New CAA Travel Insurance benefits provide travellers with enhanced coverage that better reflects today's travel reality

Coverage updates include enhanced emergency medical benefits, extreme-weather disruption coverage, and new technology-enabled cash payments or airport lounge passes for qualifying flight delays.

WINNIPEG, MB, Oct. 1, 2026 /CNW/ -- Ahead of the busy winter travel season, CAA Travel Insurance, a product of Orion Travel Insurance, is introducing several important coverage enhancements to provide broader protection, clearer benefits, and more support when travel plans are disrupted. 

Key coverage enhancements include:

Coverage updates include enhanced emergency medical benefits, extreme-weather disruption coverage, and new technology-enabled cash payments or airport lounge passes for qualifying flight delays.

• Emergency medical coverage increased from $5 million to $10 million. 
• Expanded coverage for climate events and extreme weather.
• A new CAA Flight Delay Benefit, to provide cash or lounge passes to travellers delayed two or more hours.
• Broader Trip Cancellation and Interruption coverage for major travel disruptions and unexpected personal circumstances.

These updates reflect the changing travel realities that Canadians continue to navigate, including the rising costs of medical care.

"Today's travellers face a broad range of risks, from flight disruptions and extreme weather to unexpected medical emergencies and events at home," says Elliott Silverstein, director, government relations, insurance, CAA Manitoba. "These updates deliver clearer benefits, broader protection and new forms of support to travellers when plans change unexpectedly."

The increase in emergency medical coverage reflects the continually rising cost of medical care while travelling abroad. Costs associated with everything from routine treatment to emergency transportation and air ambulance services have increased approximately 14 to 15 per cent annually since 2019.

CAA's expanded climate-related coverage introduces explicit policy language that clearly explains what coverage is available if a natural disaster impacts your destination accommodation, or if weather-related property damage at home disrupts your travel plans.

In addition, eligible trip cancellation policies now include a new Flight Delay Benefit, providing an automatic benefit if your flight is delayed. Unlike a traditional expense-based reimbursement process, insured travellers will automatically receive a benefit when their insured flight is delayed by two or more hours, in the form of immediate payment or a lounge pass.

CAA's new Major Travel Disruption coverage addresses eligible flight cancellations or unannounced strikes, which are increasingly impacting travellers. New travel document protection covers stolen documents before departure, as well as documents that are lost or stolen at a destination. Other new covered situations include a stolen private vehicle, possible damage to a home or business, and additional occupancy costs when a travel companion interrupts their trip and the insured traveller continues as planned.

"These updates are part of the ongoing optimization of CAA Travel Insurance coverage; intended to provide clearer benefits, broader protection and more support when travel plans change," says Silverstein. "Travel insurance is not only about responding to major emergencies, it can also provide practical support during the more common situations travellers may experience while they are away from home."

CAA encourages travellers to review their policy, including its eligibility requirements, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions, before departure.

For more information about CAA Travel Insurance and coverage updates, visit:  https://www.caamanitoba.com/insurance/travel 

About CAA Manitoba  

CAA Manitoba is a trusted Member-based organization that provides products and services that are essential to Members' safety and peace of mind. With more than 230,000 Members in the province, CAA Manitoba advocates on issues such as road safety and infrastructure, the environment, seniors' mobility, and consumer protection. From legendary 24-hour emergency roadside assistance to expert automotive, travel and insurance services, a CAA Manitoba membership offers a great range of savings, rewards, and benefits. For more information, visit caamanitoba.com.  

SOURCE CAA Manitoba

Media contact: Olivia Hodgkiss, Communications Specialist, C: (204)-201-4132, E: [email protected]; Nadia Matos, Manager, External Communications, C: (204)-201-4134, E: [email protected]