TRAVELLERS can now
claim medical expenses
for life-threatening
medical emergencies, without
first gaining authorisation from
the insurer, with Hollard Travel
Insurance’s updated travel
insurance policy.
Authorisation of medical
expenses while travelling has
been a point of contention
for travellers, particularly
given the nature of certain
emergency situations. “There
are certain conditions in
which travellers don’t have
the time to sit down and
phone for authorisation,”
says Uriah Jansen, md of
Oojah Travel Protection which
administers Hollard Travel
Insurance.
As a result, Hollard has
come up with a list of
conditions that are life
threatening, including cardiac
arrest, strokes, seizures,
constricted airways and heavy
bleeding, among others.
In these cases, travellers
would only need to gain
authorisation for necessary
treatment post stabilisation.
Uriah says Hollard’s offering
is unique in that the insurer
will not argue about paying
the unauthorised medical
expenses of travellers who
have suffered from one of
these conditions. She says
when it comes to other
insurance products, the
only clause that can spare
travellers from gaining
authorisation is if they are
unconscious or travelling
alone.
Cancel for any reason
Hollard recently updated
its ‘cancel for any reason’
product to include cover for
senior travellers. The product,
first launched two years ago,
enables travellers to cancel
their trips for any reason.
Uriah says most
cancellations on other
insurance products must
be unexpected and related
to a specific event in order
for payment to be refunded.
With ‘cancel for any reason’
insurance, travellers could, for
example, book a trip knowing
their elderly parent is sick and
then should they pass away
before the trip happens they
would be able to cancel and
receive 50% of their money
back.
The only condition is that
travellers must take out this
cover within 24 hours of
booking their trip. Uriah says
travellers sometimes forget
that travel insurance is the
same as any other kind of
insurance, pointing out that
you would not be able to take
out car insurance after having
had an accident.
The volatility of international
travel at the moment makes
this an interesting product
for travellers to consider
because, should a terror
attack occur at a specific
destination, travellers are
able to cancel should they be
concerned for their safety.
