Canadians watched with interest this week as cartel-related violence erupted in the popular tourist town of Puerto Vallarta, triggered by the killing of a major cartel leader by the Mexican military. After the death of “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, at least 73 people were killed, including members of the National Guard and cartel operatives.
While businesses and vehicles were set on fire, gunfire and explosions rang out in the normally peaceful coastal town. Travellers were urged to shelter in place, avoid non-essential movement, and comply with the instructions of local authorities.
These kinds of security disruptions are a good reminder of why travel insurance is so essential. Standard provincial health plans offer little to no coverage for emergency medical care or evacuation abroad, and the logistical fallout of such instability, such as trip cancellations, delays, additional accommodation costs, or the need to return home early, can add up quickly without proper protection.
Is travel insurance included with all-inclusives?
All-inclusive resort packages in Mexico do not automatically include travel insurance. An “all-inclusive” vacation typically means your accommodations, meals, drinks and some activities are bundled together, but it doesn’t include travel insurance coverage for medical emergencies, flight cancellations, lost baggage, and other travel-related difficulties.
Many booking sites, tour operators, and resorts will offer travel insurance as an optional add-on at the time of purchase, but it generally isn’t part of a standard all-inclusive package unless you specifically select and pay for it.
Current travel advisories
At the time of the disturbance, more than 26,000 Canadians in Mexico were registered with Global Affairs Canada. The Canadian government quickly updated its travel advisory for Mexico to advise Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution due to the surge in cartel-related violence. The advisory included warnings to avoid non-essential travel to several Mexican states, including popular tourist areas like Jalisco (home to Puerto Vallarta), Guerrero (Acapulco), Michoacán, Sinaloa and others experiencing heightened security risks and transport disruptions. Global Affairs Canada also urged Canadians in Mexico to stay informed, keep a low profile, and follow local authorities’ instructions, especially in regions where shelter-in-place or curfew orders may be issued at short notice.
Several airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet, cancelled or temporarily suspended flights to affected destinations like Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, and travellers were encouraged to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
Before heading to any destination, it’s important for Canadians to check travel advisories. If it is a particularly volatile area, it’s possible that any sort of travel insurance would not be recognized.
Travel insurance from TuGo
At Lane’s Insurance, we are proud to partner with TuGo as our respected travel insurance provider. TuGo has been one of the nation’s top travel insurance providers since 1964 and is proudly Canadian-owned and operated.
Even the most carefully planned vacation can take an unexpected turn. And travelling troubles are far more common than one may think.
One of the biggest misconceptions we see as insurance brokers is the assumption that provincial health coverage will fully protect you outside of Canada. In reality, most provincial plans provide extremely limited reimbursement, which is often capped at approximately $100 per day for hospitalization and as little as $50 per day for outpatient services. In destinations like the United States, those amounts fall dramatically short of actual medical costs.
Emergency medical travel insurance helps bridge that gap by covering physician services, ambulance transportation, diagnostic tests and X-rays, prescription medications, medical supplies, emergency dental treatment, physiotherapy, hospital allowances, and even emergency air evacuation when required.
While emergency medical coverage is often the first thing we are asked about, it’s far from the only protection available. As insurance brokers, we know that travel issues don’t always involve a hospital visit. Quite often, the worst losses are financial. Fortunately, there are several additional coverage options designed to protect your investment in your trip and shield you from unexpected expenses.
Accidental death and dismemberment coverage provides a lump-sum payment in the event of a serious accidental injury and offers financial support to your designated beneficiary in the event of an accidental death while travelling.
Flight delay and lost baggage insurance helps reimburse out-of-pocket expenses if your flight is delayed or cancelled, or if your baggage is lost or significantly delayed. This can include replacement clothing, toiletries, and assistance replacing important documents such as a passport or driver’s licence.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance protects the money you’ve invested in your vacation. If you need to cancel before departure or return home early due to a covered reason, such as illness, family emergency, or unforeseen circumstances, this coverage can reimburse non-refundable costs.
Travel insurance in Alberta: Get a quote From Lane’s today
Lane’s Insurance is a leading provider of travel insurance and a complete range of related products that cover every aspect of your travel needs. Get started by contacting us at our Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, and greater Alberta offices today for a fast, free, no-obligation quote.
