With all the things that can go wrong while travelling, travel insurance should be a priority
Everyone should take out some form of travel insurance before setting off on a trip whether local or international. This should include general cover cancellation, comprehensive medical cover, curtailment and delays as well as loss of items like your luggage or cash and documents, which can easily get stolen or lost.
I’m planning an overseas trip to Europe and one of the immediate “must haves” for me once I’ve paid for my air ticket is travel insurance. It is also essential for most visa applications for South Africans.
I like to have my insurance in place as soon as possible should there be any issue between the purchase of the air ticket and the actual travel date. If you have purchased the correct cover, you will be able to claim most expenses according to the cover on the policy if you have to cancel.
There are travel insurance companies that offer comprehensive policies. I always look at TIC for my cover. They offer cover for both leisure and business with options specifically tailored to youths, seniors and groups. They even have a Seniors Plus option!
Travel cover is offered up to a maximum of 365 days/one year for a traveller up to 69 years. Travellers over 70 to maximum 85 years of age can be covered up to 92 days. Local cover is for travellers up to age 79.
In doing my research, I wondered about the clause “pre-existing conditions” and what this means for persons with permanent disabilities. Does a permanent disability become a pre- existing condition? If so, how is it catered for? So, I contacted TIC and asked for some answers.
Their printed information on pre-existing illness cover states: “Emergency medical cover for pre-existing illnesses is available on selected products only for travellers up to the age of 69. This covers hospitalisation costs only.”
For travellers over the age of 70, their policy is as follows: “Medical claims as a result of pre- existing illnesses, vascular, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions are excluded from cover for travellers aged 70 and over.”
In my exchange with them, they explained the following: “At present there is no input for declaring your disabilities and no list of other conditions. The issue would be if you have ongoing treatment or if you have had treatment within the past six months prior to travel. However, what treatment has not been confirmed.”
There is an Unspecified Events option that can assist for other conditions that are not terminal which offers up to R30 000 for travellers up to the age of 69. The Senior policy offers R20 000, which is good for pre-existing conditions, but must be taken at the time of issuing of the policy and cannot be added later. Remember that they will only pay out for pre-existing conditions if you are hospitalised.
Credit card payments for air tickets offer some free travel insurance cover, but this usually does not offer sufficient monetary cover, especially for medical and cancellation cover for international travel.
It is recommended to always “top up” your cover as our current exchange rate is not favourable. Always ask the bank or your travel agent for these amounts that are covered within the purchase of the ticket as well as the top-up options. Some medical aid schemes offer additional medical cover for international travel, but it is not automatic.
You need to contact the medical aid and ask for a letter confirming that you are covered for the dates for your trip including their emergency contact numbers should you require assistance. Remember that these schemes will not cover cancellation and curtailment.
South African passport holders are required by many countries to apply for visas. Part of the visa requirements are that you have sufficient medical insurance cover. Please make sure that your travel insurance medical cover is sufficient for your visa requirements or they will reject your visa application.
These are the important cover benefits that you should be checking to have the sufficient cover (as recommended by TIC):
Medical and related expenses (illness or injury)
- War and terrorism;
- Medical transportation, repatriation and evacuation;
- Repatriation of children and travel companion;
- Burial, cremation or return of mortal remains;
- Compassionate emergency visit;
- Daily hospital cash benefit during your journey;
- Daily hospital cash benefit in your country of residence; and
- Quarantine expenses.
Pre-existing medical and related expenses
- Medical transportation, repatriation and evacuation;
- Compassionate emergency visit;
- Repatriation of children and travel companion; and
- Burial, cremation or return of mortal remains.
Accidental total permanent disablement international journey cancellation
- International journey curtailment;
- International journey extension;
- International journey postponement;
- Missed connection;
- Travel delay;
- Weather conditions;
- Travel supplier insolvency; and
- Denied visa (SA passport holders only).
Personal liability
- Hijack; hostage or wrongful detention; and
- Legal expenses.
Luggage
- Cash and documents;
- Luggage delay; and
- Car rental excess waiver.
For local policies medical related expenses
- Medical transportation and evacuation;
- Burial expenses;
- Daily hospital cash benefit;
- Journey curtailment;
- Journey cancellation;
- Car hire;
- Accidental death;
- Accidental permanent total disablement;
- Car rental excess waiver;
- Personal liability;
- Luggage theft; and
- Travel delay.
Please remember that insurance is worked out on the length of stay with different rates for various cover periods and age groups. You can usually get group cover if there are a minimum of 10 persons travelling on the same itinerary.
Children up to the age of 21 years old can share cover with their parents if travelling with an adult they are related to. There is also Business Travel Cover options for those who need this option as well.
In order to make any claim you need to hold a departure and return air ticket. Whichever option you choose – ensure that you are covered so that, should your trip be disrupted in any way, you have recourse to assist yourself and your family financially; thus, reducing the loss of either your holiday or personal items.
Lastly, while remembering to take out travel insurance, bear in mind that it does not cover every single inevitable situation that may arise, as it too has its limitations. However, having some comprehensive cover is always better than having no cover at all. Happy Travels!
