A Sudden Cerebral Bleed Abroad - and a Multi-Million Rand Travel Insurance Lifeline

The unsettling thought that you may become gravely ill or even die in a foreign country is the last thing on most travellers' minds when they travel abroad. However, as the following case demonstrates, illness can strike at any time, and it is extremely important to have adequate travel insurance while travelling overseas in case the worst happens. Mrs Sanele* travelled to Guangzhou in China to attend a business conference. After collapsing unexpectedly at the conference, she was rushed to hospital and admitted to ICU with a cerebral bleed. TIC was contacted and managed the case of their critically ill client, who was diagnosed with an aneurism. Mrs Sanele was hospitalised for four and a half months in China, and during this time TIC stayed in constant touch with her family and kept them updated about her medical condition. TIC also arranged a Compassionate Emergency Visit for Mrs Sanele's aunt, who flew to China to spend three months at her niece's bedside. All her travel and accommodation expenses were covered. Eventually, Mrs Sanele was transported in an air ambulance to a care facility in South Africa where she unfortunately passed away from multiple organ failure a month and a half later. TIC's assistant services oversaw all the costs associated with Mrs Sanele's case, first in China and later in South Africa. Noel Joseph, TIC's Claim Manager, states: "If Mrs Sanele hadn't been covered, the enormous cost would have been the responsibility of her family. The primary purpose of travel insurance is to have medical insurance for any unforeseen medical ailments that require medical attention. The cost implications with the Rand/Dollar exchange are astronomical and this case illustrates the absolute necessity of having adequate cover."