Chamwe Kaira
Most major banks in Namibia include travel insurance when a qualifying credit card is used to buy a return international flight.
Industry experts say this cover is often limited and may not fully protect travellers abroad.
The chief executive officer of Santam Namibia Limited, Franco Feris, says credit card travel insurance can offer a useful and affordable starting point.
He says travellers must understand its limits before leaving the country. Many assume they are fully covered and only discover gaps when they need to claim. He says knowing what is covered and what is not helps avoid unexpected costs while travelling.
Feris says credit card travel insurance usually provides basic emergency medical assistance for short trips. It may meet visa requirements and suits healthy travellers.
Some cards allow travellers to buy optional top-up cover to improve benefits. He says credit card-linked cover often excludes or limits protection for trip disruptions, adventure activities, long travel periods and pre-existing medical conditions.
He says eligibility and activation rules matter.
Travellers usually need to buy the flight with the qualifying credit card, activate the insurance online or by phone, and confirm that their card tier qualifies. If these steps are missed, insurers may reject claims.
Feris says gaps remain even when travellers activate the cover correctly. Medical limits tend to be much lower than those in standalone travel insurance. Claims may fail if incidents involve alcohol, drugs, reckless behaviour or activities like motorcycling without a valid licence.
Many policies apply age limits, with travellers over 70 often excluded. Trip length also faces limits, often between 30 and 90 days.
Adventure activities such as skiing, surfing, scuba diving, bungee jumping and quad biking usually fall outside cover unless travellers buy extra protection.
Credit card insurance also excludes injuries linked to work in high-risk environments like construction or industrial sites. Pre-existing medical conditions often receive no cover or only emergency stabilisation. Feris says travellers should disclose these conditions and seek extra cover when needed.
Trip problems such as delays, missed connections and cancellations due to weather, strikes or airline issues often lack cover unless travellers add a top-up policy.
Some policies limit cover to the main cardholder, depending on the card and booking method. Feris says some options do not offer full 24-hour global emergency assistance, which can reduce support when travellers need help.
Feris says poor cover can lead to serious financial strain. He says even short trips can become costly without top-up cover. Hospital stays in the United States or Europe can exceed N$500 000. Medical evacuation or repatriation can cost millions.
He says credit card travel insurance offers an initial layer of protection but does not replace full cover.
Travellers who understand exclusions, activation steps and limits place themselves in a stronger position to manage risks and travel with confidence.
