Travel Insurance

Travel insurance matched to your trip, your health and your destination.

Wrong cover can leave you significantly exposed when something goes wrong overseas. As an independent broker, we place policies with TIC (Santam) and Bryte and match you to the right plan based on your trip, your health and your destination, so you travel knowing the details have been checked.

FSP No. 5671Independent since 1980TIC and Bryte compared

R5 000 000

Emergency medical limit on Comprehensive+. Overseas hospitalisation can cost tens of thousands per day.

Schengen-ready

Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans meet the Schengen visa medical requirement automatically.

Travellers with confidence from proper travel insurance

1980Independent broker
since

Why getting travel cover right matters more than most people realise.

Travel insurance is easy to buy quickly online, but quickly bought is rarely well-suited. Pre-existing conditions, destination restrictions, activity exclusions and policy sub-limits can all leave you significantly under-covered when a claim happens.

As an independent broker, we place policies with TIC (Santam) and Bryte. We know the differences between their policy wordings, which plan suits older travellers, which meets Schengen requirements and where the exclusions sit.

R800 000

Real TIC claim: medical emergency, Europe

R120 000

Real TIC claim: trip cancellation and stranding

What your travel policy covers

Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans all include these core benefits. Limits vary by plan and are confirmed on your policy schedule.

Emergency medical and hospitalisation

Inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, ICU and specialist consultations overseas. The most financially significant benefit on any travel policy.

Trip cancellation and curtailment

Reimburses pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to a covered event such as illness, bereavement or natural disaster.

Emergency medical evacuation

Covers emergency repatriation to South Africa, or transfer to the nearest facility capable of treating your condition.

Lost, stolen or delayed baggage

Compensation for permanent loss of checked-in baggage, and an emergency allowance for clothing and essentials when baggage is delayed beyond the policy threshold.

Personal liability

Covers your legal liability for accidental bodily injury or property damage caused to a third party during your trip.

Accidental death and disability

A lump-sum benefit payable to you or your estate in the event of accidental death or permanent total disablement during your trip.

Schengen visa requirement

Schengen countries require a minimum of 30,000 euro (approximately R600,000) in emergency medical cover. TIC Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans meet this requirement. Standard plans do not. Confirm your plan tier with us before we issue your policy if you are applying for a Schengen visa.

Selecting cover to fit your trip

The right plan depends on your destination, your age, any pre-existing conditions and how much cover you need. Here’s a simple comparison of TIC (Santam) options as an overview.

Standard

Core cover for straightforward leisure trips. Does not meet the Schengen medical minimum.

Emergency medical up to R2,000,000
Medical evacuation and repatriation
Trip cancellation (covered events)
Baggage loss and delay
Personal accident cover
Personal liability cover

Pre-existing conditions not covered. Does not qualify for Schengen applications.

Comprehensive

Full cover for leisure and business travel, including Schengen destinations.

Emergency medical up to R3,000,000
Meets Schengen visa requirement
Trip cancellation and curtailment
Baggage loss, delay and hijack
Travel delay and missed connection
Personal accident and liability
Pre-existing conditions: under 69, subject to terms

Comprehensive+

Maximum protection for longer, higher-value or more complex trips.

Emergency medical up to R5,000,000
Highest Schengen medical margin
Enhanced cancellation limits
Higher baggage and personal effects limits
Travel delay and missed connection
Pre-existing conditions: under 69, subject to terms
USA cover available on schedule

USA travel requires explicit USA cover on the policy schedule. Confirm before departure.

Bryte policies are also available and may suit specific trip profiles or older travellers. Ask us to compare both before you decide.

Cover for how you actually travel

Different trips have different risk profiles. Here is how we approach each one.

Business travel

Annual multi-trip policies are usually more cost-effective than single-trip cover if you travel three or more times a year. We confirm that business equipment and any professional liability requirements are addressed in the policy wording.

Leisure and holiday travel

The cover needs to match the destination, activities and duration. European trips may require Schengen-compliant cover. We confirm the right plan tier before you fly.

Student and gap year

Longer-duration travel often spans multiple countries. Standard policies may have maximum duration limits. Student cover needs to address the full trip length, any adventure activities and adequate medical limits for the destinations visited.

