Insurance for trips to China and Asian countries: types and prices

The quality of your insurance largely depends not on an impressive coverage limit, but on the reliability of the insurance company itself and, most importantly, the assistance service. The assistance service is directly responsible for organizing all necessary support abroad, so it is important to make an informed choice. Polis24 offers policies from trusted insurance companies only, but understanding the key selection criteria is useful for any traveler.

What you should pay attention to:

• Reputation of the assistance service: this service handles your calls around the clock while you are abroad, finds suitable clinics, and sends Guarantees of Payment. A reliable international assistance service with a broad network of partner clinics is half the battle.
• Financial stability and reputation of the insurance company: these factors determine how quickly, transparently, and without unnecessary complications you will receive compensation when needed.
• Transparency of the insurance terms: carefully review exclusions, sublimits (for example, for emergency dental care or expensive equipment), and coverage conditions — the “cheapest” policy most often cuts costs precisely in these areas.
• Availability of a zero deductible and a sufficient coverage limit for the specific country you are traveling to.
• Response speed and available communication channels: the ability to contact the assistance service quickly not only via an expensive phone line but also through modern messaging apps.

You should not choose travel insurance based solely on the lowest price: a difference of just a few dozen Ukrainian hryvnias between a “bare-bones” basic policy and a comprehensive protection package can result in thousands of euros in out-of-pocket expenses if an insured event occurs. The Polis24 service makes it easy to compare offers from different insurance companies by price and coverage, helping you find the optimal balance between reliability and cost.

Studying abroad, extended internships, and exchange programs require a special approach to insurance. A standard travel insurance policy for a short trip is not always suitable, while educational institutions and consulates often have their own strict insurance requirements. You can find a suitable option through Polis24.

What to consider when purchasing student insurance:

• Validity period: the policy should cover the entire period of study or academic semester, so long-term insurance contracts are relevant here rather than short-term travel packages.
• Compliance with university and embassy requirements: obtaining a student (national) visa often requires a specific minimum coverage limit and a particular list of covered risks.
• Coverage for everyday life: a student abroad is not simply a tourist. It is important for the policy to cover sudden illnesses and injuries throughout the entire period of residence in another country.
• Additional options: participation in university sports clubs, possible part-time employment (an employment option must be included), and third-party liability insurance.

It is important to keep in mind that standard travel insurance is designed exclusively for temporary trips and does not cover routine treatment or chronic conditions. For a long-term stay, you should choose programs with an extended validity period and, if necessary, additional coverage options. Before purchasing a policy, be sure to check the exact insurance requirements of your educational institution and consulate — this will help prevent a situation where your policy is rejected when you submit your documents.

If you travel abroad several times a year — for business trips, vacations, or visits to relatives — purchasing separate insurance before each trip is inconvenient and not always cost-effective. For such cases, Polis24 offers an annual insurance policy, often referred to as Multitrip.

The idea is simple: you purchase a policy once for a period of 12 months, and it automatically covers all your trips abroad throughout the year. At the same time, there is a limit on the number of consecutive days you can stay abroad during a single trip (for example, 30, 60, or 90 consecutive days). This parameter is selected when purchasing the policy based on your individual travel habits.

Who can benefit from a Multitrip policy:

• People who frequently travel on business trips or for business purposes.
• Holders of multiple-entry visas who plan to make several trips during the year.
• Those who enjoy spontaneous short trips and do not want to spend time arranging insurance from scratch every time.

An annual policy can save both money and time: when calculated per trip, it is usually cheaper than purchasing several separate insurance policies, while reliable coverage is always available. When choosing a program through Polis24, be sure to pay attention to the overall coverage limit, the list of countries covered, and the maximum duration of a single trip to ensure that the policy fully matches your travel plans.

When applying for a visa, having medical insurance is a mandatory requirement of consulates. When arranging documents through Polis24, it is important to choose a policy that fully complies with visa requirements; otherwise, it may be rejected by the visa application center.

Key insurance requirements for a Schengen visa:

• Minimum coverage limit — at least EUR 30,000.
• Territorial coverage — the entire Schengen Area.
• Coverage — emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
• Validity period — must correspond to the travel dates; for a multiple-entry visa, an annual policy covering all trips throughout the year is a convenient option.

For national visas (Type D) — for example, work or student visas for Poland and other countries — the requirements may differ. In some cases, you may need a policy covering the entire visa validity period and providing coverage appropriate to the purpose of your trip (work or study). If the purpose of your trip is employment, standard travel insurance will not be suitable: the policy must explicitly include coverage for “employment”.

