Following months of lockdowns and travel bans, countries are gradually opening up to travellers. Many countries have lifted their travel bans against South African travellers and airlines are expanding their routes. If you are going abroad soon, you should really consider paying for travel insurance.
We all dream of a relaxing, drama-free holiday. However, there is no way to guarantee that things won’t ever go wrong. The risk of illness is particularly higher now during the pandemic.
Travel insurance is more important than ever.
What is travel insurance?
According to Square Mouth “travel insurance is designed to provide financial protection for unexpected events that impact a traveller’s trip.” The primary aim of getting travel insurance is to ensure that you are able to receive adequate health assistance should anything go wrong. There are local medical aids that provide extended assistance outside the country. It is important to ensure that you are covered for every eventuality should you run into some trouble.
Depending on your insurance provider or package, your travel insurance can include other things such as emergency evacuation, protection in case your visa is denied, protection for when your airline goes under and stops operating and theft, damage or Accidental Loss of personal effects.
What to consider before buying insurance
As with most types of insurance, travel insurance comes in different packages. It is important to know what you need and cover yourself according to those needs. Organisations such as Travel Insure offer options based on where you are travelling. Choose an option based on which part of the country you will be visiting, your age, and weather you are travelling for business or leisure.
Costs
Travel insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. Banks such as First National Bank offer travel insurance to some clients. “This offer is available to FNB Debit, Fusion or Credit Card holders below the age of 70 and credit card holders under 71 who are residents of any of these countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland. If you are over 70, FNB provides a special type of insurance to suit your needs,” the bank says.
If your budget is tight, some insurers such as Easy Insurance have packages as low as R12 per day.
Once you have your insurance, make sure you read the fine print to ensure that you are aware of the limitations of your coverage.
Happy travelling!
Words: Zukiswa Zimela
