Medical insurance for Austria for Ukrainians

Paper forms with holograms and “wet” stamps are a thing of the past. Today, most travelers purchase insurance policies online through Polis24. Nevertheless, some customers still have doubts: will border guards and doctors abroad accept an electronic policy?

Legal status of an electronic policy: under the law, it has the same legal force as its paper equivalent and is certified with the electronic signature of the insurance company. Consulates, visa centers, and border services accept a printed PDF file or its image displayed on a smartphone screen.

How to verify the authenticity of a policy purchased through Polis24:

• Using the QR code on the policy: scan it with your smartphone camera — the official insurance company website will open and display the policy status.
• Through the hotline: call the insurance company and provide the policy number and your details — an operator will confirm that you are insured.
• In your personal account on the insurance company’s website using the policy number or passport details.

Tip: save the policy to your phone’s memory (so you can access it without an internet connection), forward it to your travel companions via messenger, and, just in case, print out one copy. This will prevent any problems if your smartphone battery dies while going through border control or visiting a doctor.

Ideally, an insurance policy should be purchased in advance, at least one or two days before crossing the border, so that coverage begins from the first second of your stay abroad. However, real-life situations can vary: a traveler may forget to purchase a policy, their previous insurance may expire during an extended trip, or they may decide to extend their vacation while already abroad.

Purchasing an insurance policy online from another country through Polis24 is technically simple — all you need is a smartphone and an internet connection. Nevertheless, strict rules apply, introduced by insurance companies to prevent fraud (for example, attempts to purchase a policy “retroactively” after an illness or injury has already occurred):

1. Mandatory indication: when completing the application form, honestly check the box “Already abroad.” The system will filter out companies that do not provide insurance coverage to citizens who are already outside their home country.
2. Temporary deductible (waiting period): a policy purchased from abroad does not become effective immediately. A waiting period of 3–5 days from the date of payment is usually applied. If you purchase a policy on the 1st, it will only become effective on the 4th or 5th. Any injuries or illnesses that occur during this period are not covered.
3. Possible price surcharge: due to the increased risks, premiums for such policies may be slightly higher than standard rates.

Purchasing insurance after the fact should be considered a last resort. If you plan to make frequent or extended trips abroad, it is more cost-effective to purchase an annual Multitrip policy through Polis24 in advance. If you are extending your stay abroad, purchase a new policy 4–5 days before the current one expires to ensure continuous coverage.

For many people, a vacation is associated with tasting local wines and enjoying cocktails by the pool. There is nothing wrong with that, but Polis24 experts must warn you about a strict rule that applies across insurance companies worldwide: being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or toxic substances is an absolute ground for denying an insurance claim.

If an insured event (such as an injury, fracture, cut, or severe bruise) occurs while the insured person is under the influence of alcohol, the insurance company is released from its financial obligations. The amount of alcohol consumed does not matter — whether it was one glass of beer or a strong alcoholic drink. When a patient is admitted to a clinic with an injury, the doctor will usually take a blood test, and the presence of alcohol will be recorded in the medical report, which is then sent to the assistance service.

As soon as the operator sees a record indicating intoxication, the case is closed with the status “coverage denied.” After that, the patient has to pay all expenses for the examination, X-ray, cast, surgery, and hospital stay out of pocket. Exceptions may apply when the illness is completely unrelated to alcohol (for example, an appendicitis attack), but even in such cases, the insurer will carefully review the medical records.

If you trip on a hotel staircase, fall off a rented scooter, or get injured during an excursion while intoxicated, you will have to pay the expenses yourself. The advice is simple: keep active recreation and alcohol separate so that your long-awaited vacation does not turn into a financial burden.

Understanding the exclusions will help you avoid unpleasant surprises. An insurance policy is not an unlimited subscription to free medical care — it has clearly defined limitations. There is a standard list of situations in which an insurance company may deny coverage:

1. Alcohol or drug intoxication — the most common reason for claim denials (read more about this in a separate question).
2. Sunburn, heatstroke, and sun allergy — common “beach-related” problems are usually not covered by a basic policy and require a special option.
3. Planned treatment and chronic conditions — insurance covers only sudden exacerbations, not scheduled procedures or treatment of pre-existing conditions.
4. Psychiatric disorders and intentional self-harm.
5. Military actions, civil unrest, and terrorist attacks — unless otherwise specified in the insurance contract.
6. Pregnancy in the later stages — most companies cover only complications and only up to a certain stage of pregnancy; childbirth abroad is not covered.

