Coronavirus insurance: What to know if you plan on traveling to Ukraine

When Ukraine reopened its borders and relaunched international air travel on June 15, the government announced that it will require every foreigner arriving in the country to have insurance that can cover medical costs related to COVID-19.

This insurance must be purchased prior to arrival and presented at the border.

In the wake of that announcement, many foreigner residents of Ukraine and potential visitors have been left with questions about how to buy insurance and what it must include to qualify.

The Kyiv Post answers several of the most common questions surrounding COVID-19 insurance.

“Where do I have to buy my insurance? Does it have to be Ukrainian? Can it be international?”

It does not matter where you buy your insurance. What matters is that the package you purchase is sold by an insurance company that is either registered in Ukraine or that has a representative office or partner in Ukraine, according to the UNIAN news agency.

The insurance policy in question has to cover the costs of your COVID-19 treatment and be active for the entire period of your presence in the country.

“What do I need for me to sign a contract? Can I buy this insurance online?”

While the exact requirements can depend on the specific insurance company, this can likely be done online with a minimal amount of documents.

“Generally — and this is the case with us — all a customer needs to purchase an insurance policy is a Ukrainian address where he will be staying and a passport scan,” a representative of VUSO, a Ukrainian insurance company, told the Kyiv Post. “You do not need to come to any office. The signing of all necessary documents and the payment can be done completely online.” 

“Are all insurance policies roughly the same?”

If you do not currently have insurance that will cover the costs of COVID-19 treatment, there may be a benefit in purchasing a package directly from a Ukrainian company, as international insurance companies have sharply increased prices due to customer claims, according to the Financial Times. 

In contrast, Ukrainian insurance policies can cost as little as $6.50 according to the Liga.net news site. 

However, keep in mind that cheaper insurance policies will offer less coverage. If you’re someone at risk or you want to ensure you don’t have to pay for treatment out of pocket, consider purchasing a package that may cost more but offer better protection. 

Policies can differ in many ways: the initial purchase cost, the age range of customers the company is ready to cover and much more.

Here are the key points you will want to pay attention to and ask about when deciding what insurance is right for you:

• Signing cost;
• Total coverage limits;
• Ambulance coverage, daily coverage limits for hospital stays;
• Types of clinics covered under the policy — public or private? In Ukraine, COVID-19 is only treated at public clinics.;
• Time between signing the contract and when it becomes active;
• Age limits; 
• Length of time the policy is active;
• And payout in case of death, repatriation of remains.

“Doesn’t Ukraine have free state healthcare that should cover COVID-19? Why do I need to buy insurance?”

The Ukrainian Constitution of 1996 states that Ukrainian citizens are entitled to free medical treatment in public clinics and hospitals. These medical centers are financed with tax revenue.

But the constitution only guarantees free healthcare to citizens. Moreover, the country’s health system is underfunded. As a result, foreigners — including those with residency permits — must pay all their medical costs out of pocket.

While Ukrainian healthcare is not expensive by most global standards, COVID-19 is a new and unpredictable illness. Buying insurance is a good way to ensure you don’t burn through your savings should you contract the disease.Additionally, requiring foreigners to have insurance guarantees that they will not become burdens on the Ukrainian state. 

With the majority of insurance companies, both internationally and in Ukraine, now offering online consultations, it has never been easier to get in touch with a representative and ask the necessary questions to find the right policy to protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic.