Coronavirus outbreak and travel insurance

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - South Africa's travel ban has been lifted. As a result, those who are traveling abroad need to be aware of the disease and its symptoms and take all necessary precautions.

It is also essential to ensure that their travel insurance will cover them should they contract the virus, says Tony Singleton, CEO of Turnberry.

“Travel insurance with medical cover is more critical than ever in light of the nCoV pandemic, and travellers need to ensure that their plan covers them in case they contract the disease while they are overseas. Insurance needs to fully cover you for emergency medical and related expenses should you contract the coronavirus on a journey. Related expenses that should be covered include medical transportation and medical repatriation, repatriation of children and travel companions and burial or cremation or return of mortal remains."

Singleton gives the example of a 71-year-old South African man who presented with difficulty in breathing while he was on a cruise ship overseas. He was immediately taken to a medical facility in Germany and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on 30 March 2020.

He consequently tested positive for Covid-19 which resulted in severe pneumonia.

The traveller was kept hospitalised and ventilated for over two months. The results of his last Covid-19 test conducted on 25 April came back negative. The man was subsequently declared fit to fly by air ambulance and the process was initiated at the end of May.

"Luckily, this senior citizen was repatriated and landed at Cape Town (RSA) International Airport where he was immediately transferred to a medical facility in order to be further treated.

"His medical costs accumulated to a total of R2 934 180,00 and without the cover that his travel insurance provided he would have certainly faced unprecedented financial pressure for the rest of his life," says Singleton.

"Travel insurance is especially important given that the South African Port of Health Authorities may refuse to repatriate a patient in order to protect the country. Without cover for medical expenses overseas, you could find yourself severely ill and at risk of significant out of pocket medical expenses."

Tony Singleton