I’ve heard that it is not necessary to purchase travel insurance when you go on a trip to any of the European Countries because this is the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) card.
Answer: The EHIC card of the European Health Insurance Card and the voluntary Travel Insurance Policy do not exclude each other. On contrary, they supplement each other because the range of services paid in both cases differs.
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Questions |
EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) |
IJSC “Seesam Latvia” travel insurance policy |
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Where is it valid? |
The European Union, member states of the European Economic Zone and Swiss |
Entire world disregarding the state, except for the home country of the insurance |
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Where can I purchase it? |
At the Central office or regional departments of the State Mandatory Social Insurance Agency |
At the IJSC “Seesam Latvia” offices or travel agencies |
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Who can purchase it? |
Citizens and non-citizens of Latvia |
Citizen of any state |
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What is the price? |
Free of charge |
The price depends on the length and the programme of the travel, beginning with 0.65 EUR per day |
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Are all medical expenses reimbursed? |
No, only the expenses for guaranteed emergency medicine services or necessary medicine services in the respective state |
Medicine expenses in the case of a sudden illness or an accident, except for chronic diseases in accordance with the policy |
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What medical services in particular are reimbursed? |
State guaranteed medical services differ in each state, an individual approach is required |
All urgent medical services in the case of a sudden illness or accident up to the moment when one’s life is no more endangered and he/she can be transported are reimbursed |
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Who pays the patient fee, if the rest of the expenses are covered by the EHIC? |
The traveller himself or herself (~30 EUR); EHIC does not provide for patient fee reimbursement |
The insurance company |
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May I take medical advice in any medical institution? |
No, only in those institutions that have concluded an agreement with the state on the reimbursement of payment for the guaranteed medical services |
In each institution, except for the ones with increased level of service if this is an unilateral decision of the insurant |
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Who covers transportation expenses in the case of an accident? |
The traveller himself of herself; EHIC does not provide for such reimbursement |
The insurance company |
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Who reimburses transfer to the home country in the case of illness? |
The traveller himself of herself; EHIC does not provide for such reimbursement |
The insurance company |
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Who reimburses expenses in the case of a death, a coffin and transfer to the home country included? |
The traveller himself of herself; EHIC does not provide for such reimbursement |
The insurance company |
Whether, in the case if an accident occurs, the insurant must have cash with him or her to pay for the medical services, or the doctors would get in touch with the insurance company after the patient has presented the insurance policy. The majority of companies have introduced a system when the patient must first of all pay for the services, and then the expenses are reimbursed after the patient has presented the source documents.
Answer: There are three possibilities of ensuring the reimbursement: - If the patient has enough resources at his or her disposal to pay the bill, then the insurant can pay it and then, after having returned to the home country, to submit an application to the insurance company by presenting payment cheques and doctor’s statement;- The medical institution sends a medical statement and a bill to the IJSC “Seesam Latvia” that guarantees payment of the bill;- Contact with the IJSC “Seesam Latvia" helpdesk International SOS located in France and this institution will guarantee the payment.
What is the difference between the EHIC and the travel insurance? Why travel insurance is also needed?
Answer: The EHIC or the European Health Insurance Card ensures urgent medical aid and the necessary medical assistance in each state in a certain field provided by the medical institution that provides State guaranteed medical services. The EHIC does not cover patient fees, if existent in the respective state, or repatriation (transportation) expenses in the case of a serious illness or death. Travel insurance covers repatriation and medical transport expenses in the case of an accident or a sudden illness. Travel insurance would also cover medical expenses in almost any medical institution (except for the institutions with an increased level of service, on which it is necessary to have a separate agreement), while the EHIC card covers expenses only in those medical institutions that ensure state guaranteed medical services.
I already have accident insurance. Why should I purchase travel insurance?
Answer: Accident insurance functions differently if compared with travel insurance. Reimbursement in the case of an accident is being paid for the fact that has taken place, whereas travel insurance functions according to compensation principle, i.e. all additional expenses for medical treatment, like, transportation, are reimbursed.
What is a home country?
Answer: A home country is the state of citizenship and/or the state that has issued a residence permit, and/or the previous state of residence.
Do I have to mention the state where I’m going to (in other companies, for instance, the USA, there is a different programme)?
Answer: IJSC "Seesam Latvia” provides for equal provisions in all parts of the world, which means that there is no need to mention the state where you are going to (except for the states where active military operations take place).
Is the price for skiing and snowboarding equal?
Answer: The price is the same since both these sports are of an increased level of risk.
If I take a plane while the inventory is delivered to the place by a car/a bus, is my inventory also insured provided that I have purchased an “supplementary” or “gold” insurance policy for skiers/snowboarders also for the time period when the inventory is being transported?
Answer: No, it is not insured. The inventory is insured in relation to a certain person that takes it with him or her during the trip. If the inventory is being transported separately, it should be insured separately.
Is it possible to insure infants?
Answer: Infants and children under the age of sever (included) are insured free of charge if they take a trip together with their parents.
Is it possible to ensure pensioners?
Answer: It is possible to ensure any person under the age of 70 choosing any travelling programme. There is a special “seniors’ programme" offered for persons aged from 71 to 80 (included).
