Pre-existing conditions & Super Visa insurance

The three coverage tiers

• Excludes pre-existing conditions — cheapest, highest risk. Any complication tied to a prior condition is denied.
• Covers stable conditions — requires the condition to be stable for a set window (90, 180, or 365 days) before the effective date.
• Covers with no stability period — most expensive, cleanest claim experience.

What "stable" means

Carriers typically define stable as: no new symptoms, no new diagnoses, no new or changed medications, and no related hospitalizations or specialist visits during the stability window. A blood-pressure dosage change two months before arrival can reset that clock — so accurate disclosure is essential.

How to avoid a denied claim

1. Disclose every condition and medication honestly when quoting.
2. Pick a tier that matches the visitor's health, not just the lowest price.
3. Confirm the carrier's exact stability definition in writing.

For visitors over 70 or with managed conditions, a carrier with strong pre-existing terms usually beats the cheapest option. See the full guide for the IRCC requirements, or review the Manulife Super Visa review and Sun Life Super Visa review for specific carrier pre-existing condition terms. The 2025 OSFI foreign insurer change has also expanded the options available for parents and grandparents.