How to cancel your AIG travel insurance and reclaim your refund in canada

What is AIG and why cancellation matters

AIG (American International Group) operates across Canada under the Travel Guard brand, offering travel insurance products through Travelguard.ca and licensed brokers nationwide. You can purchase single-trip emergency medical plans, annual multi-trip covers, and other travel-related insurance policies either directly or through agents. Your circumstances change-your trip postpones, your budget shifts, or you discover existing coverage through your employer or credit card. Understanding your legal right to cancel AIG travel insurance before it becomes non-refundable is essential to protecting your money.

At Yafee, our contract law specialists have guided Canadian consumers through thousands of service cancellations, uncovering the legal framework that protects you and the procedural traps that companies exploit. AIG travel insurance operates under strict Canadian provincial insurance regulations, and your right to cancel depends on three factors: how long ago you purchased the policy, whether your trip has started, and whether you have filed any claims. This guide walks you through the exact steps Yafee recommends to cancel with confidence and recover your premium if you qualify.

When you should cancel AIG travel insurance

Cancel AIG if your travel plans have changed and coverage is no longer necessary. You postponed or cancelled your trip indefinitely. You discovered that your employer benefits or credit card already provides emergency medical coverage abroad. Your budget no longer accommodates the premium. You purchased coverage by mistake through an app store or during online checkout without intending to bind yourself. You purchased duplicate policies without realizing it. In each case, your timing and method of cancellation determine whether you recover your money.

The first 10 days after purchase represent your strongest cancellation window. If you act within this period and before your departure date without filing claims, you are typically entitled to a full refund under Canadian insurance law. After that window closes, or once your trip has started, refund eligibility shrinks substantially or disappears entirely. Waiting costs you.

How AIG's cancellation process differs from digital services

AIG does not operate a self-service online cancellation portal. You cannot cancel through a dashboard, app, or automated email process. Instead, AIG requires you to submit a written cancellation request via registered mail (raccomandata A/R) or through your licensed broker or agent. This friction is intentional. Insurance companies deliberately use registered mail requirements to discourage cancellations and create documentation barriers. Understanding this distinction is why Yafee emphasizes the written-correspondence requirement: it protects both you and the insurer by creating a formal, dated record of your cancellation request.

Your legal right to cancel under canadian insurance law

Canadian provincial and federal insurance regulations grant you specific consumer protections that AIG cannot override, regardless of what their policy terms state.

The 10-day right to examine your policy

Under federal and provincial insurance legislation, you possess a statutory "right to examine" your policy for 10 calendar days from the date you purchase it. During this window, you may cancel and receive a full refund of your premium, provided your coverage has not started and you have not filed a claim. This right is not discretionary-it is a legal entitlement. AIG must honour it, and no policy clause can restrict it.

The clock starts on the date you receive your policy documents or the date your coverage becomes effective, whichever is later. If your trip departs before the 10 days expire, your right to examine window closes upon departure, even if fewer than 10 days have passed. To exercise this right effectively, you must submit your written cancellation request within the 10-day period and before your departure date.

Your legal position: You are entitled to a full refund if you cancel within 10 days of purchase, before your trip begins, and without having filed a claim. AIG cannot deny this refund or impose penalties. Refusing to honour this right violates provincial insurance legislation.

Protection under provincial insurance acts

Each Canadian province regulates insurance through its own legislation. Ontario operates under the Insurance Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. I.8). British Columbia follows its Insurance Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 226). Quebec governs insurance through the Civil Code and the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). These laws require insurers to act in good faith, disclose terms clearly, process cancellations promptly, and refund premiums within specified timeframes-typically 30 days after receiving your cancellation request.

If AIG refuses to process your cancellation or denies a refund you are entitled to, you can file a complaint with your provincial insurance regulator. In Ontario, contact the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). In British Columbia, contact the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). In Quebec, contact the AMF. These bodies have enforcement power and investigate complaints at no cost to you.

Step-by-step process to cancel your AIG travel insurance

Yafee has distilled the cancellation process into clear, sequential steps you must follow to ensure your cancellation is processed and your refund is issued.

Step 1: locate your policy number and agent details

Gather your AIG policy documents-the email confirmation, policy schedule, or declaration page you received when you purchased coverage. Extract your policy number, the date you purchased the policy, and the date your coverage begins. If you purchased through a licensed broker or agent, note their name and contact information. You will need all three pieces of information when you submit your cancellation request. Having this information ready prevents delays and ensures AIG cannot claim they cannot identify your policy.

Step 2: confirm you meet the cancellation criteria

Before writing your cancellation letter, confirm that you satisfy all criteria for a full refund:

• 10 or fewer days have passed since you purchased the policy
• Your trip has not yet started (your departure date has not arrived)
• You have not filed any claims against the policy

If all three criteria are met, you qualify for a full refund. If any are not met-for example, your trip begins in 5 days but you purchased the policy 12 days ago-your refund eligibility depends on AIG's discretionary cancellation terms, which vary by policy type and may be limited or non-existent. Yafee recommends reviewing your policy terms document to see what refund options exist outside the 10-day window.

