International Health Insurance for South Africa

-	outside EU countries national health insurance companies are not refunding any treatment costs and moving of a sick person back to the origin country
	in other EU countries national health insurance companies are paying treatment costs, but only up to the maximum of the German treatment charges
-	taking out an private health insurance for abroad is mandatory when traveling outside the EU
-	if you are taking part in a private health insurance program an additional insurance is usually not necessary but it is advisable to check with your individual health insurance company whether there might be any rating penalty when staying abroad for a longer time
-	the private health insurance needs to cover at least 500.000US$

Health insurance abroad:

-	the take out can be done as short time contract for single voyages or as an one-year-policy
-	generally when staying at least seven (7) days buying a one-year-policy is already cheaper
-	most insurance companies do not differ a lot in their offers

Which benefits are included:

-	you will get funded back for 100% of all doctor and hospital costs and you are free to choose both doctor and hospital
-	when a medical transport back to your origin country is reasonably explained 100% of those costs will be funded back also

Which benefits are not included:

-	treatments which were already necessary before taking part in a journey will not be paid for
-	mental illnesses
-	helping devices like glasses, walking frame etc.
-	dental treatment, which exceed simple fillings, repairs or pain easing treatments

Peculiarity and health care on a trip to South Africa:

-	a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas - African countries formerly classified as endemic zones are considered by the South African authorities to be infected areas
-	the yellow fever vaccination certificate only becomes valid ten days after immunisation
-	vaccination against typhoid is advised
-	malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists throughout the year in the low altitude areas of the Northern Province, Eastern Transvaal (including the Kruger National Park) and northeastern KwaZulu/Natal as far south as the Tugela River - the risk is highest from October to May
-	resistance to chloroquine has been reported
-	it is strongly recommended that visitors to these areas take anti-malaria tablets before entering these zones (tablets are available from pharmacies without prescription)
-	medical facilities are excellent
-	bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic in the north and east and may be present elsewhere
-	hepatitis A occurs and hepatitis B is hyperendemic
-	dengue fever and filariasis are present
-	rabies may be present - for those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered
-	if you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay

Further information:

Embassy of the Republic of South Africa – South Africa High Commission
15 Sussex Drive,
Ottawa,
Ontario, K1M 1M8
Telephone: +1 (613) 744-0330
Email: rsafrica@sympatico.ca
URL: http://www.southafrica-canada.com/

Or at qualified information centers:

- drugstores providing travel health consulting
- Inoculation places and doctors with special consultation hours regarding the topic travel medicine

Ads

Language School San Diego