Is insurance required to travel abroad?
This post appeared because I was tired of reading stupidity and outright lies on many websites about compulsory insurance for Russians traveling abroad. Quite a few resources offering travel health insurance services distort information and shamelessly deceive their potential customers.
Below I will talk about when traveling to which countries medical insurance is mandatory, and which are not. I’ll also write a few words about the new law, supposedly obliging all Russians to buy insurance when leaving the Russian Federation, and about the difference between the terms “needed” and “mandatory”.
"Compulsory" travel insurance
At the end of December 2015 - beginning of January 2016, Russian media, including Rossiyskaya Gazeta, announced that Russian tourists, when traveling abroad, must now without fail take out medical insurance for at least 2 million rubles. The reason for such statements was the amendments to the federal law "On the Fundamentals of Tourist Activities in the Russian Federation" that came into force, allegedly establishing the requirements for compulsory insurance.
It's a lie.
It is worth reading these amendments carefully, as it becomes clear: there is no question of any mandatory insurance; Basically, the activities of tour operators in the field of tourist insurance are streamlined there. Moreover, it is explicitly said that even “bags” can refuse insurance.
The tour operator (travel agent) is obliged to explain to the tourist against a personal signature that in case of refusal to conclude a voluntary insurance contract, the costs of providing medical care in emergency and emergency forms in the country of temporary residence are borne by the tourist himself, and the costs of returning the body (remains) are borne by persons interested in the return of the body (remains).
As for independent travelers, they are all the more not obliged to buy insurance when leaving Russia.
Inaccurate information spread by the media was happily picked up, replicated by some Internet resources that offer travel insurance services and do not disdain to deceive customers for profit.
Let's summarize again: Mandatory travel insurance is a lie!
Which countries do not require travel insurance?
I repeat once again that I am not aware of any country, except for the states of the Schengen Agreement, upon entry into which insurance would be required without fail.
In the same Europe is not obligatory in the UK, which are not included in the Schengen. Despite the visa entry, it is not required.
Perhaps you are surprised that at first I was so emotionally told that you do not need insurance when traveling to most countries of the world, but at the same time I always insure myself. Everything is simple. We believe that insurance is necessary and profitable. This is our opinion, confirmed by personal experience. This is a conscious choice. Other travelers have different opinions and different experiences. This is also their conscious choice.
A person should have the right to choose. The right decision is based on reliable, necessary and sufficient information. Lies, the number of which is already off scale, this, to put it mildly, does not contribute.
Travel insurance discounts
If you think that you need travel insurance, or it is necessary for obtaining a visa, you have the opportunity to buy policies from several insurance companies with 5% discount.
Discounts for readers of our blog provide:
How do I get a discount on my Tripinsurance policy?
1. You need to go to the Tripinsurance website by this link;
2. In the lower right corner, click on the inscription "There is a promotional code";
3. In the window that opens, enter the code word asiagood5.
