Health insurance in Ukraine and abroad: current rules and features
In most developed countries, insurance is mandatory for both citizens and tourists. In Ukraine, however, there is currently a voluntary insurance system for Ukrainians and a mandatory one for foreign tourists. Learn about the benefits of health insurance and why you should take out insurance
Health insurance is a guarantee of medical care to the insured person in the country of residence or abroad, if necessary. The insurance covers the financial costs of medical care, medicines and other related services specified in the contract up to a certain amount.
In many European countries and the United States, health insurance is mandatory for everyone. In Ukraine, however, there is still a voluntary system of health insurance for Ukrainians. At the same time, the law defines a list of persons who are required to have an insurance policy when entering Ukraine, including journalists and media workers. In addition, those who plan to enter the country temporarily, such as foreigners for tourism purposes, must have insurance.
So, what are the benefits of having a health insurance policy and where to get insurance?
Read here what a travel insurance corridor is and why the insurance covers more days than a tourist applies for.
Health insurance abroad: rules and benefits
Each country in the world has its own compulsory insurance system, but, as a rule, health insurance is mandatory for everyone, including tourists. It should be borne in mind that despite the simplified procedures for leaving Ukraine due to martial law, an insurance policy may be checked when crossing the border of any country. Therefore, Ukrainian citizens are required to have an appropriate insurance policy in order to leave the country.
Thus, insurance is a guarantee for tourists that they will receive the necessary assistance abroad. In the absence of health insurance, a person will have to organize his or her own treatment and pay for all medical services provided. A patient without insurance will also have to wait a long time for a doctor's appointment, while the insured receive medical care faster. It should be borne in mind that the cost of medical services abroad for non-residents is extremely high, and in some cases can reach tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.
However, having the appropriate insurance, a tourist can be sure that in the event of an insured event, he or she will receive the necessary treatment or other assistance. To do this, the insured person must notify his or her insurance company of the incident. The insurance company takes care of organizational and financial issues.
The insurance policies also include round-the-clock online support, which will greatly simplify your stay abroad in case of illness or injury - Ukrainian-speaking consultants will be in touch with you. And if necessary, you can get a remote consultation with a doctor in your native language.
You can buy travel insurance on the Visit Ukraine website. We offer both medical and travel insurance for Ukrainians. We have described in detail how to choose the right insurance policy for traveling abroad here.
Read more about why Ukrainians need health insurance when entering European countries in this article.
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Health insurance in Ukraine: who needs it and when
Basic medical care in Ukraine is currently free of charge, but only if a person has a declaration with a family doctor. Otherwise, the patient (Ukrainian/foreigner) cannot count on receiving free medical services. At the same time, if a Ukrainian has health insurance, he or she can receive reimbursement for treatment and medicines, and thus has protection against unforeseen expenses.
At the same time, insurance companies cooperate with various clinics, both private and public. Thus, the patient will have a choice of where to receive treatment and will be able to provide himself with more comfortable conditions. When applying for health insurance, certain specific aspects can be taken into account, such as the need for regular check-ups, etc.
At the same time, the martial law imposed on the territory of Ukraine and the full-scale russian invasion, in particular, entail a number of risks and restrictions. For example, any foreign insurance automatically terminates upon crossing the Ukrainian border. This is due to the fact that insurance companies do not cover war-related risks in any country where military operations or armed conflicts are ongoing. Therefore, foreigners traveling to Ukraine must take out insurance through a Ukrainian insurance company. And given the current situation in Ukraine, we recommend choosing insurance policies with war risk coverage, which cover not only basic medical care, diagnosis and treatment, but also accidents and injuries related to direct or passive military risks. Read more about the benefits of this type of insurance here.
You can take out a health insurance policy covering military risks on the Visit Ukraine website. The insured person can be a Ukrainian and a foreign citizen of any country of the world, except for the russianfederation.
We remind you! Travel insurance remains very important in today's environment. It guarantees medical care in another country and has additional benefits. Read more about the cases in which Ukrainians abroad can receive compensation from an insurance company in our previous article.
Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.
Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip:
Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;
Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;
Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;
Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;
Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.
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