What to do abroad if an insured event happened to you
Insured accidents abroad, alas, are not uncommon, especially given the fact that more and more tourists prefer not just to sunbathe on the beach or explore city sights, but to have an active rest: to climb the mountains, overcome the rapids of turbulent rivers, make excursions on ATVs, and sometimes and paragliding. In order for extreme sports to be as safe as possible, you will, of course, need the help of an experienced sports instructor. But if your new hobby still did not go without trauma, you will need the help of an equally experienced one. «instructor» in the insurance sector.
Decide everything «on the shore»
Let's start with the tourist's golden rule - plan everything «on the shore». Choose in advance the type of insurance that suits your vacation plans: an adequate risk assessment can save you later from unnecessary worries and unnecessary expenses. If you are planning to go sailing or paragliding, quad biking or mopeds, you should get the appropriate insurance coverage - for extreme sports. If you are traveling with children and are sure that your vacation will be calm, the most common insurance is sufficient. Be careful when specifying the dates of your stay abroad - if you did not take return tickets, you should either take insurance «with a margin», or timely issue a new policy via the Internet.
It is recommended to keep your insurance policy with you at all times - it contains all the necessary information. Tourists often neglect this rule, which is easy to understand - it is not possible to put an insurance contract in a swimsuit pocket. However, a compromise can be found here: you just need to write down the insurance service number in the phone memory, and also save or take a photo of your insurance policy number and the insurance policy numbers of people close to you. It is best to do this before leaving. Preliminary preparation will help you to quickly contact the insurance company, save you from unnecessary fuss and save you time.
NB! Check in advance the rules for dialing the service number of the insurance company and international access codes. Usually they are indicated on a separate line in the insurance policy itself..
Who should pay?
How the payment for medical services is made - this question worries everyone who is faced with an insured event. Organization of medical expenses insurance is possible in two forms: compensation and service. In the first case, the insured pays for medical services on his own and takes care of organizing assistance: you find a doctor, negotiate with a clinic, pay all bills, etc. Upon returning home, you need to provide the insurance company with documents confirming the occurrence of the insured event and the cost of treatment - be sure to keep all bills, receipts, prescriptions and other papers. The compensatory form of insurance for medical expenses is usually used for outpatient treatment, the amount of insurance benefits may be limited.
NB! The format of the refund must be clarified in advance, since the compensatory form is not provided by all insurance companies.
With the service form of insurance, the compensation process is structured differently: the insurance company, with the help of an intermediary company, fully undertakes the organization of treatment in the host country. You just need to register an insured event, and the intermediary company will select a clinic for you, a doctor, and also bear the costs of providing medical care. This form of assistance is well organized in major cities as well as in popular resorts..
If the insured event did occur
Compliance with simple rules will help to avoid panic and get help as quickly and efficiently as possible..
- Before going to the clinic, you need to contact your insurance company. If your insured event is not recorded, then it is possible that you will not be able to reimburse the subsequent expenses. The costs of telephone calls with the service company can be reimbursed upon return to Russia upon the provision of a detailed communication service invoice, if this was included in the insurance coverage.
- When contacting a service company, be prepared to provide your last name, first name, policy number and validity period, the name of the insurance company, the reason for seeking help, your location (country, city, address), code and contact phone number.
- During treatment, you must be very careful about all official documents confirming the actions of doctors and the purchase of medicines..
Below is a list of documents that must be provided to most insurance companies:
- insurance claim application;
- insurance contract (original insurance policy);
- identity document of the applicant (original passport);
- when handling a child - a birth certificate / passport (original);
- certificates and bills of medical institutions (on letterhead with an appropriate stamp) containing information about the medical procedures performed, the duration of treatment, the list of services provided, broken down by date and cost, as well as the total amount to be paid;
- documents confirming the fact of payment for treatment, medicines and other services;
- prescriptions issued by a doctor in connection with this disease, and receipts from the pharmacy indicating the cost of each drug purchased;
- directions for laboratory tests and an invoice from the laboratory indicating dates, names and cost of services.
We hope these tips will help you not to get lost in the event of an insured event. But, of course, it is better to do without it. Take care of yourself and have a good rest!
Author: Mikhail Efimov, Insurance Director, INTOUCH