We recommend purchasing a policy with a zero deductible and some extra validity beyond your travel dates (it is generally advisable to add several days as a “buffer” to the travel period). Polis24 offers policies from insurance companies accredited by foreign embassies, so these documents are accepted both by consulates and abroad when you need medical assistance. If you are unsure about the exact requirements of a particular embassy, be sure to check them with a manager before purchasing the policy.

In the ideal scenario when using a policy purchased through Polis24, you do not have to spend your own money: the assistance service coordinates directly with the clinic and sends Guarantees of Payment. However, there are exceptions when you may have to pay yourself — for example, in a remote mountain village where the local doctor does not accept cashless guarantees, when purchasing prescription medication at a pharmacy, during an emergency dental visit within the coverage limit, or if you are admitted to a hospital in critical condition before you have had time to contact the assistance service.

To ensure that the insurance company reimburses you without any problems after you return home, you need to collect a complete and properly prepared set of documents. Verbal statements such as “I paid the doctor EUR 100” have no evidentiary value for claim processing. You will need the originals or clear copies of the following documents:

1. Medical report (discharge summary): an official document from the clinic, signed and stamped by the doctor, stating your full name, date of treatment, exact diagnosis, results of examinations performed, and a list of prescribed procedures.
2. Itemized invoice (Invoice): a document issued by the hospital’s accounting department detailing the cost of each medical service (examination, dressing, medical supplies).
3. Proof of payment: a fiscal receipt, bank receipt, or terminal payment slip confirming that the funds were transferred to the clinic’s account.
4. Prescriptions for medication: the original prescription listing the names of the medications, which must exactly match the items shown on the pharmacy receipt.

After returning to your home country, you have a strictly limited period (usually 15–30 calendar days) to submit a reimbursement claim. The application must include the documents collected abroad, a copy of your international passport with border-crossing stamps, a copy of your tax identification number, and your bank details (IBAN) for the transfer of funds. If everything is completed correctly, the insurance company will pay the reimbursement in the national currency at the National Bank’s exchange rate applicable on the payment date.

For many people, retirement becomes a time for active travel: bus tours around Europe, seaside vacations, or trips abroad to visit children and grandchildren. However, for the insurance industry, advanced age is considered a high-risk category: age-related changes, chronic conditions, and general vulnerability make elderly travelers frequent visitors to foreign clinics. Purchasing insurance for this category through Polis24 involves several specific rules.

The main feature is the higher age-related rates. A policy for a person aged 65–70 may cost 2–3 times more than one for a 30-year-old, while the price increases even more significantly for people aged 71–75. Insurance companies apply these rates deliberately: a single day of treatment for an elderly patient in a foreign cardiac intensive care unit can cost more than the premiums from hundreds of policies sold.

The second important point is absolute age restrictions. Most insurance companies set an upper age limit and often refuse to insure people over 75 or 80. Finding a policy for an 85-year-old traveler can be difficult — only certain specialized programs offer coverage, while the price becomes significantly higher and coverage limits may be restricted. By working with numerous insurers, the Polis24 service helps find suitable programs for older clients.

Important: you must never conceal your actual age when purchasing a policy online. If an insured event occurs, the date of birth will be checked against your passport details. If your age was understated to save money, the policy may be declared invalid and medical assistance may be denied. Elderly travelers are also advised to consult a doctor in advance and take a sufficient supply of essential medications with them, along with prescriptions, as routine medications are not covered by travel insurance.

The modern world is unstable, and major disruptions can catch travelers anywhere in the world: outbreaks of infectious diseases, terrorist attacks, civil unrest, or local armed conflicts. When planning a trip to a region with an unstable situation, Polis24 users naturally wonder: will their insurance policy protect them in such circumstances?

Under standard insurance terms, military actions, revolutions, uprisings, strikes, and terrorist attacks are absolute exclusions. If a country is officially recognized as a conflict zone or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has advised against traveling there, standard travel insurance will not apply. If a traveler is injured during a street protest or terrorist attack, the insurance company has the right to refuse to cover the treatment, as such circumstances are considered force majeure.

Nevertheless, the insurance market is adapting to current realities. Today, Polis24 offers specialized policies with an extended “terrorism risk coverage” option. Such a policy can cover emergency medical care, surgery, and evacuation if you become an accidental victim of a terrorist attack in a peaceful city.

