A multimillion Rand claim - How travel insurance saved the day

A 53-year-old TIC client, Thabane*, fell ill in the United States when he travelled there on business. He contacted TIC's assistance company with the concern that he had been experiencing flashes of cold, fever and low blood pressure. Mr Thabane had initially attempted to self-manage his symptoms with rehydration and over-the-counter medication, but these treatments did not provide any relief.

TIC's assistance company advised Mr Thabane to attend an urgent care centre, and he was admitted to St Patrick's Hospital in Louisiana. The chest X-ray which was taken revealed extensive pneumonia and Mr Thabane was put on ventilatory support in the intensive care unit where he was intubated and sedated on triple antibiotic therapy. His wife flew out to the US to be at her husband's bedside. He suffered systemic sepsis and respiratory failure, and he remained in hospital for nearly two months, staying in a long-term acute care unit after he was stabilised. When he was discharged from the rehabilitation unit he attended outpatient rehabilitation and physiotherapy appointments before being declared fit to fly back to South Africa with a nurse escort a couple of weeks later. Upon arrival in South Africa, he was received by a specialist physician. The total cost of this claim came to R7,3 million.