When travellers find out that the insurance they automatically received because they paid with their credit card is inadequate, it’s already too late.
But many South Africans aren’t using these top-up plans. Perhaps it’s down to a happy-go-lucky sense of freedom post-pandemic, now that clients are free to take their long-delayed holiday or honeymoon. Perhaps it’s because now that the pandemic is over, they feel they don’t need medical cover.
In a recent Travel News survey, 60% of agents said that at least half their clients travelled without any top-up travel insurance.
Anrieth Symon, Head of Travel at Bryte Insurance, told Travel News it was crucial for travellers to ensure that the appropriate cover was in place to suit their specific needs.
“Most automatic plans will be limited in the number of days, age of travellers and level of cover they provide, and may, therefore, not meet all your needs. For instance, it may not cover any pre-existing medical conditions, hazardous activities or cancellation cover; it may only provide limited medical expenses cover.”
Seniors
Symon says optional top-up cover will supplement the automatic cover by providing a more comprehensive range of benefits and catering for longer trip durations. Usually, there are options available for senior travellers that the free cover may not include. Bryte’s travel insurance top-up plans provide increased medical cover limits and cover for cancellation, baggage, travel delay, hazardous activities and more. “We also offer cover for travellers up to 89 years inclusive under the Exclusive Senior plan.”
The Bryte Travel Index 2022 shows that South Africans claim for issues from flight cancellations to loss or damage to baggage, but in terms of monetary value, the top claim, by far, is medical expenses for illness or injury abroad.
“Overseas medical care can be enormously expensive, so ensuring travellers have adequate cover to meet these costs is crucial,” says Symon.
She advises that, when taking any travel insurance, it’s important for the traveller to get accurate, up-to-date information about the amount of cover available. This is critical when it comes to limits for medical care abroad, including emergency treatment and quality medical care for a severe injury such as a spinal fracture. These can be hugely expensive, especially considering the cost of care is charged in foreign currency.
The Bryte Travel Index 2022 reveals several case studies of traumatic injuries sustained abroad incurring treatment costs of hundreds of thousands – in some cases, millions – of rands. “For this reason, it is critical that travellers ensure they have adequate cover to meet quality care costs should they need it,” says Symon.
