Why is travel insurance crucial for travelling remote workers?

According to medical scheme Profmed, there has been a significant surge in remote working since the pandemic upended workforce dynamics across the world.

Many professionals are now working for international organisations and receiving their salaries in different currencies.

“These professionals saw a salary increase of up to 40% in the last year alone due to exchange rate fluctuations, while other professionals have taken up opportunities to work abroad for longer periods of time.

“But increased travel brings increased risk, elevating the need for adequate travel insurance – particularly for health emergencies,” Profmed says.

The medical scheme says it has seen a sharp rise in international travel by its members, noting that more professionals are travelling while working, compared to pre-Covid-19 conditions.

This is why it has extended its travel benefit to span 150 days rather than the previous 90 days, it says.

Craig Comrie, chief executive of Profmed Medical Scheme, says health insurance, when travelling, usually comes at a significant cost when staying for longer than 90 days, as the possibility of unexpected health-related events increases the longer the stay.

“People are often more concerned with minor issues, which could be paid for out of pocket.

“The real benefit of South Africa in general is that even though our healthcare here feels unaffordable, we note the recent medical events that have been incurred, where even basic radiology in Italy costs the scheme almost R200 000 for a scan, which in South Africa is around R8 000.

“This highlights the need for proper health travel cover,” he says.

Comrie says one of the most significant benefits of health travel insurance is that of medical emergencies, as accidents and illnesses can happen at any time, and being in a foreign country could make accessing medical care challenging.

“With the right health travel insurance, individuals can receive medical assistance without worrying about the high costs of medical treatment.

“In the event of an emergency, it is critical to notify Profmed as early as possible, as this allows an expert team familiar with international treatment protocols to intervene early in assisting members to get appropriate treatment at the right cost,” Comrie says.

He says Profmed’s travel benefit covers scholastic travellers, senior travellers, families, and individual travellers, while it includes medical evacuation, expenses, preparation, mitigation, and unlimited 24/7 assistance.

From January 2022 to January 2023, Profmed recorded 181 cases of overseas claims, with 16% classified as extremely serious.

Comrie says travelling could be a rewarding experience, but true peace of mind abroad comes with the right travel insurance at your back.

“It is essential to carefully consider the coverage options and choose a plan that best suits individual needs and the availability of quality care available in the country you are visiting before embarking on a grand adventure,” he says.
– IOL

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