To avoid having a claim denied, it is important to provide accurate information about the nature of your trip and planned activities when purchasing a policy through Polis24 and, if necessary, add extended coverage options. If you are unsure whether a standard policy is suitable for your plans, consult a manager before purchasing.

Panic is a traveler’s worst enemy when dealing with illness or injury abroad. Taking the wrong steps can result in a legitimate denial of an insurance claim. To prevent this from happening, follow the clear procedure developed by Polis24 experts.

Step 1. Contact the assistance service. This should be your first action (the exception is a critical, life-threatening situation when you need to call the local emergency medical service immediately). The contact details are provided in your policy. Tell the operator:

• The policy number and the name of the insurance company.
• The insured person’s first and last name and date of birth.
• Your exact location (country, city, hotel, address).
• Your symptoms and the nature of the problem, as well as a phone number where you can be reached.

Step 2. Wait for instructions. The operator needs 10 to 40 minutes to select a clinic and send a letter of guarantee. You will be told which hospital to go to or when a doctor will come to your hotel.

Step 3. Visit the clinic. Take your passport and insurance policy with you (electronic or printed). Do not agree to any additional paid procedures that have not been approved by the assistance service. If the hospital asks you to pay, call the assistance service immediately from the reception desk.

Step 4. If you had to pay out of pocket. Keep all documents: a medical report with the diagnosis and doctor’s stamp, referrals for tests, fiscal receipts for medical services and medications, as well as a detailed prescription from the pharmacy. After returning home, you will have 15 to 30 days to submit a reimbursement claim through Polis24 (a detailed list of required documents is provided in a separate question).

A deductible is a fixed amount that the insured person pays out of pocket when an insured event occurs. Any expenses exceeding this amount are covered by the insurance company within the established coverage limit. Polis24 offers both policies with a deductible (for example, EUR 30, 50, or 100) and policies without one (EUR 0).

There are two types of deductibles. A conditional deductible means that if the expenses are lower than the deductible amount, you pay them yourself; if they exceed it, the insurance company covers the entire amount (this type is rare in travel insurance). An unconditional deductible is used in most cases — you pay this amount regardless of the total expenses. For example, with a EUR 50 deductible and a EUR 45 bill, you pay the entire amount yourself; with a EUR 150 bill, you pay EUR 50, while the insurer covers the remaining EUR 100.

The only advantage of a policy with a deductible is its lower price. However, the difference in cost is usually just a few dozen units of local currency, while if an insured event occurs abroad, this saving can turn into a direct financial loss.

At Polis24, we recommend choosing policies with a zero deductible. First, you will not have to spend cash in a foreign currency at an overseas clinic. Second, it is more psychologically comfortable: if you become ill, you will not hesitate to see a doctor because you are worried about having to pay out of pocket. A policy without a deductible means complete peace of mind: you contact the assistance service, and the insurance company takes care of arranging the necessary assistance. A deductible may be justified only in rare cases — for example, during a very long trip with an extremely limited budget, when insurance is needed solely as a formal document for obtaining a visa.

The insurance coverage amount is the maximum limit that the insurance company will pay for your medical treatment abroad. When purchasing a policy through Polis24, you can choose from various coverage options, most commonly EUR 30,000, EUR 50,000, or USD 50,000–100,000 (for the USA, Canada, and Japan).

How to choose the coverage limit:

• EUR 30,000 — the minimum standard for the Schengen Area and Europe. This is sufficient for outpatient care, minor surgeries, and short hospital stays.
• EUR 50,000 — recommended for exotic destinations (Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Thailand, Bali), where tourists may face higher commercial prices at hospitals.
• USD 50,000–100,000 — the recommended choice for the USA, Canada, Australia, and Japan: a single day in an intensive care unit at a US hospital can cost as much as USD 10,000.

