Travel Insurance for Egypt

Egypt: Pyramids, bazaars, Nile cruises, Red Sea Riviera

On the north eastern coast of Africa, Egypt boasts long stretches of beautiful beaches and coral reefs on the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

Straddling two continents, the country is bordered to the west by Libya, Sudan to the south and Israel to the northeast, while Egypt's Sinai Peninsula east of the Suez Canal in Asia.

Just five hours' flight time from the UK, you'll rarely see rain in one of the hottest and sunniest climes in the world.

Enjoy some of the best diving in Sharm el-Sheikh, relax in luxurious hotels and shop till you drop in busy bazaars with exotic spices, perfumes, and jewellery.

Popular with sun seekers, culture vultures, divers, snorkellers and famous for its Nile river cruises, Egypt has something for everyone.

Travel Insurance

The UK government strongly recommends travel insurance for Egypt.

There is no reciprocal health care agreement with Egypt, so you can't use your EHIC card for free or reduced cost treatment, even in an emergency.

Your comprehensive travel insurance should cover you for travel risks such as:

• Emergency medical cover & repatriation from abroad
• Trip cancellation, curtailment & interruption
• Baggage - accidental loss of, theft of or damage to items of baggage, articles or valuables
• Personal money for accidental loss, theft or damage
• Personal liability - for compensation, legal costs and expenses of 3rd party claims
• Delayed departure
• Missed departure at home or destination port
• Missed connection, departure or return journey
• Hijack/Kidnap - of your plane or ship
• Legal expenses - legal costs (to a set value) to pursue a civil action
• Extended dog kennel / cattery fees - if delayed abroad for medical reasons

Holiday Health

Diarrhoea, or Pharaoh's Revenge, is the most common health hiccup experienced by tourists. Avoid food from street stalls and don't drink tap water. Stick to bottled water (check seals aren't broken).

The heat can be fierce, so be prepared. Use strong sun block and drink plenty of water to prevent exposure and dehydration.

Malaria poses a very small risk in the El Faiyum governorate (50 miles southwest of Cairo) but otherwise there's no real risk. Use insect protection to avoid bites.

Don't swim in the Nile where there's the chance of picking up the schistosomiasis parasite, a flatworm that burrows under the skin.

Take all the usual precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS ie avoid unprotected sexual contact, tattooing and body piercing.

As always, check with your GP before travelling. Also visit websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for information on vaccination requirements and health advice.

See the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Travel Health page and the UK Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk.

Egyptian Medical Healthcare

Hospitals are either state run or privately owned. Health care facilities in Cairo, Alexandria, and Sharm El Sheikh are adequate, but can be basic elsewhere.

Emergency and intensive care services aren't of the same standard as in the UK. Ambulances can't be relied on to respond quickly and are often badly equipped.

If you're involved in an accident or have a health scare requiring hospitalisation, let your insurer know straight away. For medical emergencies, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office recommends you seek treatment in Cairo.

Hospitals and private doctors expect payment - cash deposit or by credit card - even for emergency treatment so your medical insurance needs to cover the cost of hospitalisation and repatriation back home if necessary.

Whatever treatment you receive (eg blood tests, x-rays, medication, overnight hospital stays), remember to get copies of paperwork.

In some medical centres relatives are expected to carry out nursing tasks. Just one reason why you'll probably prefer a private hospital, especially if you're travelling solo!

Medical facilities are almost non-existent in desert areas and if you fall seriously ill here or have a major accident, you'll need transfer to a major city.

With comprehensive medical insurance, your insurer can organise transport to a hospital with more modern facilities in one of the larger cities (eg Cairo, Alexandria), or arrange repatriation to a hospital back home.

Prescriptions

You can get most common prescriptions and over the counter medicines in the big cities and towns. More specialist prescriptions may be difficult to fill, although some medicines requiring prescriptions abroad are sold over the counter in Egypt.

Chemists are usually open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and there are 24-hour pharmacies in the big cities.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Few state run hospitals outside the big cities offer the level of intensive care you needed for serious conditions (eg heart/lung problems).