If my skis are stolen or damaged and I have no possibility to buy new ones for the price of 100 or 200 EUR, can I submit a rent cheque?
Answer: If such risk as inventory damage or theft during the trip is included into the policy, then, of course, the rent expenses will be reimbursed under the limit provided for in the policy.
How should I act in the case of an accident? Do I have to call to France?
Answer: In the case of an accident, first of all, you have to find a doctor in order to prevent any danger to your health. After the visit of a doctor it is recommended to get in touch with the helpdesk in France or IJSC “Seesam Latvia” office depending on the gravity of the situation.
What is the benefit for the person having purchased travelling policy?
Answer: In the case of an unforeseen event, like, a sudden illness, an accident, delay of the flight/luggage, all unplanned expenses of the client will be reimbursed.
Whether Seesam reimburses all unplanned expenses or a self-risk also exists (in relation to medical diseases)?
Answer: IJSC “Seesam Latvia” does not provide for any self-risk in the case of expenses for medical services for short-term and yearlong travelling programmes. An exception is provided for yearlong travelling programmes issued by the IJSC “Seesam Latvia” and associated to bank cards.
What amount of money should a client pay in the case if he or she pays for medical insurance on his or her own?
Answer: It depends on the pricelist of a medical institution of the respective state. In general, simple cases (illness, small injuries) do not exceed 300 – 500 EUR.
What is the term for submitting an application for reimbursement of expenses?
Answer: The application must be submitted within 30 days from the date of the occurrence (apart from the trip cancelling risk, which should be submitted before the beginning of the planned trip). If one fails to submit an application within the deadline, then an explanation regarding the reasons of the delay should be attached to the application.
If a client has purchased a Golden policy and the place delayed, does this mean that the client would receive 200 EUR?
Answer: The client would receive reimbursement for unplanned expenses occurred due to the delay of the flight. No compensation is made for the fact. All expenses starting from the time of departure to real departure with the following flights will be reimbursed. The minimum delay of a flight is four hours.
Whether the third party insurance reimbursement will be valid in the vase if I would rent a car?
Answer: Personal civil liability will not be valid in the case if you would rent a car. This neither applies to the case if a car rent agreement of any kind would be concluded.
If, during the trip, I visit any other state, will the insurance policy remain valid there?
Answer: The IJSC “Seesam Latvia” travel insurance is valid in the entire world, except for the home country. Consequently, you can visit any state.
How would the insurance company find out how much time I would have spent outside Latvia but within the EU if I have a yearlong programme up to 90 days per year?
Answer: In the case of doubt, the IJSC “Seesam Latvia” has the right to request additional information from the client for the time spent on trips and his business.
Should I contact the SOS helpdesk in the case if the delivery of my luggage is delayed or it is lost?
Answer: You should contact the helpdesk only in the case of expenses related with medical services, repatriation or use of medical transport.
How should I act in the case of an injury, due to which I am not able to make a call or if the insurant is in coma?
Answer: If the insurant has an insurance policy or a plastic card issued by the IJSC "Seesam Latvia” with him, then this is the medical institution that would get in touch with the IJSC “Seesam Latvia” or the helpdesk.
Do I have to inform on the cases when I have not made a payment myself but contacted the SOS helpdesk and they have settled everything down?
Answer: No, you do not have to report on those cases because this already is the helpdesk that informs IJSC “Seesam Latvia” on any case related with the insurant.
Do we have to report on the case if I have not made a payment myself and I have not told anyone – "Services in the Swiss hospital were free of charge!"?
Answer: In the case if the bill is not issued, the medical institution would get in touch with the insurance company or sent the bill by post. If a bill is received by post, it is possible to report on this right after the bill is received observing the time frame of 30 days starting from the receipt of the bill. If the medical service received in Swiss is reimbursed in the frameworks of the EHIC, then you do not have to report on this case.
In what cases the risk of civil liability is valid?
Answer: Civil liability is valid in the cases when the insurant causes losses for the third person or his profit by means of his body or through carelessness (inattentiveness).
What information is required to purchase a travel insurance policy?
Answer: In order for the insurance agent to prepare a travel insurance policy, the following information is required: name, surname, and personal number, and address, period of the trip and aim of the trip.
Is travel insurance policy valid when going to Byelorussia?
Answer: We offer a separate travel insurance programme for trips to Byelorussia.
In what time period must I pay for the policy?
Answer: Travel insurance policy must be paid before the beginning of the insurance period.
How to cancel or terminate a policy?
Answer: To cancel or terminate a policy the following documents must be submitted:
1. Completed application for cancellation or termination of an insurance policy.
2. If a bank or leasing company is indicated as a beneficiary or the insured person in the policy, then, together with a written notice or the Policy cancellation application, the policyholder (or his authorized representative) or the vehicle owner (or his authorized representative) shall submit to the insurer an official letter of the bank or the leasing company containing authorisation of the bank or the leasing company to cancel this insurance contract.
3. Power of attorney from the policyholder or the owner of the vehicle, if the refundable premium is refunded to another person.
