21st Century Travel Insurance

What 21st Century Travel Insurance does

21st Century Travel Insurance Limited is a federally chartered Canadian Managing General Agency (MGA) founded in 1979 and headquartered in Cobourg, Ontario, operating as 21st Century Travel Insurance Services in British Columbia. The company distributes travel and visitors insurance products through a B2B2C model via more than 3,500 contracted agents spanning travel agents, insurance brokers, financial advisors, and insurance agencies, while also accepting direct consumer quote requests through its website. Following its May 1, 2026 acquisition by SIB Corp, it operates as a division of the parent. Core products include Visitor to Canada Insurance (covering visitors, Super Visa holders, international students and workers, newcomers, and returning Canadians without provincial coverage), Medicare International Travel Insurance (covering Canadian residents travelling outside their province of residence, including single trip, multi-trip, all-inclusive, and Schengen Visa-compliant variants), and Individual Medical Underwriting for travellers with pre-existing conditions. Coverage limits range from $15,000 to $200,000 for Visitor to Canada plans and up to $10 million for Medicare International emergency medical benefits.

The business operates as an MGA rather than a risk carrier: all products are underwritten by Manulife Financial under a relationship that has been in place since 2004 (replacing ING), and claims assistance is delivered through Global Excel Management (GEM)/Activate Care Management (ACM), which also powers the TravelAid mobile app and online claims portal. Revenue is generated from insurance premiums and commissions on policies sold through the agent network and direct channels, with a Monthly Payment Plan (MPP) launched in 2012-2013 — the first of its kind in Canada for Super Visa insurance — providing installment billing including a Pending status for visa applications in process. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is determined per policy based on age, trip duration, coverage limits, and deductibles.

On the technology side, the company's platform centers on a travel insurance policy administration system with claims processed via GEM/ACM. A proprietary quote-generation API launched in March 2026 enables partner websites to embed 21st Century quoting and request-contact workflows, extending digital distribution beyond the traditional agent channel. Reported scale metrics include 50,000+ travellers protected cumulatively and 3,500+ active agent partners, with no public revenue disclosure and an employee base of 11-50.

Name

21st Century Travel Insurance

Legal name

21st Century Travel Insurance Limited

Website

https://www2.21stcenturytips.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

21st Century Travel Insurance is a Canadian Managing General Agency, founded 1979 and now a division of SIB Corp, distributing Visitor to Canada, Medicare International, and Medical Underwriting travel insurance products through 3,500+ contracted agents and underwritten by Manulife Financial.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Insurance

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Travel Medical & Health Insurance Platforms (THALALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel Medical Insurance (Individual) (FSAIAEAI), Travel & Accident (Non-Life) Insurance (FSAJAMAN), Baggage & Personal Effects Insurance (FSAJAJAE), Underwriting, Pricing & Policy Administration (PAS) for Travel Insurance (THALALAK), Trip Cancellation/Interruption & Refund Protection Platforms (THALALAB), Travel Insurance & Corporate Risk Transfer (Trip, Medical, Kidnap & Ransom) (THACAEAH)

Keywords

• Travel insurance
• Visitor insurance Canada
• Super Visa insurance
• Medicare International travel
• Managing general agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Cobourg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premium Revenue: As a Managing General Agency, 21st Century Travel Insurance earns revenue through insurance premiums collected from policyholders across their Visitor to Canada and Medicare International product lines. They underwrite through Manulife Financial and earn commissions and premiums.
2. API/Technology Services: Revenue generated through API services for partner quote generation and website integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

21st Century Travel Insurance operates as a Managing General Agency distributing its own branded portfolio of travel and visitor insurance products across Canada through a 3,500+ partner agent network and its website. Core offerings include Visitor to Canada Insurance (including Super Visa, Enhanced/Standard/Basic tiers), Medicare International Travel Insurance for Canadian residents travelling outside their province, and Individual Medical Underwriting for travellers with pre-existing conditions. All products are underwritten by Manulife Financial since 2004 and serviced through the TravelAid mobile app, online claims portal, and 24/7 emergency assistance via Global Excel Management.

