Travel Insurance to a country where FCDO advises against all but essential travel

Troughton

Hello all,
I am really struggling to find travel Insurance for a trip to South Africa for my family. The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel (due to COVID) and whilst quite a few insurers now offer cover to EU countries, I can't seem to find any for South Africa. Any advice?

RHemmings

I have travelled to countries and places where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Most recently I went travelling in Kurdish (Northern) Iraq. 

IMHO, do your (proper) research on your destination, pay through the nose for specialist insurance, and go and enjoy yourself. 

Troughton

It would probably be more helpful if you told me which insurance company you use for such trips and whether you recommend them (I've travelled over 50 countries, spent 20 years in South Africa and know it well, but neither of these points answer my question). There are very few companies which cover you if you travel against FCDO advice, I need to know who they are.

Zellah

This is the travel insurance company my agency (Fircroft) used when I used for work for Shell in Southern Iraq, around 2014 (at the height of ISIS). But as RHemmings says, expect to pay a hefty premium.

RHemmings

Troughton said:

It would probably be more helpful if you told me which insurance company you use for such trips and whether you recommend them (I've travelled over 50 countries, spent 20 years in South Africa and know it well, but neither of these points answer my question). There are very few companies which cover you if you travel against FCDO advice, I need to know who they are.

Most recently I have used High Risk Voyager. http://highriskvoyager.com/?UserID=5969&UserCode=180888&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Jf-BRB-EiwAWDtEGjuctvJqyjChpdxPZ66utIO7MHV1XX-VNdybPB50tHvqhAKCN064SRoCXR4QAvD_BwE

I have never had to claim. So, I have nothing to base a recommendation on. I buy the insurance, receive the documents, and so far that has been the end of it. 

It's been my experience that some companies providing such products start and stop providing them. E.g. another company I've used in the past no longer offers high risk products. But, I notice that High Risk Voyager still does. 

Troughton

Very helpful - thank you