GMS review

We can’t confirm it from an independent rating. Provincially-regulated non-profit health-benefit society; underwrites its own TravelStar. No public agency rating — 75+ year track record instead. That doesn’t mean it won’t pay — but unlike the insurers with a verified rating here, there’s no current third-party financial-strength rating to point to, so we flag it rather than reassure you.

GMS stands out for seniors, pre-existing conditions & Super Visa. Strong senior/pre-existing niche + $5M limit, and 75-year non-profit, national licensing, free kids. If those things matter most to you, it’s worth a close look; if your priority is something else, compare it against the companies that rate highest on that pillar.

The watch-outs we found: no public financial-strength rating; only “average” for younger travellers; smaller assistance footprint. We spell these out so you can weigh them before buying — every insurer has trade-offs, and knowing them upfront is the point of a real review.

GMS ranks #7 of the 9 travel insurance providers we scored, at 77.1/100. It’s strongest on coverage & terms and has the most room to improve on financial strength.

No. GMS states on its own site and in the TravelStar brochure that its products are not offered in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nunavut. This is a licensing and distribution decision, not a temporary gap, and it removes a large share of the Canadian market from consideration. If you live in one of those three jurisdictions, GMS is simply not an option regardless of how well its coverage matches your needs. Quebec residents in particular should look at Blue Cross through Canassurance, or Allianz, both of which are licensed to sell there.

Your payout can be cut drastically. GMS requires you to contact it before receiving treatment wherever possible, and if you do not, benefits may be limited to $50,000 or 70% of reasonable and customary expenses, whichever is less. On a $5 million policy that is a devastating reduction, and a single serious US hospitalisation can exceed $50,000 in days. Save the assistance number, 1-800-459-6604 in Canada and the USA or collect at +1-905-762-5196, in your phone before you leave. If your condition prevents you calling, someone else can call on your behalf.

GMS underwrites the risk itself, which is unusual, but claims and 24/7 assistance are handled by Robin Assist, its travel assistance partner, using the GMS phone numbers. Since November 2025 claims are submitted through the Robin Assist portal, by email, or by mail to Robin Assist at 70 Talman Court, Concord, Ontario. Emergency medical claims must be submitted within 90 days of the illness or injury, which is a tighter window than the 12-month deadline that applies to GMS health claims generally. Missing that 90-day window is an avoidable way to lose a valid claim.

Applicants over 60 must complete a medical questionnaire that assigns one of five rate categories: Star, Select +, Select, Standard + or Standard. Star is the healthiest and cheapest. For a 70-74 traveller on a 141-160 day trip, the daily rate ranges from $13.54 in Star up to $32.93 in Standard for identical coverage. A separate 15% smoking surcharge applies if you are 18 or over and have used tobacco in the last two years. Published rates assume a $250 deductible; choosing $0 multiplies the rate by 1.1, while $5,000 multiplies it by 0.8.

Yes, that is one of the named perils on the TravelStar Trip Cancellation and Interruption plan, alongside visa denial, job loss or transfer, supplier financial default, weather and mechanical delays, jury duty, quarantine and terrorism. The important limit is at purchase: you cannot buy the coverage if your destination is already under a Government of Canada advisory to avoid non-essential travel or avoid all travel. GMS also requires you to insure the full pre-paid trip amount per person and does not let you combine its cancellation coverage with an existing credit card benefit.