Step 3: draft your written cancellation letter

Compose a formal written cancellation request on plain paper or email. Your letter must include the following information:

• Your full legal name (as it appears on the policy)
• Your policy number
• The date you purchased the policy
• Your date of birth or another identifier AIG uses to verify your identity
• A clear statement: "I hereby request cancellation of my AIG travel insurance policy effective immediately."
• The date you are writing the letter
• Your signature (if sending by mail) or your name (if sending by email)
• A request for confirmation of cancellation and details of your refund

Keep your tone professional and formal. Do not include emotional language or complaints. State facts only. Save a copy of this letter for your records before you send it.

Step 4: submit your cancellation via registered mail

Send your written cancellation letter via registered mail with proof of delivery (raccomandata A/R) to the address below. Registered mail creates a dated, traceable record of your submission. AIG cannot later claim they did not receive your request. Do not send your cancellation via regular mail, email to a general customer service address, or through a web form-these methods lack the proof of receipt that protects you if AIG disputes whether they received your request.

Mailing address for AIG cancellations (Canada):

American International Group (AIG)
Travel Guard Customer Service
[Contact AIG directly at 1-800-782-5283 or Travelguard.ca for the current registered mail address; policy documents also list the cancellation address]

Before sending, call AIG at 1-800-782-5283 to confirm the correct mailing address for cancellation requests. Addresses change, and Yafee recommends verifying the destination before you mail your letter.

Step 5: track your cancellation and follow up

Retain the registered mail receipt showing the delivery date. AIG must respond to your cancellation request within 10 business days and process your refund within 30 days of receiving your written request, in accordance with provincial insurance regulations. If you do not hear from AIG within 15 days, send a follow-up email to their customer service department referencing your registered mail receipt number and the date you submitted your cancellation. Document every communication in writing.

Understanding your refund and timing

Once AIG processes your cancellation, your refund follows a legal timeline you should monitor closely.

Refund timeframe and method

AIG must issue your refund within 30 calendar days of receiving your written cancellation request. The refund will be issued to the original payment method you used to purchase the policy (credit card, debit card, or bank account). If you paid through a broker or agent, the refund may route through them first before reaching you, which can add 5 to 10 business days. To accelerate the refund, contact your broker or agent and ask them to confirm whether they have received the refund from AIG and when they will forward it to you.

Check your payment account 35 days after submitting your cancellation. If no refund appears, contact AIG immediately with your registered mail receipt number. If AIG cannot explain the delay, escalate your complaint to your provincial insurance regulator (FSRA in Ontario, BCFSA in British Columbia, AMF in Quebec). These regulators can compel AIG to refund your money plus interest if AIG has unlawfully retained your premium.

Partial refunds and pro-rata deductions

If you cancel after your trip has started or beyond the 10-day examination window, AIG may issue a pro-rata refund based on the number of days your coverage remained unused. For example, if you purchased a 14-day policy and cancelled after 3 days, you may receive an 11-day pro-rata refund minus any administrative fees AIG charges. Your policy terms document specifies which fees AIG deducts. Yafee recommends reviewing this section carefully so you understand what net refund to expect.

Common mistakes that delay or forfeit your refund

Cancellation appears simple, but insurance companies exploit procedural errors to deny refunds entirely. Avoid these traps.

Mistake 1: cancelling after your trip starts

Once your trip begins (your departure date arrives), your 10-day right to examine expires, and your refund eligibility vanishes or shrinks to a minimal pro-rata amount. Do not wait until your trip is underway to decide whether you need coverage. If you know you will not travel, cancel immediately within the 10-day window. AIG will not sympathize with last-minute changes; the law does not require them to refund premiums for trips already in progress.

Mistake 2: submitting cancellation through wrong channels

Sending your cancellation via email to a general customer service address, posting on AIG's social media, or calling a phone line and requesting verbal cancellation creates no legal record. AIG customer service representatives may not log your cancellation request into their system. Your call notes disappear. Your email sits in a queue unaddressed. Only registered mail creates the dated, traceable evidence that AIG received your cancellation on a specific date. This date determines your refund eligibility. Yafee strongly advises against informal cancellation methods.

Mistake 3: filing a claim before requesting cancellation

If you file any claim against your AIG policy-even a small emergency room visit or a delayed baggage inquiry-you forfeit your right to a full refund within the 10-day window. AIG will categorize your request as a cancellation-after-claim and apply their claims-submitted deduction. Do not file any claims if you intend to cancel. Submit your cancellation request first, confirm it is processed, then-if necessary-contact AIG about any medical expenses covered under a separate policy.