Annual multi-trip

If you travel more than two or three times a year, an annual multi-trip policy is worth comparing against individual single-trip policies. Maximum trip duration limits apply per journey, typically 30 to 90 days depending on the plan.

What is not covered

Common exclusions to know before you travel

Most exclusions are consistent across TIC and Bryte. Knowing them before you depart avoids surprises at claim stage.

Travel with confidence knowing your policy has been checked

Pre-existing conditions on Standard
Standard plans exclude pre-existing conditions entirely. Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ cover pre-existing conditions for travellers under 69, subject to the full terms of the policy wording.
USA travel without explicit endorsement
Travel to the USA requires specific USA cover to be noted on your policy schedule. Confirm this with us before the policy is issued.
High-risk activities
Adventure sports and activities classified as high-risk are generally excluded unless specifically endorsed. Confirm before you travel if you are planning skiing, diving, hiking at altitude or similar activities.
Travel against medical advice
Claims arising from travel your doctor advised against will not be covered. This includes travelling when already unwell or when advised not to fly.
Sanctioned or high-risk destinations
Travel to countries or regions subject to official travel advisories or government sanctions may invalidate your cover. Check the DIRCO travel advisory before you depart.
Alcohol and substance-related incidents
Claims arising directly from the influence of alcohol or controlled substances are excluded across all policies.
Undeclared high-value items
Jewellery, camera equipment and laptops may require specific declaration and endorsement. Standard baggage limits apply otherwise.

Why people use Graham Silva for travel cover

Travel insurance is not a commodity. Here is what you get from using a broker rather than buying direct.

We know the policy wording

We place policies with TIC (Santam) and Bryte every week. We know where the sub-limits are, which conditions each plan applies to, and where the exclusion language differs between them.

Matched to your situation

Age, pre-existing conditions, destination, activities and trip duration all affect which plan is right for you. We ask the right questions before recommending a policy.

A contact when you need one

If something goes wrong overseas, you have a broker to call. We assist with the claim process, coordinate with the underwriter and help manage the paperwork from South Africa.

Independent since 1980

We are not tied to one underwriter. We place the policy that suits the client, not the one that pays the highest commission. FSP No. 5671.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about travel insurance from our clients.

As soon as your trip is booked and deposits are paid. If you cancel before departure, you may be able to claim for non-refundable deposits. Waiting until just before you fly means any cancellation event that occurs between booking and taking out the policy is not covered.
Yes. Medical costs in neighbouring countries, emergency evacuation to South Africa and trip disruption are all real risks even on shorter regional trips. Some SADC destinations have limited local medical facilities, making evacuation cover particularly relevant.
TIC Standard, Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans are available for travellers under 70. Travellers aged 70 and above can be placed on a Bryte policy, which has a different age threshold. Speak to us if you or a travelling companion are in this age group.
TIC Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans cover pre-existing conditions for travellers under 69, subject to the full terms and conditions of the policy wording. Standard plans exclude pre-existing conditions entirely. The exact conditions covered and any sub-limits are confirmed when we put your policy in place.
USA travel is available on TIC Comprehensive+ policies but requires explicit USA cover to be noted on your schedule. Medical costs in the USA are exceptionally high, which is why it is a separate endorsement. Confirm this with us before your policy is issued if you are travelling to the USA.
Both TIC and Bryte include a baggage delay benefit, which pays an emergency allowance for clothing and essentials if your checked-in baggage is delayed beyond a specified number of hours (typically 12 hours). This is separate from the permanent loss benefit.
For medical emergencies or evacuation, contact the 24-hour emergency assistance line on your policy schedule immediately. For other claims such as cancellation, baggage or delay, notify the underwriter as soon as possible after the event and keep all documentation: receipts, medical reports, airline confirmation of delay or loss, and any correspondence with service providers.
Both are reputable South African underwriters. TIC (backed by Santam) is typically our first recommendation for standard leisure and business travel, particularly for Schengen destinations. Bryte may be better suited for older travellers or specific trip profiles. We compare both for each client before recommending.

Get started

Get a travel insurance quote.

Tell us about your trip and we will confirm which policy and plan tier suits your situation.

Call us: 011 640 7558 · Email: info@grahamsilva.co.za

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