July 16, 2007 – Toronto, ON – With the kids fresh out of school and thoughts turning to sandy beaches, balmy weather and sunny skies, Canadians will no doubt be loading up the car and heading out on road trips during the summer. With a majority of Canadians (58%) indicating that in the past few years they have ventured outside of their home province at least once, it is expected that similar proportions of Canadians will be embarking on a summer journey that might bring them to exciting new places.
However, a new Ipsos Reid poll finds that many Canadians may not be wholly prepared for the unexpected twists and turns that might lie ahead. For example, a summer road trip could easily be interrupted by an untimely traffic accident. Despite the fact that some health or car insurance policies might not be in full effect when travelling out of province, in the United States, or even overseas, many Canadians report that they have never purchased travel insurance for trips outside of the home.
In fact, two thirds (64%) of Canadians report that they have never purchased travel insurance when venturing out of province, while four in ten (37%) report that they have never purchased travel insurance when travelling in the United States. Perhaps most shockingly, three in ten (26%) have never purchased travel insurance when travelling outside of Canada or the United States.
But travel insurance is not the only means by which Canadians can be prepared for the unexpected on the road. Only one in two (51%) Canadians say that they have an emergency supply kit for their car that includes first aid supplies, blankets or extra clothing, and other essential items. A similar proportion (52%) of Canadians report that they are fully prepared in the event that their car breaks down, while even less (43%) report that they are fully prepared if a medical emergency were to occur. Finally, only a slim majority (53%) report that they have emergency funds set aside for up to three months that would assist them in coping during an emergency.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of RBC Insurance from May 1 to May 20, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 2000 adults across Canada was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within � 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample’s regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.
Two Thirds (64%) Have Never Purchased Travel Insurance when Travelling In Canada.
When travelling out of province, but still within Canada, two thirds (64%) of Canadians report that they have never purchased travel insurance, potentially leaving themselves open to the possibility of significant costs should an emergency arise. Just two in ten (19%) indicate that they always purchase travel insurance when travelling out of province, but within Canada, while 8% say that they rarely purchase travel insurance, 5% say that they occasionally purchase insurance, and 4% indicate that they usually purchase insurance.
- Residents of Ontario (67%) are the most likely to indicate that they have never purchased insurance, while those in Quebec are least likely (59%) to indicate that they have never purchased insurance. In fact, those in Quebec are most likely (23%) to indicate that they always purchase insurance when travelling within Canada, but out of province.
- Men (68%) are more likely than women (60%) to indicate that they have never purchased travel insurance for this type of trip.
- While seven in ten (69%) younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, indicate that they have never purchased travel insurance when travelling out of province but still in Canada, a minority of individuals (47%) aged 65 and older say that they have never purchased travel insurance for this type of trip.
Four in Ten (37%) Have Never Purchased Travel Insurance When Travelling in the United States.
When traveling in the United States, four in ten (37%) say that they have never purchased travel insurance, while slightly more (41%) say that they always purchase it.
- Residents of Atlantic Canada are most likely to indicate that they never purchase insurance, with 42% indicating so. Residents of British Columbia are least likely to indicate that they never purchase insurance. Those in Alberta are most likely to say that they always purchase insurance (52%), while those in Atlantic Canada are least likely (32%) to say that they always purchase travel insurance when on this type of trip.
- A majority (54%) of individuals aged 65 and older say that they always purchase travel insurance when heading to the United States, while just three in ten (28%) young people, aged 18 to 34, indicate that they do. In fact, almost half (42%) of young Canadians indicate that they have never purchased travel insurance when going to the States.
Three in ten (26%) Have Never Purchased Travel Insurance when Travelling Outside of Canada or the States.
When traveling outside of Canada or the United States, nearly three in ten (26%) Canadians indicate that they have never purchased travel insurance. This is particularly interesting considering the uncertainty of not knowing when an emergency is coming, and what kind of coverage is provided by foreign hospitals and governments.
- Young Canadians, aged 18 to 34, are lagging behind the rest of the country, with three in ten (29%) indicating that they have never purchased travel insurance. However, the gap between young and old is much smaller in this type of travelling, with 27% of those aged 35 to 49, and 22% of those aged 50 and older indicating that they have never purchased travel insurance.
