Welcome back to our Health Season of blogs. In this blog we will discuss how medical aids in South Africa cover international travel and what you need to know.
Many South African’s dreams to travel abroad however if something goes wrong, you can be hit with extensive medical expenses if you don’t have travel cover in place.
What is the international travel benefit?
The International Travel Benefit is available on the Comprehensive, Saver and Hospital plans.
This benefit covers costs associated with a relevant health services obtained outside of South Africa for a condition or health-related event that occurs as a result of an accident or emergency.
If you will be visiting multiple countries, you do not need to request multiple letters confirming your cover while abroad. You will only need one letter for Schengen countries and one letter for non-Schengen countries.
How do I access my travel insurance through my medical aid?
Members on the Comprehensive, Saver and Hospital plans will need to call their medical aid and request a travel letter.
The medical aid will ask you the below questions for your international travel benefit.
- Destination
- Departure and arrive date
- Passport number
- Who will be traveling?
Your medical aid will then issue you with a travel letter on how you will be covered. The international benefit covers you for 90 days while you are overseas.
If you are planning on leaving the country for more than 90 days, it is best to take out additional medical aid insurance cover. This will also include cover for baggage loss and flight cancellation.
Also bear in mind some credit cards will offer travel insurance if you use the credit card to book your flights.
How do I claim back from my medical aid?
- You will need to first settle the account with the service provider before submitting the claim to the medical aid.
- You will then need to send your medical aid a copy of the doctor’s invoice in English with the proof of payment and complete a claim form.
- The medical aid will process the claim and refund you as per the medical aid rates (please note that gap cover does not cover shortfalls on procedures outside of South Africa).
For members that plan on leaving South Africa and returning in the next 5 years, there are some medical aids that allow their existing members to re-join with no break in cover.
If you are planning on leaving the country or will be working overseas for a period less than 5 years, please contact us so that we can look at the various options to ensure that you are not penalized for having a break in cover.
In conclusion when traveling abroad, please ensure that you and your family have travel insurance in place, whether it is through your medical aid or another service provider.
If you need any assistance in obtaining your travel documents through your medical aid, please contact us so we can assist you.
Look out for our next blog discussing Gap Cover and the benefits of having Gap Cover in place.
This benefit covers costs associated with a relevant health services obtained outside of South Africa for a condition or health-related event that occurs as a result of an accident or emergency.
The medical aid will ask you the below questions for your international travel benefit.
- Destination
- Departure and arrive date
- Passport number
- Who will be traveling?
- You will need to first settle the account with the service provider before submitting the claim to the medical aid.
- You will then need to send your medical aid a copy of the doctor’s invoice in English with the proof of payment and complete a claim form.
- The medical aid will process the claim and refund you as per the medical aid rates (please note that gap cover does not cover shortfalls on procedures outside of South Africa).
