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Emergency medical and related expenses
Emergency medical expenses
Cover for emergency medical expenses if you sustain unforeseen bodily injury or suffers from an illness during a trip.
Leisure sports and winter sports
Covers you when participating on a recreational basis during your trip in any leisure sports and winter sports listed in the policy wording, subject to the reasons listed.
In-hospital private ward extension
This benefit is limited to insured persons who have purchased the Premium Plan and are under the age of 70 years. Cover for admission to a private hospital ward for up to fourteen (14) consecutive days if we arranged it.
Emergency medical evacuation
Cover for transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility in the event an insured person suffers sudden and unforeseen bodily injury or illness during a trip.
Emergency medical repatriation
Cover for transportation back to your country of residence if deemed necessary by us in the event an insured person suffers any sudden and unforeseen bodily injury or illness during a trip.
Emergency medical transportation
Cover for transportation (ambulance charges) to the nearest hospital when an insured person requires treatment in the accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER) or casualty department.
Emergency dental treatment
Cover for emergency dental treatment to restore dental function or ease pain due to unforeseen bodily injury or illness sustained during a trip.
Repatriation of mortal remains and coffin expenses
Covers the cost of transporting your body or ashes to your country of residence or burial or cremation costs abroad.
Repatriation of family member or travel companion
In the event a person insured is hospitalised as an inpatient due to bodily injury or illness and a medical practitioner confirms they will not be able to continue with a trip or has already been repatriated back to South Africa, we will cover the necessary and reasonable accommodation and travel expenses for the family members or travel companion travelling on the same travel itinerary as the person insured to return home.
Compassionate emergency visit by any one person
If an insured is travelling and is hospitalised as an inpatient for more than 5 days, we will pay the public conveyance (economy) and accommodation cost (3 star) for one person to visit the insured in the country they are being hospitalised in.
Emergency Medical Quarantine
Covers the irrecoverable amount for additional accommodation expenses if during a trip, a government official in the destination country orders you to be quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. This benefit is only available to policyholders who have underlying cover through the International Travel Benefit and have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Assistance services
Access to MSOI assistance services for emergency medical assistance and personal assistance.
Pre-existing medical conditions
Pre-existing medical condition extension (in-hospital benefit)
This benefit is limited to insured persons who have purchased the Premium Plan and are under the age of 70 years. Covers the reasonable and necessary expenses for emergency medical treatment due to a sudden and unexpected acute onset of a pre-existing medical condition that existed before your trip.
Personal accident
Death
Cover if you suffer bodily injury that results in accidental death while travelling abroad.
Death public conveyance (aircraft only)
Cover if the insured suffers bodily injury that results in accidental death while boarding, traveling in, or alighting scheduled public conveyance.
Death terrorism extension
Cover if the insured suffers bodily injury that results in accidental death as a direct result of a terrorist attack.
Permanent disabling injury
Cover if you suffer bodily injury that results in permanent disabling injuries while travelling abroad.
Cancellation, curtailment and postponement
Cancellation, trip curtailment and postponement (listed reasons - refer to the policy wording, including COVID-19)
Reimbursement for the irrecoverable charges if an insured person's trip needs to be cancelled, curtailed, or postponed for listed reasons in the policy.
Cancellation as a result of COVID-19 is available to fully vaccinated individuals only.
Cancellation for unspecified reasons
Reimbursement for irrecoverable costs if an insured trip needs to be cancelled for reasons not listed in the policy.
Travel delay
Reimbursement for the reasonable costs of meals, drinks, and additional accommodation if your public conveyance is delayed for more than four hours.
Missed connection
Reimbursement for the irrecoverable costs per insured person for essential travel and accommodation expenses (including the extra cost of economy class transportation) incurred by missing an onward travel connection at the transfer point during a trip due to your incoming flight being delayed.
Visa denial
Cover for the irrecoverable costs if an insured trip needs to be cancelled, curtailed, or postponed due to an insured person's visa application being denied provided the requirements in the policy wording are met.
