Updated October 2026 · 8 min read · By Life Advice Insurance Inc., independent broker in Kitchener, Ontario
Key takeaways
If your mother or father is over 80 and you live in Kitchener, Waterloo or anywhere in Ontario, you may be worried that no insurer will cover them for a Super Visa. Many insurers still do. The real challenges are price and health questions. This guide explains what to check and what to do first.
In this guide
Many families want to bring older parents to Canada, and one of the first questions is whether insurance is available for parents over 80. The good news is that many insurers do offer Super Visa insurance at older ages. The challenge is price and coverage for health conditions.
Most insurers set a maximum age for Super Visa plans, often 85 or older, and a few go higher. Some plans limit the coverage amount or the pre-existing condition benefit after age 80. Because rules differ so much, comparing several insurers matters more for older parents than for any other group.
Insurance prices are based on risk. People over 80 are more likely to need emergency care, and hospital stays in Canada are expensive for visitors. As a result:
Most parents in this age group have at least one health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. Many plans can cover these if they are stable. "Stable" usually means no new symptoms, no new treatment and no change in medication for a set period before the policy starts, often 90 or 180 days, depending on the insurer and age (always check the policy wording).
Read the stability rules carefully. A small change, such as a new dose of medication, can mean a condition is not covered.
Many insurers ask a short medical questionnaire for older applicants. The answers decide which plan rate applies. Take time to fill it out accurately with your parent, and keep a copy.
Prices vary by insurer, deductible and health, but premiums for parents over 80 can be several times higher than for parents in their 60s. Adding coverage for stable pre-existing conditions raises the price again. Because the difference between the cheapest and most expensive insurer can be large at this age, a side-by-side comparison often saves a significant amount.
The stability clause is the most important part of any policy for older parents. It explains what counts as a stable condition. Common reasons a condition may not be considered stable include:
Routine changes, such as switching from a brand-name drug to a generic, are often allowed. Read the exact wording, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear.
A deductible is the amount you pay before the insurer pays. For older parents, choosing a higher deductible, such as $1,000 or $2,500, can lower the premium a lot. The right choice depends on your family's savings. If a large unexpected bill would cause hardship, a lower deductible gives more peace of mind.
If a pre-existing condition is excluded, the policy still covers new, unrelated emergencies. For example, a parent with an excluded heart condition may still be covered for a fall, an infection or a new illness. Knowing exactly what is and is not covered helps you plan.
Monthly payment plans make higher premiums easier to manage. Most require a deposit and a set number of payments. IRCC accepts instalment plans that meet the Super Visa rules. Ask us which insurers offer monthly plans for parents over 80.
When both parents are travelling, some insurers offer a couple discount. Each parent's premium is still based on their own age and health, so a couple plan is not always cheaper. We compare both options to find the lowest total cost.
Your parent's age will change at renewal, and so will the price. Compare again each year, especially when a parent passes an age band such as 85.
Hypothetical example: Imagine a family in Kitchener inviting an 82-year-old mother with controlled high blood pressure. Her medication has not changed in over a year. One insurer quotes a plan without pre-existing coverage, which is cheaper but would not cover anything related to her blood pressure. Another offers a plan that covers stable conditions with a $1,000 deductible. A third has a lower price but a 180-day stability period that her recent check-up might affect. By comparing all three side by side, the family can choose the plan that gives the right protection for a price they can manage, with monthly payments to spread the cost.
Visitors are not covered by OHIP. Ontario hospitals bill visitors at non-resident rates. For a parent over 80, even a short stay at Grand River Hospital or St. Mary's General Hospital can be a large bill without insurance.
We can review the questionnaire with you in person. Our office is at 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, ON N2E 0B6. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Sunday). Call 1-855-500-5041.
For parents over 80, the questionnaire often matters more than the insurer's name. Before you start:
A recent check-up does not always make a condition unstable. A new symptom, new treatment or new test usually does. If you are unsure, ask before you buy, not after.
Two quotes for the same parent can differ because of age band, deductible, pre-existing coverage and questionnaire answers. Compare plans with the same settings side by side.
Life Advice Insurance Inc. compares Super Visa plans from 20+ Canadian insurers, including options for parents over 80 and plans that cover stable pre-existing conditions. Call 1-855-500-5041 for a free comparison, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Most families we help in Kitchener-Waterloo are inviting parents from India. Before they buy, they ask the same four questions:
You can get quotes and compare benefits from many insurers on our website, and we explain every plan in English, Hindi or Punjabi.
This guide is about insurance for parents over 80: availability, eligibility, price factors and pre-existing conditions. For the overall Super Visa process, read How to Bring Parents to Canada in 2026. For renewals, read Renewing Super Visa Insurance.
Get a free quote
Get Super Visa quotes for a parent over 80 and compare which insurers accept their age and conditions on our Super Visa insurance page. Call 1-855-500-5041 or visit 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Help in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Compare quotes online Call 1-855-500-5041It depends on the insurer. Many offer plans to age 85 or older, and some have higher limits with reduced coverage.
Often, yes. Older applicants usually answer a short questionnaire, and the answers decide the rate and which conditions are covered.
Some insurers offer a small couple discount, but each parent still needs at least $100,000 of coverage.
Check the policy's stability clause and compare it with your parent's medical history for the stability period, often 90 or 180 days, depending on the insurer and age (always check the policy wording). We can help you review it.
Super Visa insurance must be in place before entry. For renewals bought in Canada, a short waiting period may apply with a new insurer.
Have a list of medications and doses, the dates of any changes, recent doctor visits, tests and referrals. These details decide whether a condition is stable and which rate applies.
Visitors are not covered by OHIP. Ontario hospitals bill visitors at non-resident rates, and the family pays the bill. That is why coverage should start on the arrival date.