How to use medical insurance abroad?

How to choose the right insurance policy

You have finally decided to go abroad. Before that, it is necessary to take care of the registration of medical insurance, specify the scope of medical services included in it. If the ticket is purchased from an official travel agency, the service package includes insurance, which usually amounts to 2 to 6 percent of the total ticket price. The amount of the minimum list of medical services is 3-5 thousand dollars, for Europe this amount varies between 7.5-10 thousand, and for the USA and Canada - not less than 30 thousand.

Insurance programs require personal review. All of them are marked with letters: A, B, C and D. It is recommended to choose an advanced program. Each subsequent one provides a wider range of services than the previous one, which can be very useful in various insurance cases.

Important! For trips on excursions and rest on the beach, a standard policy is quite sufficient, with a payment of up to 1.5 euros per day. Additional services are included in the medical insurance for 2 euros. These services include accompanying children to their home country (when parents cannot due to health conditions), civil liability and legal assistance. The list of such services should always be specified when purchasing an insurance policy.

About additional services

Medical transportation is an item that must be included in the policy if you are not sure that in the event of unforeseen circumstances you will not be able to return to Ukraine due to your health. Such transportation requires large financial costs, therefore the amount of coverage of this item should be 2 times higher than other medical expenses, and preferably unlimited.

Sometimes the insurance company refuses its clients to pay for treatment abroad. This happens if it is not specified in the policy, let's say that you were going to engage in extreme sports, and at the same time you sprained your leg while skiing at a ski resort. In such cases, you should choose a more extensive insurance program that will allow you to take into account a larger number of possible options. And most importantly, before you pay for the medical policy, be sure to check the company through which it is issued, and specify the term of its validity. It is better to rely on serious and time-tested companies that have already earned the trust of many satisfied clients.

How to properly use insurance abroad

Obtaining medical insurance gives many people a sense of security. But here's one more thing to know - how to behave correctly in the event of an insured event, so that the insurance company compensates for the damage.

Suppose an insurance situation occurred. Your actions must be quick and decisive. You should always keep your medical policy with you, no matter where you are, whether it's a bar, beach or sailing. At the first signs of illness or injury, you should consult a doctor. Different hotels and motels usually have their own doctor who will immediately go to help you. If there is none, you need to call an ambulance, while the services of paramedics who have arrived on call can be free or paid, it already depends directly on the laws of the country where you are.

Then you should call the assistance company, which is an intermediary between the travel agency and the insurance company, medical center, transport organizations. The phone number of such a company is always listed in the medical policy. When calling, you should say:

• Your name;
• The place you are calling from;
• What happened;
• What kind of help is required;
• Terms of your insurance;
• Phone number where you can be contacted.

The assistance company will check the insurance program and provide you with assistance.

Important! We recommend contacting an assistance company in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Such a firm, which is located in the country where you will be, will provide you with assistance in a shorter time than the Ukrainian organization. And the staff who speak Ukrainian or Russian simply may not be there.

At the first conversation with the assistance company, you should decide on the option of paying medical expenses. There can be two of them. In the first option, you pay all the expenses yourself, and the insurance company reimburses them upon your return. With this option, you must be aware and have a sufficient amount of money with you. The insurance company makes all payments only if you have the necessary documents, such as checks, invoices and medical reports. If you do not provide the relevant documents, the insurance company will not reimburse you. The second option is that the insurance or travel agency pays everything for you. Here, you should immediately report that you do not have the funds for treatment.

Treatment of chronic diseases abroad is not covered by ordinary insurance. The only exceptions are situations when the more wors as a result of an exacerbation of a chronic disease.

Important! When traveling abroad, you should always take extra funds with you in case of small medical expenses. 400 dollars for a child, 200-300 will be enough for an adult.

Purchasing insurance when traveling abroad is a very important issue, especially when you are leaving for a long time. Most countries issue a visa only if there is an issued insurance policy.