Insurance for Ukrainians

Wherever you’re going and for whatever reason, the one thing that every traveller should do is to buy a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance in Ukraine includes some national peculiarities. Somehow the idea of voluntary insurance does not sit easily with the mysterious Slavic soul. Ukrainians are all too ready to impulsively up and go without a policy. Of course, we think, nothing could possibly happen to us during our trip.

But too often, Ukrainian tourists found themselves in the position where they are unable to pay for medical treatment received abroad. Too often, foreign health authorities tried in vain to deliver hospital bills through the Ukrainian embassies.

Now, most embassies have included travel insurance policy on the list of documents needed for obtaining a visa.

All insurance companies are keen to offer their own travel policy.

The travel policy provides coverage in case of emergency, accident or acute conditions. The minimum set of benefits should include maximum coverage and sub-limits for medical expenses including ambulance and hospitalization, medical transportation, medical repatriation and others.

The next level of policies have higher maximum coverage and more options including:

• luggage delay;

• legal protection;

• transport expenses for family members.

Some policies approach Western standards and offer technical assistance, interpreter services, information services, hotels and tickets reservation, etc.

Prices depend on two factors: limits and the list of services included.

Rates depend on the purpose of the trip: business, simple travel, special or dangerous activities like hunting, scuba-diving, etc. The rate for the latter is approximately twice as high.

For example, what if an ordinary tourist, succumbing to an adventurous impulse, decides to take a camel ride, falls and breaks a leg? If he has an ordinary policy that does not specifically cover “dangerous sports”: – in the vast majority of cases the unfortunate tourist will be refused indemnity.

As a rule insurance companies will not offer you an advice. They will ask you where are you going and for how long - and that’s all. The same at the travel agency. They normally act as agents for a couple of insurance companies and issue the policy just because the embassies wouldn't give you a visa without one.

Fortunately, the situation is improving. There is already a small number of serious insurers who care about their image and the welfare of the clients, offer a good list of services and, most importantly, do not scrimp on assistance.

Vocabulary of the text

Exercise 1. Give the English equivalents for:

чудові спогади; неочікувані випадки; анулювати плани; страхування; небажані сюрпризи; медичне обслуговування; унікальний; піклуватися; повернення на батьківщину; загублені документи; скорочувати; переривати; значна економія; подвійний; потроєний; безплатний телефонний дзвінок; рахунок; особливості; лікування; даремно; посольства; страховий поліс; у крайньому разі; залежати від; спокуситися; компенсувати збитки; скупитися на допомогу.