Understanding life insurance coverage for South Africans living abroad

Why overseas claims can take longer

If a claim is submitted from another country, your insurer may need to confirm details with overseas hospitals, authorities, and document issuers. This can make the process more complex, and sometimes, slower than a claim handled in South Africa. Even though South African insurers are used to paying claims, an international claim often involves extra checks like confirming the cause of death, requesting medical records from an overseas facility, verifying documents, and working across different legal systems and time zones. Knowing this upfront helps you and your loved ones set realistic expectations if you ever need to claim from abroad.

How payouts work if you’re overseas

Most South African life policies pay out in rands, even if the claim happens in another country.

If your beneficiaries live overseas (or your family expenses are in a foreign currency), exchange rates can affect how far the payout goes. It’s worth planning for this with your adviser – especially if you’ve moved abroad permanently or you support dependants in another country.

What can stop a claim from being paid?

Exclusions and policy rules still apply when you travel. Common reasons claims are delayed, disputed, or rejected include:

• Non-disclosure: Not sharing important medical, financial, or lifestyle information when you applied. Full disclosure helps protect your claim.
• High-risk activities: Some policies exclude certain hazardous sports or activities unless you disclose them and they are accepted.
• High-risk destinations: Travel to war zones or areas with severe civil unrest may be excluded, depending on your policy.

A quick checklist before you travel

• Confirm your policy has worldwide cover (and whether any destinations are restricted).
• Check if you must notify the insurer for trips, long stays, or business travel.
• Make sure your beneficiary details are up to date, and your loved ones know how to claim.
• If you’re living abroad, speak to your adviser about currency risk and whether additional cover is needed.

A few minutes of checking your cover now can save your family stress and delays later, whether you’re away for two weeks or two years

* Van der Westhuizen is the chief financial officer at BrightRock.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Whether you’re going on holiday, travelling for work, or planning a longer move, it’s worth checking how your South African life insurance works outside the country. With Statistics South Africa recording over 36.5 million border movements in 2025, more of us are crossing borders than ever. Below is a simple guide to what’s usually covered, what you need to do before you leave, and what can complicate a claim if something happens while you’re away.

Will your South African life insurance policy cover you while you’re overseas?

In many cases, yes. Most South African life insurance policies offer worldwide cover. That means a valid claim can still be paid if you suffer a qualifying illness or injury, or if you pass away while you’re travelling or living abroad.

But the detail matters. Some insurers ask you to notify them when you travel, especially if you’ll be away for an extended period or you’re visiting certain destinations. Policies may also exclude claims linked to travel in high-risk areas (for example, active conflict zones) or places with limited infrastructure. Before you go, check your policy wording and speak to your financial adviser so you know exactly what is and isn’t covered.