Baggage and inconvenience cover
Theft and damage of baggage and personal possessions
Covers the cost of repair or replacement (whichever is lesser) if your baggage or personal possessions are damaged or stolen (and not recovered).
Theft, damage and accidental loss of baggage by the travel supplier
Covers the cost of repair or replacement (whichever is lesser) of your baggage or personal possessions in the event of theft, damage, or loss while in the custody of the public conveyance provider.
Theft of passport, money, and travel documents
Covers the replacement cost if your money, passport, or other essential travel documents are damaged or stolen and not recovered (provided the item was kept on your person or in a locked safety-deposit box).
Baggage delay
Reimbursement for the purchase of reasonable essential expenses incurred if your baggage is mishandled (as certified by the travel supplier) on your arrival outside of South Africa for a period of more than four hours.
Baggage tracker (up to 96 hours)
We have partnered with Blue Ribbon Bags who provide a unique service that tracks and expedites the recovery of your mishandled baggage for the first 96 hours of it being undelivered. If your baggage is not returned within 96 hours, you will receive a satisfaction guarantee payment.
Personal liability
Bodily injury and material damage
Covers the cost if you are liable to pay compensation to a third party for accidental bodily injury or death of any person, accidental loss or damage to their property or a combination of these.
Hijack or kidnap and wrongful detention
Hijack, kidnap or wrongful detention daily benefit
Compensation paid to you for each complete day that a person insured is forcibly or illegally detained, in the event of hijacking of the public conveyance that you are travelling on, or kidnapping, or wrongful detainment during a trip.
Kidnap or wrongful detention expenses
Compensation paid to you for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses and post traumatic stress disorder counselling deemed necessary by a medical practitioner in the event a person insured is kidnapped or wrongfully detained during a trip.
Car hire excess
Car rental excess waiver
Reimbursement for the deductible or excess you have to pay the vehicle rental company as a result of accidental damage to or theft of a rented motor vehicle.
Political or natural disasters
Political or natural disaster
Covers the cost of evacuation expenses or accommodation expenses in the event of a political or natural disaster while travelling abroad.
Excess buy back (optional add on)
Excess buy back
Reimbursement of excesses that are applicable in the event of a claim under this policy.
Global data benefit
The Premium and Classic Plans entitles each insured adult in the Plan Schedule to instant, international data connectivity in partnership with Flexiroam Africa. Flexiroam X is a technology that works with your existing SIM card and mobile phone, to provide you with seamless data connectivity during your trip.
Insured adults on the policy will receive a free Flexiroam microchip or an eSIM (embedded SIM). The choice will depend on the user's phone model. The advanced technology, that uses a microchip within the insured person's device, will give the insured adult convenient and instant access to Flexiroam data when travelling internationally. Both options are easy to install. The Flexiroam microchip requires a once off application to the insured adult's existing SIM card. The Flexiroam eSIM requires the emailed QR code to be scanned. The insured adult may check whether their phone model is eSIM compatible during the registration process on the Flexiroam Africa website.
You also receive 500 MB of free global data valid for 10 days that can be used in over 150 countries globally. Supported coverage areas may be found on the Flexiroam X mobile app under "Coverage".
For a discount of up to 50% on top-up data that you purchase through the Flexiroam X app for specific use at your country of destination (local data). Your discount on local data is determined by the policyholder's Vitality status as tabled below and is limited to a single data purchase of no more than 3 GB, 8 day validity or USD 50 in value.
General conditions
- Automatic Discovery Travel Insurance: The complimentary travel insurance cover you receive when you purchased an international ticket using your Platinum or Gold Visa card issued by Discovery Bank.
- Crisis24: The assistance provider appointed by us to render assistance in terms of political or natural disasters via the Worldcue 24 hotline
- International Travel Benefit: Also referred to as the ITB, available to all Discovery Health Medical Scheme members under the Executive, Comprehensive, Priority, Saver, Smart and Core plans.
- MSOI: Medical Services Organisation International, the assistance provider appointed by us to render assistance.
