In the late fall of every year, millions of people head down south seeking refuge from the freezing temperatures, record snowfalls, and hazardous driving conditions that plague their home cities every winter. Like the Dark-eyed Juncos, they're named after, these snowbirds soak up the sun and stave off the cold all year-round. Whether you're thinking about living the snowbird life, or already doing it, we have travel tips and travel insurance for snowbirds of every type.
What You Will Learn in This Guide
- How to research your destination, including weather patterns, entry requirements, and healthcare accessibility, before you book
- Essential steps for health preparation, including doctor visits and prescription refills, before traveling
- Curated lists of top insurance plans tailored for seniors, Canadians, digital nomads, and interstate travelers
Who are Snowbirds?
Traditionally, snowbirds have been younger retirees between 50 and 69 years old who escape the northern chill for sunnier destinations. However, today's snowbird community has expanded significantly. With the rise of remote work, digital nomads of all ages can now maintain their careers while enjoying warmer climates during winter months. From young professionals with laptops to families with flexible schooling arrangements, the snowbird lifestyle is no longer limited to retirees.
Snowbirds typically fall into several categories:
- Retirees who spend winters in Florida, Arizona, Texas, Hawaii, or international destinations like Mexico and Costa Rica
- Remote workers and digital nomads who temporarily relocate to warmer climates while maintaining their jobs
- Families seeking extended vacations during school breaks
- International travelers from Canada and northern European countries visiting the U.S. sunbelt
Regardless of which category you fall into, proper preparation, including securing appropriate travel insurance, is crucial for a worry-free winter getaway.
What are Some Travel Tips for Snowbirds?
If the snowbird lifestyle is something you want to try, there are a number of things you can do right now to pave the way for an awesome winter away from, well, winter. Here's a roundup of some of the best snowbird travel tips.
Research Your Destination
If you're a seasoned snowbird, you may own a cabin or vacation home down south already. In that case, you're all set. But if you're new to snowbirding or feel like switching things up, it helps to have a clear idea of what you're looking for before you start your search. Make a list of your must-haves and can't-stands. For instance, if you must have plenty of sun, but can't stand bugs, you might want to think twice about Florida. While it can certainly deliver on the sun, it also tops all fifty states for bug infestations. When you're ready to research, keep these questions in mind:
- What is the weather like in the months I will be there?
- What are the entry requirements?
- As a digital nomad, will I need a specific digital nomad visa to travel internationally?
- How accessible is quality healthcare near my potential accommodations?
- Are there any safety concerns in the area where I am staying?
- How is accessibility for people with mobility limitations?
- Is there a social community of snowbirds or seniors?
- Are there healthcare facilities nearby, just in case?
Schedule a Doctor Visit & Check Prescriptions
Prior to leaving, it is a good idea to schedule a visit with your general practitioner at home to make sure you're fit to travel and don't have any new or unaddressed health concerns. This appointment is also the perfect time to:
- Refill any prescriptions you'll need while you are away. If you're staying within your own country and you have domestic healthcare, you should be all set. But if you're traveling internationally, you'll want to make sure you have all the refills you'll need while you're away. Many pharmacies will let you get extra refills for your vacation. Always make sure to pack more medication than you think you will need, just in case your stay gets extended.
- Obtain copies of important medical records, including prescriptions, recent test results, and a list of conditions and allergies. Having this information readily available can be invaluable if you require medical attention while away.
- Get any recommended vaccinations for your destination, especially for international travel. Some countries require specific immunizations for entry.
Create a Pre-Departure Checklist
Is there a chance your pipes will freeze while you are away? Have you notified the Postal Service of your absence and suspended your newspaper delivery? Making a comprehensive checklist of all the things both big and small that you have to do before you leave will help to organize your thoughts and ensure you don't forget anything. And, in case you do happen to forget something, make sure you give a trusted neighbor or family member a key to your house in addition to your new address and reliable contact information to reach out if needed.
Sort Out Travel Details and Plan Your Stay
Whether you are flying or driving to your destination, if you're crossing international borders, you'll need your passport. Make sure to double-check that it is up to date and doesn't need renewing. For snowbirds traveling by RV, chart your driving route ahead of time and plan your stops in places of historical interest or natural beauty to get in some extra sightseeing.
Before you arrive, do some research on local goings-on like festivals, concerts and other nearby attractions that you may not have explored yet. Even if you're returning to a familiar destination, a new experience could be a good opportunity to meet some new friends!
Tips for Airport Issues
Given the recent spike in flight cancellations and baggage loss, we thought it would be helpful to include a few pro-tips when it comes to navigating the airport chaos. Here are seven things you can do to reduce your stress at the airport:
- Check in online.
- Pack as light as possible; avoid checking your luggage if possible.
- Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing at the airport; you may be in for long lines.
- If you need assistance walking or standing, be sure to call ahead to arrange help.
- Stay hydrated.
- If you check luggage, use technology like Apple's AirTags so you can track your valuables.
- Be prepared for long waits.
Get Travel Medical Insurance or Trip Insurance
As a snowbird, your insurance needs likely differ from those of short-term travelers. If you're planning on spending your winter outside of your home country, your domestic healthcare will not protect you financially from any medical bills you incur while you're away. Extended stays, age considerations, and potential healthcare needs make choosing the right coverage essential. Luckily, getting travel insurance provides you with proper protection while still keeping costs affordable for you.
There are two primary types of travel insurance that snowbirds should consider: travel medical insurance and trip insurance.
