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Travel emergencies get more expensive

15 Jun 2016 - by Debbie Badham
Comments | 0

GREATER importance

is being placed on

having comprehensive

travel insurance as travellers

start to experience the

repercussions of inadequate

cover, industry authorities say.

With the consistent

decline of the rand, medical

emergencies abroad have

become more expensive.

“Every time the rand drops,

claims go up,” says TIC sales

and marketing manager,

Simmy Micheli. She says as

medical claims are paid in

foreign currencies, bills can

become more expensive from

one day to the next.

This can create havoc with

an underinsured traveller’s

budget. While medical

travel insurance of R1m to

R2m may previously have

been enough, in the current

economic climate this can

quickly be exhausted, says

Simmy. For example, a

medical emergency in the US

can cost up to US$10 000

(R154 000) for one day’s

treatment.

Many clients don’t realise

how expensive it would be

if they were to end up in

hospital, agrees Wybrandt

Lubbe, sales manager of

travel insurance for the

Bidvest Insurance Group. For

example, a skiing accident

resulting in a broken leg could

end up costing the traveller

around €75 000 (R1,3m).

Most travellers happily

hop on their overseas flight

thinking the free travel

insurance offered via their

credit card or medical aid is

enough, says Jason Veitch,

head of TIC. “Unfortunately

credit card companies and

medical aids offer limited

cover, particularly if you have

a lower level card or plan.”

He adds that some of

the free credit card travel

insurance services exclude

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.

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