> Questions & answers

Why should I insure myself when travelling abroad?

Insurance when travelling and residing abroad can significantly help every client, especially when resolving the financial cost of sudden illness or an injury which requires emergency treatment, including repatriation. Insurance also ensures very important support from the assistance service, which will offer help with all problematic situations. When buying a complete insurance package your baggage is covered by the insurance policy, compensation is paid in the event of an injury, and financial assistance is provided if damage is caused to a third party. When travelling to EU states all medical costs are covered by Pojišťovna VZP, including fees and financial deductibles.

What should I do if an insurance event takes place while I am abroad?

If possible always contact the assistance service. Comply completely with the instructions of the assistance operator. Save all original documents relating to the event. After returning home we recommend resolving the event with the insurance company as quickly as possible.

I have purchased a trip at a travel agency. Do I still need to take out insurance or am I insured by the agency?

Sometimes the cost of a trip can include travel insurance, but it is always necessary to check up on this and to ask about the extent of coverage at the travel agency where you bought the trip. Certain travel agencies provide only basic types of insurance, usually for very low prices, which carries the risk of very low settlement limits in the event of a claim. In such cases it is unquestionably a good idea to think about better insurance cover. If you avail yourself of special offers with a travel agency, e.g. children free of charge, it may well be that adults are insured, but not children.

I have a payment card and this apparently insures me

Some payment cards include travel insurance. The situation is as complex, as in the case of travel agencies. It simply depends on the bank which issued the card which services it offers its clients. Generally it is well known that insurance is part of all the better types of cards, such as gold cards, etc. Only these top cards have good insurance coverage with a sufficient upper limit to the settlement. In the case of most payment cards the insurance is linked with deductibles, i.e. all cost up to CZK 5,000 for instance the client pays themselves. In this case it is necessary to choose supplementary insurance which will have sufficiently high settlement limits and will not have deductibles.

Do you offer online insurance?

Our company does not at present offer online insurance, but our travel insurance can be arranged using an online application of Česká podnikatelská pojišťovna, a.s.

What insurance should I arrange before travelling?

Travel insurance provides protection against a wide spectrum of risks, and it is usually possible to arrange several parts of the insurance in the one insurance policy. The basis is insurance of medical expenses. To this you can add accident insurance, liability insurance for damage to a person, baggage insurance and cancellation fee insurance. You can also take out insurance for trips in the CR. This usually involves accident insurance combined with baggage and damage liability insurance. Insurance of medical expenses includes payment of the essential costs of treatment which the client receives during the term of insurance because of an accident or sudden illness. The assistance service is still available, which can be contacted from anywhere in the world on a 24/7 basis.

Do I have accident insurance included in my life assurance? Do I have to insure myself before travelling abroad?

Without doubt insurance of medical expenses to cover the costs of treatment should be arranged, since accident insurance does not cover the cost of treatment. Accident insurance is a form of compensation for the permanent consequences of injury or death as a consequence of an accident. As for as the settlement from accident insurance is concerned, it is immaterial whether the accident took place in the CR or abroad, and so you do not already have to have accident insurance arranged. If you take out accident insurance at the same time as insurance of medical expenses, you double the possible settlement in the event of a claim, since accident insurance is the only cover you can take out at several insurance companies, which, in the event of a claim, will all pay a settlement.

Will I be examined in healthcare facilities with which Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. does not have a contract?

Firstly it should be said that each client should contact the assistance service in the event of health problems, which will advise them where the nearest contractual facility is. But if client's state of health so requires or if their life is in danger, naturally medical assistance may be provided by any healthcare facilities in close proximity, on the understanding that, as soon as their state of health permits, the client will be taken to a contractual facility.

Will treatment offered in a healthcare centre with which Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. does not have a contract be paid for?

If the client was examined in a non-contractual health centre because of acute health problems representing an immediate threat to the client's health, the financial expenses will be covered by Pojišťovna VZP.

I have foreigner's health insurance from Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. and the health centre is asking that I pay regulatory fees. What should I do?

As of 1 January 2008 the Ministry of Health of the CR has introduced regulatory fees. The fees are not paid by a person who pays for treatment out of their own pocket or from commercial insurance or other sources. The full text can be downloaded here.