Product overview

21st Century Travel Insurance operates as a Managing General Agency offering a portfolio of travel and visitor insurance products. The core offerings include Visitor to Canada Insurance (covering visitors, Super Visa holders, international students/workers, newcomers, and returning Canadians) and Medicare International (covering Canadians travelling outside their province). Individual Medical Underwriting provides coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. Additional products include Single/Multi-Trip Emergency Medical, All-Inclusive plans, and Stand-alone Trip Cancellation. The Monthly Payment Plan offers flexible payment options for Visitor to Canada coverage with a two-year upgrade available. Products are underwritten primarily by Manulife Financial since 2004, with over 3,500 contracted agents distributing across Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visitor to Canada Insurance Emergency medical insurance for visitors to Canada, including visitor visa holders, Super Visa applicants, international students/workers, newcomers, and returning Canadians without provincial health coverage. Coverage limits from $15,000 to $200,000 with options for stable pre-existing conditions; sold via Enhanced, Standard and Basic plan tiers.
• Medicare International Travel Insurance Travel insurance for Canadian residents with provincial healthcare travelling outside their province of residence or outside Canada. Covers emergency medical costs up to $10 million, available in Single Trip, Multi-Trip, All-Inclusive and Stand-alone Trip Cancellation variants; compliant with Schengen Visa requirements.
• Individual Medical Underwriting Individual medical underwriting for Canadian residents who are not eligible for regular travel insurance due to new or unstable pre-existing medical conditions. Provides up to $10 million in eligible expenses for trip lengths from 1 to 365 days; available up to age 111; requires a telephone interview with the underwriter.
• Quote Generation API Partner-facing API that lets clients generate 21st Century travel insurance quotes on partner websites and request contact to finalize a sale, designed as a unique interoperability approach in the Canadian travel insurance market.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ travellers protected
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SIB CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 202621st Century Travel Insurance became a division of SIB Corp effective May 1, 2026. The acquisition is intended to expand distribution, enhance product offerings, and continue investments in technology to improve business operations.
• Manulife FinancialcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2004Manulife Financial has underwritten 21st Century's Visitor to Canada product since 2004. Prior to 2004, the product was underwritten by ING. The long-term relationship with this leading financial institution provides financial stability and trust in the products offered.
• Global Excel Management (GEM) / Activate Care Management (ACM)coreTechnology or IntegrationGEM handles claims assistance for all 21st Century policies. They merged with Activate Care Management (ACM) and now operate under both names. They provide 24/7 emergency assistance, claims processing, the TravelAid mobile app, and online Travel Claims portal.
• Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THIA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner21st Century is a proof member of THIA, the industry association for travel health insurance in Canada. Membership provides industry credibility and networking opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TuGo Travel Insurance: TuGo is a Canadian Managing General Agency focused on travel and visitor health insurance, marketed through a broad partner/broker network — the same MGA model, Canadian geography, and visitor/traveller customer base as 21st Century.
• Travel Insurance Coordinators (TIC): TIC is a Canadian travel insurance specialist/MGA selling visitor and outbound Canadian policies through a travel agent and broker network — a closely analogous operating model and product mix to 21st Century Travel Insurance.

Broad incumbents

• Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA) members — Blue Cross, Pacific Blue Cross and Canadian Blue Cross plans: Canadian Blue Cross plans are THIA members and sell visitor-to-Canada and travel health insurance across provinces — directly competing for the same VTC, Super Visa and outbound Canadian customer segments that 21st Century targets.
• Manulife Financial: Manulife is 21st Century's carrier and underwrites all of its policies, but also sells competing travel and health insurance directly to consumers and through advisors in Canada, making it both a partner and the most capable broad incumbent competitor.
• Allianz Global Assistance (Canada): Allianz operates a large global travel insurance business and sells visitor-to-Canada and outbound Canadian travel medical products through travel agents, banks and direct channels — overlapping with 21st Century's Super Visa and Medicare International lines.
• RBC Travel Insurance / Aviva Canada Travel: RBC and Aviva distribute travel and visitor health insurance in Canada primarily through bank channels and licensed advisors, competing with 21st Century's Medicare International and Visitor to Canada products in the same end market.

Regional players

• CAA Travel Insurance: CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) sells travel medical and trip insurance to Canadian members, including visitor and outbound products, through a member-based distribution channel that overlaps 21st Century's Canadian retail/channel customer base.

Others

• Global Excel Management (GEM) / Activate Care Management: GEM is 21st Century's claims and assistance partner and also provides third-party administration and risk management for many insurers — placing it adjacent/ecosystem to 21st Century rather than directly competing, with strong technology and operational overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 21st Century Travel Insurance