How To Find Great Travel Insurance Options When Leaving For Africa

Africa is the second-largest continent and one of the most diverse destinations in the world. If you are leaving for Africa, there are a number of travel insurance options designed to protect policyholders anywhere in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Travel insurance options range from basic travel insurance policies to complete coverage plans designed to protect policyholders in all types of emergency circumstances and inconvenient situations travelers face. Due to the vast nature of the African continent, travel recommendations and requirements vary greatly from country to country and region to region.

If you are leaving for Africa, the most important features you can look for in travel insurance policies are benefits that include pre-trip benefits and 24-hour hotlines with emergency assistance, translation services, medical referrals and other vital services. Once your purchase a travel insurance policy, you are entitled to use services from your provider’s travel advisory board. Informational services include real-time, itinerary-based recommendations from the CDC, the World Tourism Organization and the World Health Organization. Geographically, Africa is divided into several regions, including east, west, south, central and sub-Saharan. Recommended and required immunizations vary depending on your destination in Africa and the time of year you are traveling.

Countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and the Côte d’Ivoire, have been at the forefront of the latest mass-immunization program against yellow fever developed by the World Health Organization. Yellow fever and malaria are two of the most common mosquito-borne illnesses prevalent in tropical regions around the world. To enter countries in West Africa and other sub-Saharan regions, a yellow card otherwise known as an International Certificate of Vaccination is required to prove that you have been immunized against yellow fever. With travel insurance options designed for policyholders leaving for Africa, a travel advisory professional can walk you through all of the requirements, recommended immunizations and screening procedures used in African countries.

In addition to pre-trip services, it’s important to review medical benefits, evacuation coverage and policy exclusions. High-limit medical evacuation coverage is essential for travelers leaving for Africa. In developing countries, it’s important to find travel insurance options that include comprehensive medical benefits for hospitalization, medical evacuation and other emergency services to ensure you receive the best medical care available. When leaving for Africa or planning a visit to developing countries, a travel insurance policy with lenient exclusions can offer you the best level of protection.

Travel insurance options designed for travelers leaving for Africa include pre-trip informational services, lost baggage coverage and comprehensive medical benefits. A great travel insurance policy will include 24-hour phone assistance and international benefits to ensure a smooth trip from start to finish.