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance is designed to cover unexpected illnesses and injuries that occur while traveling outside your home country. This travel health insurance is particularly crucial for those worried about their medical coverage while they are traveling internationally, especially given that most domestic health insurance plans (including Medicare) offer limited or no coverage beyond national borders.
Key benefits of travel medical insurance include:
- Coverage for emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, and doctor visits
- Emergency medical evacuation coverage, which can cost $100,000+ if uninsured
- Prescription medication coverage for emergency prescriptions
- 24/7 travel assistance services to help locate appropriate medical facilities
- Customizable medical coverage limits and copays
- Repatriation of remains coverage in worst-case scenarios
For Canadian snowbirds heading to the U.S. or Americans traveling internationally, travel medical insurance can be a necessity. Without it, a simple medical emergency could lead to significant consequences.
Trip Insurance
For American residents, either traveling domestically or internationally, or visitors to the US, trip insurance is also a viable option, based on your priorities. This type of travel insurance can offer protection for both your travel investment and basic health emergencies. These comprehensive policies typically cover:
- Trip cancellation if you need to cancel for covered reasons
- Trip interruption if you must cut your stay short
- Travel delays requiring additional accommodation
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Missed connections
- Emergency medical expenses while traveling
- Emergency medical evacuation when necessary
Trip insurance is particularly valuable when you've made substantial non-refundable payments for accommodations, flights, or activities.
Key Differences Between Travel Medical and Trip Insurance
Understanding the fundamental differences between these two insurance types will help you determine which one, or both, best suits your needs:
- Coverage Focus: Travel medical insurance primarily covers health emergencies and related expenses, while trip insurance focuses on reimbursing prepaid, non-refundable trip costs along with providing some medical benefits.
- Customization: For those particularly worried about their health, solely getting trip insurance might not give you the coverage you’re looking for since it has a set coverage limit for medical emergencies. On the other hand, travel medical insurance is designed to be customizableso you can set your coverage limit to as high as you need it and your copay to as low as you want it.
- Eligibility: Travel medical insurance is available to international travelers of most nationalities traveling to most countries. Trip insurance, however, is typically only available to American citizens and residents or visitors to the U.S.
- Purchase Timing: Travel medical insurance can be purchased anytime before or even after departure (though it's best to secure it before leaving home), while trip insurance typically should be purchased within 14-20 days of making your initial trip payment to maximize benefits. Although it's possible to purchase trip insurance as late as 24 hours before your trip, it's not recommended.
- Cost Calculation: Travel medical insurance premiums are based primarily on age and coverage length, while trip insurance costs are calculated as a percentage of your total prepaid trip expenses, plus factors like age and trip length.
No Matter Where You Flock to This Winter, Travel Insurance Can Help
Like we said, travel insurance for snowbirds helps cut down your financial risks as you swap snow for sun. But before we get to the best travel medical insurance plans for every type of snowbird, there are a few things everyone will want to look out for.
Important Travel Insurance Benefits for Snowbirds:
Maximize plan coverage
The higher an insurance plan's policy maximum, the more expensive the premium. But, having a policy maximum that offers at least $100,000 in coverage will ensure that you're covered for a variety of situations. Some policies offer maximums of as much as $5,000,000. You can assess your risk and select the best maximum for your individual needs and destination.
Emergency medical evacuation
This benefit helps to ensure that if you need immediate medical attention, you can be transported to the nearest medical facility. Without insurance, emergency medical evacuation can cost upwards of $100,000, so make sure the policy you select has this benefit so you stay protected from the unexpected.
Pre-existing conditions
Some travel medical insurance plans can cover the worsening of pre-existing conditions or the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. When choosing a plan, consider factors such as age-specific limitations, as many policies reduce or eliminate pre-existing condition benefits for travelers over age 70. When comparing plans, always review the plan's "Description of Coverage" to understand the specific definitions and sublimits associated with pre-existing conditions or their acute onset.
Best Travel Insurance Plans for Digital Nomads
Best Travel Insurance Plans for Senior Snowbirds
- USVisit-Pro (for snowbirds visiting the US ages 74 and under)
- Safe Travels USA Comprehensive
- Patriot Platinum
Best Travel Insurance Plans for Canadian Snowbirds (And other visitors to the US)
Best Travel Insurance for International Snowbirds
Best Trip Insurance Plans for Interstate Snowbirds
If you're an American resident planning to stay within the U.S. for the summer, like Hawaii or Florida, your domestic healthcare (including medicare) should cover you for major expenses related to medical care. But trip insurance can help lessen the financial blow related to all-too-common traveler headaches like flight cancellations, missed connection, and baggage loss. Here are some of the best trip insurance plans for snowbirds like you:
Best Trip Insurance Plans for Snowbirds Heading to the US
Canadian travelers or any visitor to the U.S. can get solid coverage during their trip down with these trip insurance policies:
Get the Best Insurance With VisitorsCoverage
Whether you're a Montrealer wondering what's the best travel insurance for Canadian snowbirds or a Minnesotan headed to the Caribbean, careful planning and the right travel insurance solutions are the important first steps in creating a snowbird experience you'll never forget. If you have any questions or need help choosing a travel insurance for your snowbirding adventures, VisitorsCoverage is happy to help.
- Medicare and Canadian provincial health plans provide little to no protection outside national borders, making travel-specific insurance a necessity
- Visit your doctor, secure extra prescription refills, and maintain accessible copies of medical records before departing
- Prioritize policies with high emergency medical evacuation limits to avoid potential six-figure costs for emergency transport