Where specialist equipment and treatment isn't available, you may need transfer by air ambulance to a private modern hospital where you will be expected to pay costs.

Basic travel insurance won't cover the cost of an air ambulance if you need a transfer.

Most travel insurers provide cover for existing problems for an additional fee. This means treatment will be covered as well as repatriation home for specialist care or if you should unfortunately die in Egypt.

If you are taking prescription drugs/medication abroad make sure you have an adequate supply. If they contain "controlled" substances then you need to follow HMRC advice on volumes allowed.

Personal Safety and Security

Violent crime isn't a major problem for tourists in Egypt. Recorded crimes of violence are usually the result of family feuds. You're more likely to be the victim of a pickpocket or bag snatcher.

Although the crime rate is low, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office recorded 25 cases of sexual assault and three cases of rape against British nationals in 2010. Some of the assaults involved minors and took place in hotels, so be vigilant.

Tourist visiting Cairo and any of Egypt's famous monuments - Luxor's Tomb of Tutankhamun, the City of the Dead, the Valley of the Kings - should guard against pickpockets and petty thieves.

Don't carry large amounts of cash and leave valuables and jewellery in the hotel safe.

Women travelling alone should take extra care. If you are harassed, seek help from the police or citizens.

Take all the usual commonsense procedures. Don't go for walks in deserted, rundown or poorly lit areas.

Penalties are severe for possessing even a small amount of drugs - up to 25 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or death.

Locals pretending to befriend you and show you the sights are common. Before you know it, they demand cash for their services, sometimes with menaces, so say no thanks.

Avoid public demonstrations and gatherings.

Homosexuality is legal under Egyptian law, but homosexuals have been convicted for breaching laws on public decency. See the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Other Holiday Considerations

Sports and Activities

Activity holidays and cultural and leisure pursuits are among the main reasons for travelling to Egypt.

Policies generally cover you for accidents in lots of sports so long as they're not the main purpose of your visit (e.g. playing football), you wear appropriate safety equipment (eg helmet for quad biking) and it is not racing related.

Climbing on or jumping from any vehicles, building or balcony regardless of the height is automatically excluded. As is any injury down to you drinking too much.

Covered are usually:

• Golf, beach games, banana boating, deep sea fishing, fishing, swimming, snorkelling, water polo, sand boarding, surfing, wind surfing/sailboarding, wake boarding, water skiing/water ski jumping, parascending (over water), whale watching, cycling, hiking & trekking at low altitudes
• Covered (except liability - so watch out for others): jet boating (no racing), jet skiing (no racing), horse riding (excluding competitions, racing, jumping and hunting)

Groups

You can often buy cheaper travel insurance for a group, however the insurer needs to assess the risk of the trip being cancelled so everyone must declare existing medical conditions that may affect travel plans.

Special interest group holidays or tours on offer in Egypt include:

Nile river cruises, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kite surfing, scuba diving, bird watching, trekking, golf, spa, white water rafting and kayaking, surfing, kite surfing, quad bike excursions, jeep safaris, hiking expeditions, camel safaris, heritage tours. You'll need to ensure all your planed activities are covered.

Hurghada on the western coastline of the Egyptian mainland is famous for its coral reefs and good wind-surfing conditions.

Sharm-El-Sheikh offers spectacular scuba diving but check details as the area has experienced shark attacks. Most travel insurance policies cover popular adventure sports such as scuba diving at no extra charge. But check for limitations on cover.

Some insurers restrict the depths unqualified scuba divers can dive to without supervision, e.g. no deeper than 18 metres.

Even PADI qualified scuba divers will find there are limitations, and that you can only dive to the maximum depth that you're qualified to dive to, and there's usually a maximum permitted depth (eg 40m).

There could also be altitude limitations on activities such as horse and camel riding, white water rafting, trekking and hot air ballooning.

Medical costs can be expensive so check your policy before taking part in any particularly adventurous activities, and make sure your travel insurance policy covers all the activities you take part in.

Comprehensive travel insurance should cover you for accidents, medical repatriation, mountain rescue and repatriation helicopter.

It goes without saying you should never take part in any risky activity while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It's unlikely you'll be covered.

