Share this Mister Wong Digg Del.icio.us Slashdot Furl Yahoo Technorati Newsvine Googlize this Blinklist Facebook Wikio Hear this text Print E-mail

You meticulously plan your dream holiday to Brazil, which turns into a nightmare when you are robbed on arrival and left with nothing but the clothes you are wearing. Sounds like something out of a bad American movie but it was reality for Regent Travel Insurance clients who were robbed at gunpoint, with the criminals disappearing with their bags, foreign exchange and all travel documentation. Fortunately Regent quickly came to the rescue, professionally and speedily sorting out the situation.

According to Uriah Jansen, National Manager for Regent Travel Insurance, no traveller should live under the illusion that crime is a South African phenomenon. It is most certainly a global issue, as can be seen from an analysis of the travel insurance claims processed by Regent Travel Insurance.

“Our analysis has identified Europe as a high pickpocket risk. We receive numerous claims where items have been removed from backpacks or handbags specifically on the public transportation system,” Uriah says.

Pilferage by airport personnel is a growing trend not only in South African but worldwide. It is not uncommon for travellers to either never receive their bags, or when fortunate enough to receive them, to find items missing.

“Travellers under the illusion that they are safe when they leave ‘crime-ridden’ South Africa are easy targets for international syndicates and criminals because they are not ‘alert’. Whether in South Africa, the U.S.A. or France, one should exercise the same care for safety, security and supervision of personal items at all times,” Uriah says.

Some travel tips:

• Don’t check any valuable items into baggage going to the hold of the aircraft — including (but not limited to) laptops, cell phones, money, jewellery, and cameras;
• Check the single item limit of the insurance policy you intend to purchase;
• To ensure you have adequate cover, list any items exceeding the single item limit under your householders’ all-risk policy; and
• Report any lost or stolen items to local authorities within 24 hours, and obtain an incident report from the carrier/airline confirming their settlement amount.

It is also important to note that credit card ‘free/automatic’ travel insurance does not normally provide cover for loss of baggage.

Not only physical belongings need protection when you are travelling. Even more important is health coverage. Travel insurance gives the traveller the peace of mind that he or she will return to South Africa, no matter what.

Benefits include medical expenses, evacuation, repatriation and transportation costs. Cover also includes personal accident, cancellation and curtailment, baggage delay and travel delay benefits.

In a foreign country, travellers need to ensure not only the appropriate treatment but also repatriation once stabilised. It can be very scary to find yourself, or a family member, alone in a foreign country where you do not speak the language, with possibly inappropriate medical facilities and in a remote location. There is also the cost consideration of medical treatment. Here are some examples of actual claims paid by Regent Travel Insurance:

Pneumonia (China): cost of treatment and repatriation, R200 000;

Insect bite on leg (Thailand): cost of treatment, R44 000;
Fractured hip from slipping (U.K.): cost of treatment and repatriation, R324 000;
Heart attack (Australia): cost of repatriation of mortal remains, R38 000; and
Torn ligaments following a snow skiing accident (Italy): cost of treatment and repatriation, R350 000.

Travellers need to be aware that many medical schemes do not cover their members when outside the borders of South Africa. Even if there is some cover, medical aid and free/automatic credit card insurance provides very limited medical expenses cover, with high excess amounts.

Some tips: “

• Always obtain a copy of your policy and the terms and conditions prior to departure, and make sure you know the emergency telephone number;
• Familiarise yourself with the exclusions — certain travel insurance packages don’t provide for any cover whilst participating in hazardous pursuits or manual labour; and
• If you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, you need to check with your insurer whether cover can be included.

Another consideration is the much talked about global warming. It is set to have a profound impact on most industries, including the insurance sector. Again, the right travel insurance cover from the right partner is critical.

Regent Insurance was quick to rise to the challenge, changing products to take into account the impact of global warming on insurance needs. For example, they offer a unique snow skiing product, which not only covers accidents while skiing, but also if lack of snow closes the booked resort.

September 11 also changed the travel market, with the threat of global terrorism suddenly making people think twice before booking a flight.
Then Tsunami became a household name following the natural disaster in December 2004. Nevertheless, we do need to travel — whether for business or leisure — and millions of travellers do exactly that every day. Ensure that when you do, you have the right partner — Regent Travel Insurance — at your side.

Write comment

Your Contact Details:

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Security

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.