Requirements & Recommendations
It is a condition of your contract with Piper & Heath that you obtain emergency medical and evacuation insurance. Furthermore, we strongly recommend that all travelers purchase a travel insurance policy with coverage for trip cancellation and interruption.
For the emergency medical and evacuation component, we require minimums of $50,000 and $500,000, respectively. This coverage is distinct from your normal health insurance, as it provides payment and/or reimbursement for medical treatment and emergency evacuation while you are traveling internationally.
If you book a policy that includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption (which is our strong recommendation!), the policy would automatically include the emergency medical and evacuation component as well.
Arch RoamRight
We recommend insuring your trip through Arch RoamRight. For more information and to get a quote, you can click here or call Arch RoamRight at 844-359-0411. We are happy to obtain an insurance quote on your behalf, so please reach out to us if we can be of assistance.
Cost of Insurance
For most insurers, the cost of insurance is a function of the age of the traveler and the trip cost being covered. Distinct from this, Piper & Heath’s custom policy with Arch RoamRight has a cost fixed at 8.7% of the trip cost being covered. If you are considering an insurance policy that is significantly lower in cost, you should carefully review the coverage specifications to ensure there are no significant omissions.
Other Notes
Most insurers, including Arch RoamRight, advise that you purchase coverage within 14 days of making the initial deposit payment on your trip, so that you are covered for pre-existing conditions. If insurance is purchased outside of this initial window, claims stemming from a pre-existing condition could be denied coverage.
For any travel insurance policy, it is important that you understand the coverage specifications, terms, and conditions. Every insurance policy lists specific things that are covered and specific things that are excluded from coverage. This is perhaps most important when it comes to what cancellation reasons give rise to a valid claim.
In addition to Piper & Heath’s insurance requirement, note that most safari camps require guests to have similar travel insurance coverage.
Coverage through Your Credit Card
Many travelers believe they have travel insurance coverage through their credit card. If that is the case for you, we recommend that you carefully review the specifications of that coverage. Remember that for the emergency medical and evacuation component, we require minimums of $50,000 and $500,000, respectively. Furthermore, it is normally a requirement that you pay for your trip with the credit card in order to take advantage of the insurance coverage. Ultimately, if you are satisfied with the coverage you have through your credit card, please let us know in writing, and we will update your file accordingly.
Cancel for Any Reason
Some insurers offer a policy known as “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR). The intent of this kind of insurance is to provide reimbursement for cancellation no matter the reason. If you are considering a CFAR policy, it is very important that you understand the terms and conditions. Most CFAR policies have strict requirements as to the timing of purchase (e.g. it must be purchased within 14 days of making the initial trip deposit else you are ineligible for coverage) and have relatively low caps on the allowable trip cost, not to mention that the policies are normally prohibitively expensive. Though many people consider CFAR coverage, it is rare for someone to purchase this type of policy.
