Holiday essentials - travel insurance

Vacation is a time of carefree and fun, at least until something happens. This "something" may be a twisted leg, a sudden illness or the need to seek the help of a dentist abroad. The financial consequences of such unpleasant surprises will not allow us to forget about a vacation for a long time.

Safety while on holiday abroad

When preparing for a longer trip in a motorhome, we usually make a list of things to take, pack the necessary clothes, medicines, food. We map the route and choose the places we would like to visit along the way. Vacation is a pleasant, long-awaited time of the year. Hardly anyone thinks in advance about the dangers that may befall us while resting. And yet, it is worth being a pessimist for a moment, because it allows you to protect yourself against the unpleasant consequences of various events.

Therefore, let's not forget about insurance protection. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) alone is not enough , although of course it is worth having it with you at all times. The card confirms the right to use, at the expense of the National Health Fund, the necessary health services during a temporary stay in another EU Member State and in an EFTA country.

However, health care in each of these countries operates on different principles, therefore the scope of medical care guaranteed under the EHIC differs depending on the place of stay. For this reason, the card does not guarantee that we will be able to use, for example, visits to a family doctor or ambulance transport for free, or that we will not pay extra for the stay in the hospital. EHIC will not cover the cost of medical transport to the country, as well as, generally, it does not work in the case of a rescue or search operation (e.g. in the mountains).

Purchasing travel insurance gives a much greater sense of security and provides the insurer's support in most cases that may catch you.

Contrary to the EHIC, travel insurance , as a rule, covers all costs of treatment (in state and private medical institutions). However, it is worth remembering that the insurer will only cover costs that fall within the established limit of his financial liability. Such a limit is defined for all expenses in total, as well as separately for selected health services (e.g. the amount of dental treatment reimbursement may be EUR 100).

Travel insurance can work virtually anywhere in the world. As a standard, insurers' offers are divided into three variants: Poland, Europe and World, so you can choose the option that suits your needs.

What should the travel insurance policy cover?

Of course, it all depends on individual needs - a different scope of protection will be useful for families traveling abroad, who will stay at the campground and beach most of the time, and another for caravanners who are also lovers of climbing or diving.

The most basic scope of the policy should include medical cost insurance (KL) and assistance. You can also add to this the extension of liability insurance (OC) and accident insurance (NNW)

Medical expenses insurance covers costs such as medical visits, medical examinations, necessary advice and consultations, days spent in the hospital, procedures and operations, the purchase of medicines, dressings and other medical accessories. The services also cover medical transport (by ambulance, helicopter) and return transport of the patient to the country .

If we are diagnosed with chronic (e.g. diabetes) that requires permanent and specialized treatment, we must remember to extend the policy. Otherwise, the insurer will not cover the costs associated with the use of medical assistance resulting from a sudden exacerbation of such disease.

Assistance means that, if necessary, we will receive information and medical assistance , i.e. a conversation with a medical advisor who will tell you what to do in an emergency and to which nearest medical facility we can go. To get the support you need, simply call your insurance company's emergency call center. The hotline usually operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays.

The Personal Accident Insurance (NNW) is in this case an addition to the travel insurance (although it can also exist as an independent policy). Compensation is paid in the event of a health impairment or death of the insured (in this case, the compensation will be awarded to the entitled person, i.e. the closest relative). Injury to health, e.g. a broken arm, is each time specified in the GTC. This is a percentage of the sum insured we will receive from the insurer. Remember that 100% of the benefit is paid only in the event of death.

Liability insurance in private life during a trip abroad protects us if we cause (we, our children) damage to someone outside the family (the so-called third party). It could be personal or property damage. For example, while playing volleyball on the beach, we will send a ball so unfortunate that it will break a window in a nearby restaurant or hit someone in the head by knocking out a tooth. In this case, the cost of compensation will be covered by the policy. However, it should be remembered that this insurance does not protect you if you cause damage while moving a motor vehicle (this is why it is motor third party liability insurance). It will also not work if we destroy the interior of the motorhome we rented.

Travel insurance and COVID

On March 11, the World Health Organization announced a pandemic, i.e. an epidemic of an infectious disease occurring in many different environments, over a huge area, on different continents. The journeys have stopped for some time, now they are slowly returning, but tourists have to adapt to the new reality. Insurance too.

Fortunately, many insurance companies have already adapted their offer to the current situation. The risk of contracting COVID-19 is now in the field of their policies and will cover, for example, outpatient and inpatient treatment costs, and arranging a return home if we catch the virus.

To be safe, always check before purchasing a policy that it covers COVID-19 or that there is no pandemic or epidemic in the exemptions. The easiest way to check it is in the GTC.

Unfortunately, COVID-related cancellation insurance is disabled for virtually all products on the market at the time of writing this article.

Let's also be up to date with the announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the situation in the country to which we are going. Despite the fact that most of the EU countries have lifted the restrictions, the situation is constantly changing.

Travel insurance can be purchased on our website www.ub Ubezpieczenia.camprest.com