Your Overseas Travel Insurance. Facts for you to Remember

Travel Insurance

My personal guide to your overseas travel insurance

Your travel insurance
Arranging sufficient travel and health cover is a necessary consideration before you leave home to visit another country, including South Africa.

You need to know exactly what your insurance options are.

This Policy Picker will help you choose a travel policy to match your requirements. Click here

When you travel to a foreign country, you will find yourself in a strange environment. if you experience any loss or health problems while away from home, you need to make sure that you are fully insured to avoid financial hardship.

Quite simply, nobody is immune to accidents or health problems. They tend to spring out at you when you least expect it. You could be knocked down while crossing the road, or fall while hiking in the mountains.

By the same token, you may have to cancel a flight booking - or your precious belongings could be lost or stolen. Not the sort of problems you'd want to experience a long way from home without some compensation to fall back on. South Africa is no exception.

If you buy a travel or tour package, travel insurance and health cover is often included. This type of standard cover is convenient but often not tailored to your specific requirements. The travel agent often includes insurance in your package as part of a specific offer or special deal. It is therefore always a good idea to shop around for alternatives.

So where does that leave you? How do you go about finding the right insurance?

Here I've listed the main conditions that your travel insurance should cover..

Cancellation of tour arrangement

Lost and stolen possessions

Legal expenses

Personal Liability

Health and medical expenses

Accident injury or death

The most convenient way to arrange and purchase your travel and health insurance is online via your computer at your leisure. Complete an online application form and you can obtain instant cover at competitive rates. Some recommended options are linked from this page.

Here is a selection of travel insurance products to choose from Click here

Selecting the right insurance policy: Your personal circumstances and the type of travel or holiday you undertake, should be taken into account when deciding on your travel insurance. Some policies cover a single trip, others are valid for frequent travelling over a period of time such as a year. Some offer cheaper rates for families when compared to rates for couples.

Remember that your choice of the correct policy and the premium you pay will determine the level of cover you get. For example if you intend to pursue a 'hazardous' sport such as skiing for example, then standard foreign travel insurance would not be sufficient. You would have to arrange tailored additional cover to allow for the cost of a mountain rescue if required.

For more family insurance and holiday health insurance information go to my family insurance page