James Daw, Toronto Star

Huge numbers of Canadians still go to the United States without proper medical insurance.

They are still taking a significant financial risk more than a decade after provinces capped their out-of-country medical coverage.

A survey ordered by the insurance arm of the Royal Bank of Canada found that nearly two-thirds of recent travellers younger than 55 did not buy emergency health insurance.

The survey done by Ipsos-Reid found that only 36 per cent of those ages 18 to 34 and 34 per cent of those 35 to 54 said they bought coverage before travelling south for leisure during the past three years.

All of these travellers might not have needed individual coverage, and most were lucky enough to return home without incident. But those who were injured or fell ill could be paying for their lack of caution for years to come.

Provincial health insurance plans set daily and other dollar limits for emergency care outside of the country. Ontario allows up to $400 a day for a stay in a foreign emergency ward. That would be nowhere near enough to pay for certain emergency procedures.

The United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that a major cardio-vascular procedure cost an average of $68,000 in Canadian funds last year, a routine appendectomy $33,000 and treatment of some badly broken legs more than $46,000, RBC Insurance noted in a news release.

Canadian car insurance would cover the broken leg if it resulted from a vehicle collision in the United States, unlike in other parts of the world where coverage is excluded.

But even individual travel coverage would leave you in the lurch if you broke your leg while hang gliding, scuba diving or taking part in a riot.

Considering the relatively minor cost to insure people younger than 65 years of age for a short vacation trip, or to buy a policy that will cover multiple trips per year, travelling without emergency medical coverage is one of the more stupid financial choices one could make.

"Most people think about getting travel insurance for vacations to Europe or the Caribbean, but not for a weekend or day trip to the U.S.," said David Redekop, principal research associate with the Conference Board of Canada. "Unfortunately, this oversight can be extremely costly for people who need emergency medical care while away."

The Ipsos-Reid survey of 1,000 adults was conducted last August. Results are considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About 45 per cent of those who travelled to the United States in the previous three years said they rarely or never purchased travel insurance. Nearly a quarter thought mistakenly that the provincial health insurance covered them fully. That implies a huge number of Canadians take a significant risk each year. Canadians made about 12.5 million trips to the United States last year, according to the Conference Board.

Some of us may not need the sort of individual coverage that is sold by RBC Insurance, or life and property casualty insurers through brokers, travel agents, motor leagues, associations and other bodies.

Many of us already have substantial coverage through extended health care plans offered by our employers. That would apply, for example, to employees, retirees and surviving spouses covered by General Motors of Canada Ltd. benefit plans. The better plans offer these benefits, but some others may not.

Travellers with group plans still need to bring copies of their documentation, including the number of the assistance line that you must call in the event of a health emergency.

It might also be smart to compare which items may only be covered by an individual plan, such as the cost of bringing a car home or having a loved one come to your bedside in hospital.

Finally, some group health plans have lifetime dollar limits. Certificate holders of these plans might be wise to buy an individual plan, provided it does not require you to claim first against your group plan.

There are many other considerations to keep in mind when selecting emergency health insurance, such as exclusions for existing health conditions and changes in medication.

Ontario distributes a helpful guide on travel health insurance. It is available on the Internet or as a pamphlet that can be requested or picked up at some government offices and postal stations.

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Air bags save thousands of lives each year, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In frontal crashes, air bags reduce deaths among drivers by about 30 percent and among passengers by 27 percent.

Air bags, however, can be dangerous. If small children sit unbelted in the front seat, they can be catapulted into the path of a deploying air bag, which inflates with great force. This risk also applies to small adults—who must sit close to the steering wheel in order to reach the pedals—pregnant women and the elderly. Infants in rear-facing safety seats on the passenger side can be severely injured because their heads are in the direct path of an inflating air bag. If your airbag is stolen or it deploys, you must get a new one, but you will be reimbursed under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.

Drivers should have all children sit in the backseat wearing a safety belt. Infants should be placed in rear-facing car seats and put in the backseat. Small adults should move the seat back so that their breastbone is at least 10 inches from the air bag cover.

If this is not possible, air bag switches can be installed so that the vehicle owner has the option of turning the bag off or on, depending on the situation. In January 1998, NHTSA allowed auto dealers and repair shops to begin installing air bag cut-off switches. Before the switch can be installed, vehicle owners must complete a four-step process:

1. Obtain an information brochure and request form from NHTSA, dealerships or repair shops
2. Return the form to NHTSA
3. Receive authorization from NHTSA after it reviews the case
4. Take the vehicle to the service shop along with the authorization from NHTSA which certifies that the owner has read the brochure and met one of the four eligibility classifications:

• rear-facing infant seat can be in the front (necessary if the vehicle has no back-seat)
• driver's seat cannot be adjusted to keep more than 10 inches between the driver and the steering wheel
• putting a child 12 or under in the front seat can not be avoided
• having a medical condition that puts them at risk of injury when an air bag deploys.

Article as found on: http://www.iii.org/individuals/auto/lifesaving/airbags/

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If you are planning to buy or currently own an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or snowmobile, you can look forward to lots of fun and excitement.
Although the number of serious accidents has declined over
the past several years, we would like to remind enthusiasts to do their part to make this sport safe and enjoyable for all.

Please follow these common sense safety tips.

Before you set out:

• Inform others of your destination and when you plan to arrive or return.
• Inspect your ATV or snowmobile for broken or worn parts. Bring your tool kit and extra spark plugs.
• Make sure you have enough gas.
• Wear suitable clothing for the climate. Dress in layers with warm protective boots.
• Children are especially prone to the cold, so dress them well.
• Always wear your DOT rated full-face helmet, even for a short ride.

On the trails:

• Ride within your ability and according to trail and weather conditions.
• Respect private lands.
• Follow trail signage and ride defensively – stay to the right.
• Obey speed limits and reduce speed in unfamiliar territory.
• Exercise care when crossing roadways and railway tracks.

At night:

• Slow down! Your headlight limits how far ahead you can see. The slower you are traveling, the less distance you need to stop.
• Avoid driving along road shoulders.
• Maintain enough stopping distance between riders.

Don’t drink and ride! Never ride on railway tracks! Never ride alone!

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