It stated that medical facilities in Cape Verde are particularly basic and limited and that some medicines are in short supply or unavailable. The travel body urges those visiting to make sure they have adequate travel insurance for local treatment or medical evacuation, particularly if the traveller has an existing health condition or is pregnant.
With many people currently booking their holidays for this year and next, there are several things you can do to help safeguard your family when travelling to a country known to have limited medical facilities.
Whether you have booked a holiday in advance that is known to have limited medical facilities or there is an announcement from the FCDO a few days before you travel, there are some things that can be done before you travel to provide peace of mind if you were to require medical assistance.
Check the FCDO website
Before travelling to another country, check the FCDO website to see what the current guidance is on the country you plan to visit. Here, you will find the most up-to-date details on any warnings for the country and advice on what you can do to maintain your safety. If it states that there are limited medical facilities in the region you are travelling to, then familiarise yourself with where the nearest hospital is in relation to your accommodation, as well as any other facilities you may need to access for medical reasons.
Purchase travel insurance as soon as you book a holiday
It makes sense to book travel insurance at the same time as booking your holiday, so you are covered straight away. This means that if there happens to be updated advice from the FCDO before you travel, then depending on its advice and the policy terms, your travel insurance provider may still cover you. There may also be an option to cancel and get full compensation if you choose not to travel to your original destination. It also helps to purchase a customisable policy, where you can easily update the policy when you choose.
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Medical care varies between countries
The availability and cost of medical care differ greatly between countries around the world, and this affects the cost of travel insurance. The more available and affordable medical care is, the lower the insurance cost. For those regions where medical treatment is expensive or hard to get, this is often reflected in the cost of the policy. For example, countries such as the US, Switzerland and Japan have high medical costs, especially for hospitalisation and emergency care. More affordable destinations such as Thailand and India offer lower-cost medical treatment, so this is often reflected in the price of the policy for the end user. Bilateral agreements between countries can also impact medical costs. Some countries have a universal healthcare system that may cover foreigners in an emergency; for example, in the UK and Canada.
You may find the cost of travel insurance is slightly more if you are travelling to a country with limited healthcare facilities.
Some travel insurance policies may have exclusions for travel against FCDO advice, although this is normally when the advice is ‘Avoid all but essential travel’ or ‘Do not travel’. Policies will likely have some exclusions, which could mean we limit coverage for high-risk activities. In the case of the advice issued regarding Cape Verde, travellers to the region may find they have to pay increased insurance premiums as it becomes a higher-risk destination.
Whether you are going to a country with limited medical facilities or not, it makes sense to pre-empt any medical emergencies and make sure that you have the correct travel insurance in place and that you can travel with any medications you might need. Ensure you do this before the trip as getting medical treatment abroad often costs significantly more than the price of travel insurance. Purchasing a travel insurance policy that has easy access and customisation options so that you can add additional instant cover when you need to will also help give peace of mind.
Importance of declaring existing medical conditions
One of the biggest reasons for travel insurance claims being declined is a failure by policyholders to declare existing medical conditions, whether this is done intentionally or not. When purchasing a policy, it is vital that any conditions are declared.
For example, if someone just has the occasional outbreak of a condition like asthma or eczema, if it is not disclosed as a pre-existing medical condition when taking out a travel insurance policy, the provider may refuse to pay all of the medical expenses – even if the claim is for an unrelated injury or illness.
Travellers need to take precautions and be vigilant of what they are and are not covered for, particularly when it comes to medical conditions.
Always take time to research the country you are travelling to, to ensure you are aware of the medical facilities available. Choose a travel insurance policy that is right for you and your family’s needs.
Travel is all about being able to relax and enjoy a new country with fun activities and new experiences, so the last thing that anyone wants is to be worrying about what to do if there happens to be a medical emergency. Don’t let travelling to a country with a different medical system put you off, but go there armed with the knowledge and information you need so that if the worst happens, you can seek help in the quickest way possible. Knowing you have sufficient travel insurance is a key part of this.
Ernesto Suarez is CEO of Gigasure
