Insurance is one of the mandatory documents when traveling abroad. Find out if Ukrainians need to buy a policy when they plan to travel without a visa, what are the conditions and possible risks

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

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A health insurance policy is a mandatory document for obtaining a visa to most countries of the world. However, given that Ukrainians have the right to enter the Schengen area on the basis of a visa-free regime, travelers often wonder whether they need to buy insurance in this case. We'll tell you about the specifics of issuing policies for visa-free travel below.

Do I need insurance for visa-free travel: what do official documents say?

The EU legislation does not clearly stipulate the issue of having an insurance policy. The EU Visa Code requires a health insurance policy, but the border code does not include it in the list of required documents. Also, the list of reasons why border guards can refuse entry does not include the absence of an insurance policy.

However, on the other hand, a travel insurance policy is one of the documents that, together with a return ticket and a housing reservation form, can confirm the purpose of travel to the EU.

A list of circumstances when an insurance policy is required has also been approved:

1. If you are traveling by your own car, you must have a Green Card policy to insure the civil liability of the car owner.

2. If you are planning an extreme vacation (this also includes vacations at ski resorts).

3. When purchasing a travel package from tour operators, insurance with minimum coverage is included in the package based on the Law of Ukraine “On Tourism”.

4. When traveling with children.

5. When traveling for work or study.

What are the benefits of health insurance in the EU?

So, at first glance, an insurance policy is not included in the list of required documents for crossing the border. However, keep in mind that in most countries of the world, medical care for non-residents is provided on a paid basis. For example, in Norway, a visit to a family doctor for uninsured persons will cost from 20 euros, and a visit to a specialist in the Czech Republic will cost from 30 euros. Calling an ambulance in Switzerland in the absence of an insurance policy can cost 800 euros. A hospital stay in Schengen countries costs up to 30,000 euros on average.

That is, even for the treatment of a minor cold, you can pay a lot of money, because most drugs in European pharmacies are sold on prescription, and to get it you will have to pay for a doctor's appointment.

On the other hand, the price of a standard insurance policy, for example, from Visit Ukraine partners, starts at 1.15 euros per day. The average market price of insurance is about 3 euros per day. This is much less than the estimated costs of falling ill abroad.

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Basic requirements for an insurance policy to enter the EU

According to EU legislation, an insurance policy must meet the following requirements:

1. The amount of coverage is at least 30,000 euros.

2. The term is not less than the planned stay.

3. The policy must cover the entire territory of the Schengen countries.

4. Insured events must include: emergency care, injuries, transportation to the hospital, inpatient treatment, return to the home country, including in case of death, etc.

Some activities may require additional policy parameters. For example, extreme sports or traveling for other dangerous purposes.

Also, certain insurance agents offer extended insurance programs that include dental care, payment for telephone calls related to the occurrence of an insured event, emergency obstetric care during pregnancy, counseling services, etc.

In addition, many policies offer compensation for additional risks, such as travel delays and loss of luggage, legal assistance, assistance in case of an accident, and transportation costs in case of illness.

Useful tips for choosing a policy

● The cost of a travel policy depends on the presence or absence of a deductible, the terms of the contract, and the duration of the insurance.

● The amount of the deductible, i.e. the amount that the insured covers at his/her own expense in the event of an insured event, should always be specified in the insurance contract.

● The electronic and paper formats of the policy have the same legal force.

● When choosing a package of services, pay attention to the peculiarities of your trip - for example, if you plan to take several flights during your trip, it makes sense to insure against loss of luggage and flight delays.

● Experienced travelers take out a policy for 2-3 days longer than the planned period of stay. After all, if the flight is delayed on the return flight, the insurance company will pay compensation.

● Keep in mind that in some countries you will have to pay for the medical services you receive on your own, and only then receive compensation from the insurer. Therefore, you need to have a reserve of free funds.

Thus, given the peculiarities of border control and medical care in the EU, an insurance policy is a recommended document for visa-free travel. Another significant advantage of the policy is that in the event of an insured event, you are guaranteed to receive qualified medical care, and the insurance company will reimburse the cost of treatment.

For more information on how to choose the right insurance policy for traveling abroad, follow the link.

Where to buy travel insurance?

For the safest possible travel, you should buy insurance policies only from trusted agents. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can buy reliable insurance that has many advantages: packages for entry to any country in the world, a guarantee of payments, and online payment. The following insurance packages are currently available to Ukrainians:

● Travel insurance for traveling: Europe / Worldwide

● Travel medical insurance: Europe / Worldwide

Simply choose the most suitable options for your trip, travel safely and save money. A reliable policy will be in your mail in just a few minutes.

We remind you! Ukrainians often face a number of questions regarding the choice and rules of insurance. Read more about the available types of insurance, their cost, and peculiarities of registration 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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