Quick answer
Yes, parents with pre-existing conditions can get Super Visa insurance. Most plans cover a condition only if it has been stable, meaning no new symptoms, tests, treatment or medication changes, for a set period before the policy starts, usually 90, 180 or 365 days. Choosing the pre-existing option costs more: on a $100,000 policy for a 70-year-old, our live quotes on October 29, 2026 went up by about $760 to $1,070 a year.
What Counts as a Pre-Existing Condition
Insurers call it a pre-existing condition if your parent had it, was treated for it, or had symptoms of it before the policy started. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid problems, an old heart stent, arthritis, asthma: all of these count, even if they are well controlled.
A Super Visa policy has two kinds of answer to that. Some plans exclude pre-existing conditions completely. Others cover them, but only if the condition was stable for a period before the start date. That period is the stability clause, and it's the part of the wording we read first.
IRCC doesn't care which option you pick. It needs $100,000 of emergency cover from a Canadian or OSFI-authorized insurer, valid for a year from entry. So a plan that excludes your mother's heart condition is still accepted for the visa. It just won't pay if her heart is what sends her to hospital, and that is exactly the bill families can't afford.
During the stability period, no:
- new diagnosis or new symptoms
- change in medication or dose (a switch to a generic with the same dose is usually fine)
- hospital stay or emergency visit
- new tests, or tests waiting for results
- referral to a specialist
Say a father had his metformin dose raised in July. His policy starts in October. On a 180-day plan, his diabetes isn't covered until January. On a 90-day plan, it's covered from day one.
What Pre-Existing Cover Costs: Live Quotes for a 70-Year-Old
Quoted on our site on October 29, 2026. One person, $100,000, $0 deductible, 365 days. First column is the price without pre-existing cover, second is with it.
| Plan | Without | With pre-existing cover | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSH Discover Canada | $1,711.85 | $2,646.25 | +$934.40 |
| TruStone Association Plus | $2,296.80 | $3,060.00 | +$763.20 |
| Travcare Essential | $2,379.80 | $3,171.85 | +$792.05 |
| Starr | $2,401.19 | $3,266.39 | +$865.20 |
| Secure Travel Standard | $2,569.60 | $3,379.90 | +$810.30 |
| 2 Visit Canada | $2,633.84 | $3,464.40 | +$830.56 |
| JF Visitors to Canada | $2,679.10 | $3,744.90 | +$1,065.80 |
| Destination | $2,861.60 | $4,303.35 | +$1,441.75 |
| Secure Travel Enhanced | $2,920.00 | $3,686.50 | +$766.50 |
| TuGo | $4,185.09 | $4,185.09 | Same price |
| GMS | $4,296.05 | $4,296.05 | Same price |
| Manulife Enhanced | $4,442.05 | $4,442.05 | Same price |
| Travelance Premier | $5,080.80 | $5,080.80 | Same price |
| Allianz | $7,294.25 | $7,294.25 | Same price |
Some plans, such as TuGo, GMS and Allianz, include stable pre-existing conditions in the base price, so the number doesn't change. TuGo sets the final rate from a medical questionnaire. TruStone adds a 15% surcharge for diabetes and 18.75% for cancer patients. Prices change with age, dates and health answers.
Stability Checker: Is the Condition Covered on Day One?
Enter the date of the last change to your parent's condition (new pill, dose change, hospital visit, new test) and the date the policy will start.
Five Ways Families Lose a Pre-Existing Claim
Guessing on the questions
The medical questionnaire is the contract. One wrong "no" can void the whole policy, not just one claim. Fill it in with your parent's prescriptions in front of you.
Buying the cheapest plan
The lowest prices on the table above exclude pre-existing conditions. For a parent with a heart history, that saves a few hundred dollars and leaves the biggest risk uncovered.
Changing pills before the trip
A doctor's visit back home a month before flying, with a new prescription, can restart the stability clock. Ask the doctor to hold non-urgent changes if possible.
Not calling first
Most plans want a call to the assistance line before treatment. Skip it and the claim can be cut. Why the call matters.
Pre-Existing Conditions: Your Questions
Can my parent get Super Visa insurance with diabetes?
Yes. Diabetes controlled with the same pills for the stability period is covered by most plans that offer pre-existing cover. Insulin users and recent dose changes narrow the choice, and some insurers add a surcharge.
Is a plan without pre-existing cover still accepted by IRCC?
Yes. IRCC checks the amount, the length and the insurer, not the pre-existing option. But that plan won't pay for anything linked to an existing condition.
What is a stability period?
The time before the policy starts during which the condition must not change: no new symptoms, treatment, tests or medication changes. It's usually 90, 180 or 365 days, and it often gets longer with age.
Does a change from brand to generic medicine break stability?
Usually not, if the dose stays the same. A new drug or a new dose usually does. Check your plan's wording.
How much more does pre-existing cover cost?
On our live quotes for a 70-year-old on October 29, 2026, it added between about $760 and $1,070 a year on most plans. A few plans include it in the base price.
What happens if we don't declare a condition?
The insurer can refuse the claim or cancel the policy. They check medical records after a claim, so it does come out. Always answer the questions fully.
Can my parent's condition be covered if it changed recently?
Sometimes, on a plan with a shorter stability period or by starting the policy later. Use the checker above, then send us the dates.
Pankaj Bhatia, PFA, CHS
Pankaj is a licensed insurance advisor with offices in Mississauga and Cambridge, Ontario, and a member of Advocis. He helps families compare Super Visa and visitor plans from Canadian insurers and sorts out claims and refunds when plans change.
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Not sure the condition is stable?
Send us the medicine list and the dates. We'll tell you which plans cover it from day one.