Mistake 4: failing to keep copies of your cancellation submission

Do not rely on AIG to provide proof that you submitted your cancellation request. Retain the registered mail receipt, a copy of your cancellation letter, and screenshots of any email confirmations AIG sends you. If a refund dispute arises, you will need these documents to prove to your provincial insurance regulator that you submitted a timely cancellation request. Without documentation, your word stands against AIG's systems, and you will lose.

What happens after your cancellation is processed

Once AIG confirms your cancellation, several items require your attention to ensure the process is complete and your refund is secure.

Confirming cancellation and receipt of refund

AIG will send you a cancellation confirmation letter or email within 10 business days. This confirmation specifies the cancellation date, the refund amount, the refund method (credit card, debit, bank transfer), and the expected refund date. Review this confirmation carefully. If the refund amount is incorrect-for example, if AIG has deducted fees you do not understand-contact AIG immediately with a written inquiry. Do not assume the deduction is correct.

Monitor your payment method (credit card or bank account) for the refund. Credit card refunds typically appear within 5 to 7 business days after AIG initiates them. Bank transfers may take 3 to 5 business days. If 10 days pass and you see no refund, contact AIG with your cancellation confirmation number and ask for the refund status. Request a refund reference number from AIG so you can track it directly.

Cancelling any automatic renewal settings

If your AIG policy was set to auto-renew for the next year, your cancellation stops only the current policy. Check your AIG account and payment method settings to ensure no automatic renewal charges are pending. If you see a pending charge for next year's coverage, contact AIG and request that the auto-renewal setting be disabled. Some travel insurance policies default to auto-renewal, and AIG may attempt to charge you for next year's premium if you do not explicitly disable this feature.

Removing your payment method from AIG's system

Once your refund is confirmed and received, consider removing your credit card or bank account information from your AIG account if you no longer intend to purchase travel insurance from them. This prevents accidental charges if AIG's system defaults to a saved payment method. Log into your account, navigate to payment settings, and delete the stored payment information.

Comparison table: cancellation outcomes by timing

If AIG refuses to refund your money

If AIG denies your refund without legitimate cause or fails to respond to your cancellation request within 30 days, escalate your complaint to your provincial insurance regulator. These agencies have legal authority to compel AIG to honour your refund and to impose penalties against AIG if they are unlawfully withholding your money.

Filing a complaint with your provincial regulator

Contact the appropriate authority for your province:

• Ontario: Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) - fsra.ontario.ca or 1-833-999-3872
• British Columbia: BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) - bcfsa.ca or 1-833-261-2232
• Quebec: Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) - lautorite.qc.ca
• Alberta: Financial Services Authority of Alberta
• Other provinces: Contact your provincial Insurance Commissioner or Department of Finance

Provide the regulator with copies of your policy documents, your cancellation letter, your registered mail receipt, AIG's response (or lack thereof), and a written explanation of why you believe AIG has violated your consumer rights. The regulator will investigate at no cost to you and can order AIG to refund your money if they find AIG acted unlawfully.

Practical checklist before you cancel

Use this checklist to ensure you are prepared before you submit your cancellation request to AIG.

• Gather your policy number, purchase date, and coverage start date from your policy documents
• Confirm you are within 10 days of purchase and before your trip departs
• Confirm you have not filed any claims against this policy
• Draft your written cancellation letter with all required information
• Make two copies of your cancellation letter (one to mail, one for your records)
• Obtain the correct registered mail address from AIG by calling 1-800-782-5283
• Send your cancellation letter via registered mail (raccomandata A/R)
• Retain the registered mail receipt showing the delivery date
• Wait for AIG's cancellation confirmation within 10 business days
• Monitor your payment method for the refund within 30 days
• If refund does not arrive within 35 days, contact AIG with your receipt number
• If AIG refuses or delays beyond 30 days, file a complaint with your provincial regulator

Summary: taking control of your AIG cancellation

Cancelling AIG travel insurance is straightforward if you act within the legal timeframes and follow the procedural steps AIG requires. Your 10-day right to examine your policy is a statutory entitlement under Canadian insurance law-AIG cannot remove or restrict it. Submit a written cancellation request via registered mail, track its delivery, and monitor for your refund within 30 days. If AIG refuses or delays unlawfully, escalate to your provincial insurance regulator, which has legal power to compel a refund.

The procedure Yafee outlines protects your money by creating a formal, dated record of your cancellation request and holding AIG accountable to provincial timelines. Do not cancel via email, phone, or informal channels. Do not file claims before cancelling. Do not wait until your trip is underway. Act immediately, follow these steps, and you will recover your premium.

At Yafee, we have helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel insurance policies, subscriptions, and digital services by translating legal frameworks into clear procedural steps. If you encounter resistance from AIG or your provincial regulator, Yafee's contract law specialists can review your case and advise you on next steps. Your consumer rights are non-negotiable, and Yafee is here to ensure AIG honours them.