in province of Quebec, your car insurance should cover for the responsability of your trailer.

[stu-ru]

Insurance in Canada. Last I knew Medicare did not cover Canada, except in a few cases where there is a hospital or provider right on the border. Double check with the Medicare.gov website.
For your AARP coverage I would check with AARP themselves. If it’s a supplement to Medicare, then it may not be valid if there’s no Medicare coverage.
For your auto insurance always check with your current insurance carrier.

[emers382]

Originally Posted by Bruce H

But to change the subject: How do "free" Canadian government healthcare emergency medical services compare to emergency medical services in the US? I am talking about serious medical conditions like heart attack or stroke or major injuries from accident or otherwise. Should a US citizen consider an air medivac policy to provide transport back to the US in case extensive medical treatment is needed.

Emergency care will be provided to similar quality as expected in the US, however you must be prepared with out of country coverage and you should be aware that the coverage may not cover immediately, ie. you may have to pay for treatment with a credit card. I would think that any out of country insurance should provide coverage to return to the US by medivac if it's determined that the treatment in Canada will cost more than the flight.

I had to take my US son-in-law last Christmas to the emergency department at an Ontario hospital. His army medical coverage did pay for his visit, but he had to pay about $700 first at the hospital.

Adrian

[rking2000]

Originally Posted by Rod D

So we're all going to Canada this year, eh! Jane and I hope to get to Nova Scotia in September so we're also checking in with our insurers, phone providers, credit card folks, etc. Our auto insurance agent first thought we would need a "Canadian" card, but called back to advise that Safeco says our "regular" card is good as long as we can show proof of ownership (hopefully that means our registration cards for both TV and TT). Haven't heard back yet on health insurance, but Consumer Cellular is also good to go (although there will be some extra charges when I connect to the internet). Still listening to all the other comments here though, as I always learn something new.

If you come to Nova Scotia around the Yarmouth area send me an email and we'll show you around.

rking2000@hotmail.com

[Ttocs M]

About cellular coverage in Canada - check with your cell phone company. When I travel out of the country, I arrange with my provider Verizon to get coverage per day of use. Used it in Canada, So. Africa, Europe. It's not cheap, but I only use it to make reservations, emergency, etc.

[Ttocs M]

About emergency medical: Since I'm a senior who enjoys adventure travel to remote places, I have an annual world-wide emergency medical/medical evacuation coverage - this is NOT the general travel insurance. There are a few plans, I have EA+; there's also Medijet, Global Rescue, and others.

[stu-ru]

We got a rider on our automobile insurance, which we have through Geico, which specifically covers damage to the trailer and iability issues. It was not expensive. We also have the trailer listed on our AAA travel coverage, should it need to be towed or anything like that.