By Pankaj Babbar, licensed advisor at SAI Insurances · 3 min read
1-minute read
The short answer
- IRCC asks for insurance valid at least one year from entry. A Super Visa allows stays of up to 5 years per entry, so many parents need cover beyond year one.
- Renew before the policy ends. A new policy bought while your parent is in Canada (after a lapse, or often from a different insurer) can come with a waiting period.
- The price can change at renewal, mostly because of age. On one chart, moving from 65–69 to 70–74 lifts the basic premium from about $1,997 to $2,887.
- Health changes during the year can affect pre-existing coverage on the new policy.
- Renewal is also the easiest time to compare insurers.
Detailed guide · 2 min read
Year one is only the start
The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents stay for up to 5 years per entry, and the insurance used for the application only has to be valid for at least one year from the day they arrive. If your parent stays longer, the first policy will run out while they're still here. Planning the renewal early saves money and stress.
Why renewing on time matters
Without insurance, your parent pays every medical bill personally. There's a second reason too: a policy bought while someone is already in Canada, especially after their old cover has lapsed or from a different insurer, can include a waiting period during which new illnesses aren't covered. Renewing before the end date keeps protection continuous. Start the conversation about a month ahead.
Why the price may be different
Premiums are set by age bands, so a birthday during the year can move your parent into a higher band at renewal. On one insurer's chart, the basic yearly premium at $100,000 coverage is about $1,997 at age 65–69 and about $2,887 at 70–74. Rate charts are also updated over time. Knowing this ahead of time helps you budget — and is a good reason to look at the deductible again.
Health changes and pre-existing coverage
If your parent saw a doctor, started a new medication or was diagnosed with something during the first year, that may now count as a pre-existing condition for the next policy. How it's treated depends on the insurer and how long the condition has been stable — see pre-existing conditions explained. Answer the health questions on the renewal just as carefully as the first time.
Renew, or switch?
Renewal is the natural moment to compare, because you're buying a new term anyway and there's no mid-policy refund or fee to weigh up. But a policy from a new insurer may still start with a waiting period, even with no gap, so ask whether it's waived for continuous coverage before you move. Our switching guide covers what to watch for.
A simple renewal checklist
- Note the current policy's end date in your calendar
- Check your parent's age at the renewal date
- List any health changes since the first policy
- Compare insurers and deductibles about a month before
- Make sure the new policy starts the day after the old one ends
How we help
Tell us your parent's renewal date and we'll compare insurers ahead of time and line up the new policy so there's no gap — explained in English, Hindi or Punjabi.
This article is general information, not insurance or immigration advice. IRCC requirements can change; check the official IRCC website. Figures come from Travelance's published rate chart (Essential plan, $100,000 coverage, $0 deductible, effective January 2026); renewal terms, pricing and pre-existing-condition rules vary by insurer. Your licensed advisor confirms the details.