- Person insured or you or your: Any person under this policy who is named on the Plan Schedule and for whom the appropriate premium has been paid.
- Policy or policies: The Discovery Travel Insurance policy wording, the Plan Schedule, the Schedule of benefits and any subsequent endorsements to the aforesaid documents
- We, our or us: Discovery Insure Ltd, a licensed non-life insurer and an authorised financial services provider, or our appointed service providers (MSOI and Crisis24) operating on our behalf.
Important information
- Emergency medical expenses: This policy is not a medical aid. The policy does not provide cover for procedures that can be carried out in your country of residence.
- Inconvenience cover: You can only claim for items in which you have an insurable interest.
Who qualifies for cover?
To be covered under this policy, you must:
- Be a named insured person in the Plan Schedule
- Qualify for automatic Discovery Travel Insurance cover on your Discovery Bank card or the ITB through Discovery Health Medical Scheme (Classic and Premium Plans)
- Be six months of age up to and including 85 years at the date of departure* (Essential Plan)
- Be six months of age up to and including 100 years at the date of departure*
*Your Policy Schedule reflects the cover applicable to your age
Trip limits
Cover is limited to a maximum of 180 consecutive days from the scheduled trip departure date
Territorial limits
Cover is provided worldwide, excluding:
- Cover within South Africa (unless indicated otherwise)
- Travel to sanctioned countries
General exclusions
- Travelling to obtain medical, dental, or cosmetic treatment, or advice.
- An insured's intention to immigrate.
- Any insured event occurring in South Africa.
- Committing or attempting to commit:
- Any illegal act
- Suicide or intentionally inflicting self-injury
- Needlessly exposing yourself to danger, except to save human life.
- Complications of pregnancy or childbirth, except for unexpected medical complications or emergency occurring during the first 24 weeks of the pregnancy.
- A medical condition for which an insured chose not to take medication or other recommended treatment as prescribed or directed by a medical practitioner.
- Claims arising from any pre-existing medical condition unless you are under the age of 70 and have purchased the Premium Plan.
- Cancer of any kind (whether a pre-existing medical condition or not).
- All persons to whom a terminal prognosis has been given (whether a pre-existing medical condition or not).
- An insured person travelling to an area in respect of which the World Health Organization or the government has issued a travel warning or relating to which a travel ban has been issued by either the South African government or the government of the destination country. If you are unsure, please check the World Health Organization's website (https://www.who.int/).
- Any expenses incurred because of disinclination of a person insured to travel or, if on a trip, disinclination to continue.
General claims conditions
- When paying a claim, we consider several aspects in calculating the amount:
- The amount of financial loss
- The excess
- The maximum benefit limits and sublimits
- The terms and conditions of the policy
- Any other insurance you may be privy to.
- How much we pay is always based on the value of the item up to the single item limit and maximum sum insured, and not the sentimental or other value you may hold.
- You cannot claim more than the sum insured, even if your financial loss was greater.
- In approving your claim, we may decide to repair, replace, or reimburse you.
- You must submit your claim immediately or as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 122 days after your date of return.
- You must send us all supporting documents that would assist to substantiate your claim.
- You must, at your expense, provide us with all documents, certificates, signed medical certificates, receipts, information and evidence as we may require in the form we prescribed.
- We will have the right to access your current or prior medical records to finalise or proceed with the assessment of a claim or render medical assistance.
- Claims involving foreign currency will be converted into South Africa rand, at the selling rate of exchange published by our bankers on the day nearest to the date of payment.
Please refer to the policy wording which contains the full details of the benefits, the conditions and exclusions that apply, how to get help in the event of an emergency and how to make a claim. This product is offered to you on a non-advice basis, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring the policy is suitable for your needs. Discovery Travel Insurance is underwritten by Discovery Insure Ltd, a licensed non-life insurer and an authorised financial services provider.
Discovery Insure Ltd is a licensed non-life insurer in terms of the Short-term Insurance Act 53 of 1998 and a licensed financial services provider in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002.