As for epidemics and pandemics, most reliable insurance companies have revised their terms following the experience of COVID-19. Today, standard travel insurance policies available through Polis24 generally include coverage for the treatment of dangerous infectious diseases officially recognized as pandemics. If you contract a dangerous virus abroad that requires isolation, the insurance can cover diagnostics, medication, and accommodation in an isolation room within the overall coverage limit, provided that you have not violated the official quarantine regulations of the country you are staying in.

Traveling with young children requires extra attention: a child’s body reacts more strongly to climate changes, unfamiliar food, and flights. Acclimatization is often accompanied by temperature spikes, rotavirus infections, ear infections, and minor injuries. When purchasing a child’s insurance policy through Polis24, parents should understand the legal and practical aspects of providing medical assistance to minors abroad.

The first rule: the cost of children’s insurance is often higher than for adults — insurance companies apply higher rates for children under 3–5 years old because this category generates the highest number of claims. You should not save money on a child’s policy by choosing a deductible: a child’s policy should have a zero deductible and the maximum range of coverage options, including a doctor’s house call, because taking a child with a high fever to a hospital at night is an enormous source of stress.

The second aspect is legal. In most countries, any medical procedures involving children (under 16–18 years of age) can only be performed with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If a child is traveling abroad with a grandmother, aunt, or as part of a school group, the accompanying person must have a notarized power of attorney from the parents authorizing them to make decisions regarding medical intervention in emergency situations.

As for staying together in the hospital: in case of hospitalization, international standards almost always allow one parent to stay in the hospital room with the child. Moreover, extended programs available through Polis24 include an option for “coverage of a close relative’s hospital stay” — the insurance company will cover the cost of an additional sleeping place and basic meals for the mother or father, so that the child does not have to stay alone in an unfamiliar linguistic environment.

When purchasing a policy through Polis24, we primarily think about protecting our own health. But abroad, there is another serious and often overlooked risk — accidentally causing harm to someone else’s health or property. In countries with a high cost of living, an accidental act of negligence can result in a claim against you for tens of thousands of euros. The “Third-Party Liability Insurance” (Personal Liability) option is designed to protect you against such situations.

This option works similarly to third-party motor liability insurance, but applies to everyday life abroad. The insurance company compensates for material damage and bodily injury that you, your children, or your pets unintentionally cause to third parties during your trip. Liability coverage limits typically range from EUR 5,000 to EUR 50,000.

Real-life situations when this insurance can save you from financial disaster:

• Hotel incident: you forgot to turn off the tap, went on an excursion, and flooded your room as well as two floors of the expensive hotel below you.
• Accident in a store: you accidentally caught a display rack with your backpack in an antique boutique, causing fragile and expensive items to fall onto the floor.
• Incident while out for a ride: you were riding a rental bicycle, lost control, and hit a pedestrian who suffered a broken arm and a damaged smartphone as a result.

In all these cases, if the option was included in your policy, the insurance company’s lawyers will handle negotiations, dispute resolution, and payment of justified claims made by the injured party. The key condition is that your actions must have been unintentional. If the damage was caused while you were intoxicated or during a fight, insurance coverage will be void.

In the Polis24 calculator, in addition to basic medical coverage (for example, EUR 30,000), there is often a separate section — “Accident Insurance” with a lower limit (for example, EUR 1,000 or EUR 3,000). Many people consider this a duplicate option. In fact, these are two completely different types of protection that work according to fundamentally different mechanisms.

Basic medical insurance works on the principle of reimbursing the actual costs of medical treatment. You do not receive this money directly: the insurance company pays the clinic for the hospital room, medications, surgeons’ fees, and diagnostic tests. If the treatment costs EUR 5,000, the insurance company pays EUR 5,000 to the hospital, while your wallet remains protected. You are discharged healthy, but without any cash payment to your personal account.

Accident insurance provides a direct cash payment to you or your relatives. This coverage applies if, as a result of an unforeseen event (a traffic accident, fall, or natural disaster), the insured person suffers a serious injury resulting in temporary incapacity for work, disability, or death.

The payment is made after you return home. You provide a discharge summary from the foreign clinic documenting the serious injury. The insurer uses an approved compensation table, where each type of injury corresponds to a specific percentage of the insured amount (for example, 10% for a broken arm or 50% for loss of sight). This amount is paid to you as financial compensation for the suffering you have experienced and to help cover rehabilitation costs. Specialists recommend including this option to ensure the maximum possible financial safety net.