- While Quebecers are the least likely to indicate that they always purchase insurance while traveling in Canada, they are the least likely to indicate that they always purchase insurance when they travel outside of Canada and the United States, with less than half (48%) indicating that they always purchase travel insurance.
- On the other hand, nearly two thirds (64%) of Albertans indicate that they always purchase travel insurance when outside of Canada and the United States. Just 17% say that they never do so.
- Women (57%) are more likely than men (51%) to claim that they always purchase travel insurance when outside of Canada or the United States.
Interestingly, from among those who never purchase insurance, it is older Canadians, aged 65 and older, who are most likely to say that they do not purchase travel insurance because they don’t think that they need it (56%). This is somewhat counterintuitive because older Canadians would be the most likely to need unexpected medical treatments, which might not be covered by foreign countries and hospitals.
Canadians May Not Be Prepared for Unexpected Circumstances on the Road.
It appears that a great deal of Canadians may not be ready for what life unexpectedly throws at them while venturing out on the roads this summer. Only one in two (51%) Canadians say that they have an emergency supply kit for their car that includes first aid supplies, blankets or extra clothing, and other essential items. A similar proportion (52%) of Canadians report that they are fully prepared in the event that their car breaks down.
- Albertans are the most likely (65%) to indicate that they have an emergency supply kit in their car, while Quebecers are the least likely (41%).
- Men are slightly more likely than women (53% to 49%) to report that they have an emergency supply kit in their car.
- Similarly, residents of Alberta are most likely (60%) to indicate that they are fully prepared if their car were to break down, compared to just four in ten (37%) Quebecers who say that they would be fully prepared. In fact, two in ten (20%) Quebecers believe that they would not be prepared at all.
A minority of Canadians (43%) report that they are fully prepared if a medical emergency were to occur, while a plurality (46%) indicate that they are somewhat prepared if something like this were to occur. Just one in ten (10%) indicate that they would not be prepared at all. In the event that an unforeseen emergency did occur, only a slim majority (53%) report that they have emergency funds set aside for up to three months that would assist them in coping during an emergency.
- Residents of British Columbia are the most likely of all Canadians (51%) to indicate that they would be fully prepared if a medical emergency were to occur. On the other hand, only one third (32%) of Quebecers indicate that they would be fully prepared for a medical emergency.
- Perhaps recognizing that the risk is greater to them, a majority (53%) of older Canadians, aged 65 and older, indicate that they would be fully prepared for a medical emergency, while 47% of Canadians aged 50 to 64, 40% of Canadians aged 35 to 49, and just 38% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 claim that they would be prepared.
- Two thirds (63%) of British Columbians maintain that they have emergency funds set aside for up to three months of their income in order to help them get through tough times. Just four in ten (40%) residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba indicate that they have three months worth of emergency funds set aside to help them manage an unexpectedly difficult situation.
- Seven in ten (68%) Canadians aged 65 and older indicate that they have three months worth of income set aside as emergency funds, while just 44% of Canadians aged 18 to 34 indicate that they have these funds available to them to use in case of an emergency.
Seven in Ten (72%) Canadians Believe Provincial Health Insurance Will Cover Them While They Travel in Canada
When travelling in Canada but out of their home provinces, Canadians believe that their provincial health insurance plans would cover them; this likely informs whether or not they choose to buy travel insurance. 72% of travelers think that the vast majority (about 75% or more) of their medical expenses will be covered by government health insurance.
- Eight in ten (79%) Albertans believe their provincial plan would cover the majority of their medical expenses, making them the region most likely to believe this. They are followed closely by three quarters of residents of Quebec (75%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (74%), and just over seven in ten Atlantic Canadians (73%).
- Residents of Ontario and British Columbia are least likely to believe the provincial healthcare plan covers them during trips within Canada and outside their home province; still, seven in ten in BC (70%) Ontario (69%) believe the majority of their medical expenses would be covered.
- Men (76%) are more likely than women (69%) to believe they are covered when vacationing inside the country but outside of their province of residence.
- Canadians between age 18-34 (68%) and those over the age of 65 (67%) are least likely to believe they would be covered, while Canadians aged 50 to 64 (77%) are most likely to believe they are covered.
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada’s market intelligence leader, the country’s leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid’s marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
