Cross border savings are hot; but without travel insurance you could be left out in the cold

It's hard to ignore the extraordinary rise of the Canadian dollar these past few years and as a result, more and more Canadians are flocking south of the border to shop.

While the sales might be hot, make sure you get travel insurance before you drive down to make sure you're not left out in the cold should you unexpectedly need to visit a doctor or hospital.

Why you need travel insurance for just a weekend getaway

Simply put, medical expenses for emergency treatment outside of Canada can be costly and your provincial health plan may only cover a small portion of them leaving you left to pay the remainder.

What type of travel insurance can you get?

One travel insurance policy does not fit all; which is why there are often many different travel insurance packages available. For example, through Kanetix.ca you can get quotes for:

• Emergency medical coverage. Most people can get this for about $12, which is probably all you really need for a short weekend trip over the border; especially if you're taking a few hours to drive rather than fly.
  
  Compare emergency medical travel insurance quotes.



• Annual, multi-trip policies. Multiple-trip policies mean that for one annual rate, you will have emergency medical travel insurance coverage for every trip you take within the year after the policy is issued. Quotes for a variety of trip lengths are available too. This is a money-saver if you take just a few trips each year.
  
  Compare annual, multi-trip travel insurance quotes from competing insurers.



• All-inclusive packages. If you've got a bigger trip planned than a quick jaunt across the border to shop, then an all-inclusive plan might suit your needs better. With an all-inclusive travel insurance plan you typically get emergency medical coverage, along with trip cancellation coverage for the cost of your flight or trip package, and coverage for all your baggage in case of loss or damage.
  
  Compare all-inclusive travel insurance quotes.

If you're planning on taking advantage of the strong Canadian dollar to save money on sales down south of the border, don't scrimp before you get there by neglecting to buy travel insurance. Buying travel insurance could save you more money than anything you'll buy on sale at an outlet mall.

Compare travel insurance quotes from competing insurers to get the travel insurance you need.