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Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
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Why travellers should consider upping their travel insurance
Medical travel insurance of R1-R2 million may have been enough in the past, but with the current economic climate, it can quickly be exhausted. A medical emergency in the USA can cost up to $10,000 a day which equals R154,000 for one day's treatment - this can cause havoc with an underinsured travellers' budget.
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Jason Veitch, head: Travel Insurance Consultants (TIC), one of Santam’s specialist divisions, says most people happily hop on their overseas flight thinking that the free travel insurance offered via their credit card or medical aid is enough, “unfortunately the credit card companies and medical aids offer limited cover, particularly if you have a lower level card or plan.”
He said some of the free credit card services excluded pre-existing emergency medical and related expenses, “so if you have a heart condition, you will not be covered if you suffer a heart attack while on holiday.”
Generally, the free travel insurance products only provide limited medical benefits and no cover for journey cancellation or curtailment, delay and luggage loss. Medical claims abroad are now topping the R10 million mark. High-value medical claims are happening all around the world now whereas, in the past, the high-value medical claims only used to originate out of the USA.
Veitch says that travellers should consider comprehensive cover from a company which specialises in travel insurance. “Those individuals looking to travel to international destinations in the coming months would be well advised to review the extent of their travel insurance as inadequate cover could easily spoil the experiences of that dream vacation”, concludes Veitch.
