Travel insurance has always been important, but never more than now with travel so uncertain. Mandy Latimore takes a closer look
With the uncertainty of the travel restrictions worldwide and airlines halting flights for one or other reason, 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, curtailment and delays, comprehensive medical cover, and the loss of items like your luggage or cash and documents, which can easily get stolen or lost.
There are various options available for the traveller. These should be compared to select the best option with the most comprehensive cover fitting your budget. There are travel insurance companies that offer comprehensive policies. I always look at www.tic.co.za for a baseline. They offer cover for both leisure and business with options for youths, seniors and groups.
Credit card payments for air tickets offer some free travel insurance cover, but this usually does not offer sufficient monetary cover, especially for medical cover and cancellation cover for international travel.The cover offered by credit card payments should always be “topped up” as our current exchange rate is not favourable. Always ask the bank or your travel agent for these amounts which can be covered within the purchase of the ticket and 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 of your trip. They also need to provide their emergency contact numbers should you require assistance. Remember that these schemes will not cover cancellation and curtailment.
With COVID-19 restrictions still applicable for most countries travel, it is always good to check that you have cover for a quarantine period should you contract COVID-19 while on holiday. Travellers are placed in a quarantine hotel at their own cost if they test positive.
South African passport holders are required by many countries to apply for visas. Part of the visa requirements include sufficient medical insurance cover. Please make sure that your travel insurance medical cover is sufficient for your visa requirement or they will reject your application. The following are important cover benefits in order to ensure sufficient cover (taken from TIC policy options).
International policies
- Medical and related expenses (including 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 death
This falls under accidental or permanent disablement, which will result in the cancellation of your journey.
- International journey curtailment;
- International journey extension;
- International journey postponement;
- Missed connection;
- Travel delay;
- Weather conditions;
- Travel supplier insolvency; and
- Denied visa (South African passport holders only).
Personal liability
- Hijack and 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.You should purchase your cover as soon as your air ticket is purchased to make any claim (in case of cancellation or curtailment before departure date). In order to 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 to reduce the loss of either your holiday or personal items. Happy Travels!