Single Trip Annual or Long Stay

Unless you have a visa, you can only stay up to 14 days in the popular tourist resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, but you can get an extension.

If you plan on staying longer, or touring outwith Sinai, 30-day visas are obtainable from airports and ports. For even longer breaks you can get tourist visas for stays up to 90 days by post from the Egyptian Consulate in London, prior to travel.

• Single trip insurance covers an individual trip to Egypt and is probably the cheapest option if you take a break just once a year.
• Annual insurance for two or more trips a year can save you money, time and hassle. Also called a 'Multi-Trip' or 'Year Round' policy, individual holidays/trips are generally unlimited and have a duration of approx. 100 days.
• Long stay insurance covers one trip/holiday up to approx. 18 months. Ideal for European and worldwide travel.
• Backpacker or Gap Year travel insurance may not cover risks related to volunteer work. Check with your insurer before you go. Also check clauses for manual working if you plan to earn some cash while you're there, and remember it's illegal to work in Egypt without a permit

Driving/Touring Breaks

With one of the world's highest rates of road deaths, driving in Egypt is not for the novice. Accidents are common and roads are heavily congested in and around the main cities, especially Cairo.

Pedestrians take their life in their hands crossing the road and drivers blast their horn constantly. It's not just pedestrians you have to watch out for, but donkeys and oxen.

Driving on the out of town highways isn't quite as stressful, but driving anywhere at night is not advised. Watch out for donkey carts and overloaded trucks driving at high speed.

Driving is on the right and road signs are similar to Europe.

You must have an International Driver's License and be at least 25 to hire a car. The more adventurous can hire a 4x4, with or without a driver.

Driving off road in desert areas without a qualified guide isn't recommended and could invalidate your insurance.

Carry your international driving permit along with your domestic license, hire documents, passport and proof of insurance with you at all times.

Third-party insurance is compulsory and there are on the spot fines for speeding. Severe penalties for drink driving. Driving conditions are dangerous in more remote areas.

If you are considering rallying in North or West Africa read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice for all relevant countries and their Rally racing page.

See Wikitravel for more info on Egypt.

Over 65s

Egypt is popular with over 65's in search of guaranteed sunshine 365 days of the year. Once you're retired and have time on your hands, long stay holidays up to three months are particularly attractive.

All inclusive deals in coastal resorts such as Sharem El-Sheikh on the Red Sea can be hard to resist.

You can't stay any longer than three months on any one trip, as the maximum duration of any one trip without a visa is 90 days.

Make sure your travel insurance covers you for any adventurous activities you take part in, and that it covers medical costs and repatriation.

You'll need to declare Insurance for existing medical conditions if you want comprehensive cover.

Expats

There are only a small number of British nationals living in Egypt, mostly working in tourism and property.

Language is a barrier - Arabic is the first language, while English and French are widely spoken only by the professional classes.

As Egypt is outside the EEC (European Economic Area) you won't be entitled to any pension increases that normally happen yearly. But if you return to live in the UK, your State Pension will be increased to current levels.

See FCO Living in Egypt for comprehensive and up to date information about: Pensions, benefits, healthcare; Driving licences and vehicles; Criminal Records Certificate; Education; Employment; Entry & residence requirements; Consular fees; Finance; How to legalise documents; Importing your pet; Property in Egypt; Other Websites & Forums, etc.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

The UK Government's Foreign & Commonwealth Office website has lots of good advice and travel tips for anyone thinking about holidaying or moving to Egypt.

Exclusions

Many travel insurance policies exclude claims made under Acts of God, Terrorism, Riot and Kidnap.

At the time of writing (April 2011), the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website warns that there is a threat of terrorism and kidnapping in Egypt, more so in remote regions and Sudan/ Libya border areas where there are bandits and armed groups.

The FCO advise people to steer clear of public demonstrations throughout Egypt as there is always the possibility of riot.

Always check the FCO website for travel advice. Your policy could be invalid if you travel against Government advice. You'll find up-to-date travel info on the 'know before you go' section.

Acts of God is a common exclusion and this can relate to natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes.

Check your travel insurance policy to see whether you will be covered for any such eventuality.