Your guide to travel insurance in South Africa

Travel insurance gives you protection against a wide range of potential risks that arise from travelling abroad. This could be anything from baggage loss to flight cancellation and various other travel-related issues.

This type of insurance typically falls into two main categories:

• Basic trip cancellation insurance. This covers lost luggage and refunds against missed trips or cancellations that happen when you are sick or hurt
• Comprehensive insurance. This covers those risks as well as any expenses such as medical emergencies, disaster evacuations, accidents, and other potential issues

To help you decide on the best type of cover to get, we’ve put together a guide that gives you all the information you’ll need to make informed decisions for your upcoming travels.

Travel insurance basics 🛫

What exactly is travel insurance, and why is it worth considering? 

Travel insurance is designed to give you protection when you’re travelling. Although no one likes to think of anything happening during a flight, the reality of the world we live in today is that things do sometimes happen.

The first thing to know about this type of insurance is that there are a number of plans available from each of South Africa’s primary insurance providers. 

Each plan will cover different needs. Finding the package that suits your specific needs is the best way to make your decision, instead of being swayed by incentives and rewards, or thinking about cost alone. It’s always a good idea to speak to your insurance provider to get input on how to choose a package that suits your specific travel needs and requirements.

Why do you need travel insurance?

Some of the top benefits offered by travel cover include:

1. Protection against losing the cost of your flight if there are any delays or cancellations.
2. Safety against unforeseen expenses caused by delays or lost, delayed or ruined baggage.
3. Protection against any medication expenses in the event of illness or injury during your trip.

To get the most from your insurance, always make sure that you purchase insurance before you’re due to fly. You won’t be able to purchase insurance after an event has taken place. 

It’s also a good idea to read through your plan very carefully. Go through the small print and terms and conditions. Ask questions, and make sure that you fully understand what is covered before you sign anything.

Choosing the best travel insurance for you 🧳

Choosing the best travel insurance plan is not always easy, initially. The good news is it becomes a lot easier when you know what to look for when selecting your plan.

To get started, make a list of the things you need for your upcoming trip – cancellation cover, medical cover or complete cover, for instance. You could do an online search or you could try a comparison tool such as Hippo to see how different plans compare. 

Another way to find the right plan is to ask friends and family to recommend their suggestions for the best travel insurance package. Hellopeter reviews will also make it easier to make your decision, armed with all the information you need to choose the right travel insurance company.

Planning a trip should be exciting – whichever part of the world you’re planning on visiting. Although it may not be necessary on every trip, travel insurance can make it easier to enjoy your travels, without the added worry of what you would do if anything had to happen while you were away. 

Take the time and effort to research packages. Think carefully about your needs and choose a company that gives you the best plan.

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