Travel insurance is still too often treated as an optional extra. But when a medical emergency strikes while abroad, it can mean the difference between getting the care you need or facing potential overwhelming financial and practical fallout.
Travel insurance is often treated as an optional extra when booking a trip, but a medical emergency abroad can leave travellers facing bills worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of rand.
While travellers typically focus on accommodation, flights, luggage and activities, unexpected illness or injury can quickly disrupt a holiday, business trip or family visit.
Chris Pretorius, Chief Underwriting and Claims Officer at GENRIC Insurance, said the financial consequences of a medical emergency abroad could be significant.
“Travellers are often not just dealing with a health crisis, but with hospital accounts running into hundreds of thousands or even millions of rand,” Pretorius said.
