Getting a Travel Insurance Policy for an African Vacation

Africa is a diverse destination with dozens of countries spanning the unique landmass, so it’s a good idea to have a travel insurance policy that is as diverse as the destination. For a safe and worry-free African vacation, it’s essential to have the best travel insurance policy available to combat the many possible challenges vacationers could face. All-inclusive policies are often the best travel insurance option for African vacations because they offer a full range of services that begin before you leave.

If you’re planning an African vacation, look for travel insurance plans with pre-trip benefits and trip cancellation coverage if you plans are unexpectedly delayed. Access to 24/7 travel assistance services before and during the trip is one of the most important benefits travelers can look for. Travel advisory information provided by insurance companies includes passport and visa requirements, recommended and required vaccinations, and current travel warnings. A simple call to your provider’s travel assistance hotline can inform you of any epidemics or political instabilities near your destination. Your provider’s travel assistance hotline can also offer medical assistance and referrals to English-speaking doctors around the world.

To maximize benefits, shop for travel insurance plans that cover interruptions and cancellations before and during your trip. Trip interruption and cancellation policies can prevent out of pocket expenses and recover fees if your trip is delayed due to bankruptcy issues with airlines, transportation and tour companies as well as unexpected delays due to lost baggage, illness and other events. When shopping for the best travel insurance for an African vacation, it’s important to ensure all emergency benefits are available from your destination.

While traveling in Africa, it’s extremely important to have a travel insurance policy with a high limit on medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage. Basic plans typically offer less than $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage, which could easily be exceeded in a medical evacuation from rural parts of Africa. In tropical and subtropical regions where many deadly insect-borne and water-borne diseases thrive, it’s essential to have high-limit medical evacuation coverage that ensures you can receive cutting-edge medical treatment while traveling in underdeveloped areas. The best travel insurance policies for an African vacation should have a medical evacuation limit of $200,000 to $1,000,000.

In addition to high limit benefits, shoppers seeking the best travel insurance policies for an African vacation should look for plans that minimize exclusions for war and terrorism. Secondary riders for recreational activities and acts of terrorism can also be purchased to supplement any policy. Special offers, such as free coverage for minors traveling with an insured adult, can also make travel insurance packages more attractive.