Letting Us Know

Recently, we've been in the position to assist a client who was about to embark on a fun, yet high risk holiday venture. We recommend that prior to embarking on any high risk venture you notify your life assurance and medical aid.

If the high risk venture is part of a holiday and a once-off , your life cover will not necessarily be affected. It is prudent however to provide us with a letter detailing the trip which we will submit to the underwriter for clearance. There are not many high risk holiday activities that would not be covered, but rather get it cleared. High risk also includes destinations.

For example:

Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. Follow this link to see latest list of countries that meet this criteria.

Certain medical aids offer International Medical Emergency Travel Cover. For example Discovery Health:

This benefit offers medical emergency cover outside the borders of South Africa. The International Travel Benefit covers you for medical emergency treatment outside the borders of South Africa for 90 days from your date of departure from South Africa. The following summarises this type of cover:

• Medical emergency cover is limited to R10 million per person per journey for members on the Executive Plan and R5 million per person per journey for members on Classic, Essential and Coastal Plans
• The cover ceases on your return home or after 90 days from your date of departure from South Africa, whichever occurs first
• If you are traveling for longer than 90 days you are advised to arrange additional travel insurance for medial cover through your travel agent before leaving South Africa
• You are covered for the usual, reasonable costs of medical emergency treatment while overseas. The treatment must be from a qualified healthcare professional
• We cover out-of-hospital, medical emergency claims in excess of €100 or US$150 for each person, on each journey

Further to this, it is also of benefit to provide us with all new information that may have a bearing on your risk(life) cover, for instance changes in your smoking status; an increase in the amount of alcohol (other substances) you consume; occupational changes and any other life-style change you have implemented that impacts on your risk.

Let us know of any other changes too, including addresses, telephone numbers, additional children and career moves. This information assists us to keep our records as up to date as possible and to proactively identify changes for your financial plan. When your circumstances change send an email to carole@silke.co.za or info@silke.co.za with the details.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Shane Thom