The cost of a policy depends on several factors: the traveler’s age (higher rates apply to children under 1 year old and elderly travelers), the length of the trip (the premium is calculated for each day of travel), the destination country (the more expensive healthcare is, the more expensive the policy), and the selected options (sports, extreme activities, baggage insurance). Polis24 allows you to compare prices from different insurance companies in just a few clicks and choose the optimal balance between cost and coverage.

A basic policy is designed to cover sudden, unforeseen situations that pose a threat to your life or health. It is a standard package for obtaining a visa or crossing a border. It includes emergency outpatient and inpatient medical care, basic dental care (in cases of acute pain, within the coverage limit), transportation to a medical facility, and repatriation of remains in the event of death.

However, basic insurance does not cover everything. A number of risks require additional options to be selected when purchasing a policy through Polis24:

• Active recreation and sports: skiing, snowboarding, diving, surfing, quad biking — the “Sports” or “Active Recreation” option is required.
• Chronic conditions: basic insurance does not cover their treatment; a special option can provide coverage for the treatment of an acute episode.
• Riding a moped/motorcycle: particularly relevant in Asia; additional coverage and an international driving permit for the appropriate category are required.
• Working abroad: if you engage in manual labor, the “Employment” option must be selected.
• Baggage insurance and trip cancellation: compensation in case of lost luggage or a canceled trip.

Carefully consider your travel plans. It is better to pay a small additional amount through Polis24 to extend your policy than to have a claim denied because the insurance conditions do not match the actual circumstances. Read more about the key options in the following questions.

When purchasing insurance through Polis24, you will see two names: the insurance company brand (which pays the claim) and the name of the assistance company. The assistance service is your helper abroad — a support service that organizes all the necessary assistance 24/7/365, without days off or breaks.

When you develop a fever, have a toothache, or suffer an injury abroad, you do not call the insurance company’s office in Ukraine — you call the assistance service hotline. Operators communicate in a language you understand, know the specifics of the local healthcare system, and have contracts with thousands of clinics. You can contact them not only by phone, but also via messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) or email — this is especially important at night and while roaming.

The role of the assistance service is critical:

• Logistics: they will find the nearest appropriate clinic, arrange a doctor’s visit to your hotel, or organize transportation by ambulance.
• Financial guarantees: they send the hospital a Guarantee of Payment, so you do not have to pay out of pocket — the clinic sends the bill directly to the assistance service.
• Language barrier: operators act as interpreters between you and the doctors and monitor the accuracy of the diagnosis.
• Support: they will advise you on what to do if you lose your documents and how to contact the consulate.

If you go to a hospital on your own without contacting the assistance service (except in critical, life-threatening situations), the insurance company has the right to deny reimbursement. Therefore, the first call in the event of an insured incident should always be to the assistance service. Polis24 offers policies only with verified international assistance providers.

Many travelers mistakenly believe that if a country has a visa-free regime or border guards rarely ask for an insurance policy, they can save money by going without one. This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions. Insurance is not a formality “just for the sake of it” — it is a financial safety net and the only way to ensure you can receive assistance in a foreign country.

First, medical services for non-residents are extremely expensive almost everywhere in the world. An ambulance call in EU countries or the USA can cost EUR 500–1,000, a day in hospital can cost from EUR 1,500, while an appendectomy can cost anywhere from EUR 5,000 to EUR 15,000. In the event of a serious injury, medical evacuation back home can cost tens of thousands of euros. Without insurance, all these expenses fall entirely on you.

Second, insurance is not just about medical care. Modern policies protect against many other risks, including lost or delayed baggage, canceled or delayed flights, lost documents, and even third-party liability.

Third, traveling without insurance can lead to legal problems. In some countries, clinics have the right to refuse medical treatment without a payment guarantee, while immigration authorities may deport a foreigner who does not have the means to pay for emergency medical care. By purchasing a policy through Polis24, you pay a small amount to transfer the risk of potentially huge expenses to insurance professionals.