Tourist insurance helps to arrange and pay for emergency medical and other specified assistance outside Kazakhstan. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the protection of tourists on organized outbound tours is regulated by the Law "On Compulsory Insurance of Tourists".
What the solution provides
Arrangement and payment of emergency medical care through an assistance company, within the limits of the programme.
Individual calculation
The cost depends on the country, duration, sum insured, age, sports and additional risks.
Important: in the event of a sudden illness or injury abroad, first contact the assistance company on the number shown in your insurance certificate, if your condition allows. Paying on your own without prior approval may complicate the reimbursement of expenses.
Who is involved in compulsory tourist insurance
- the policyholder is the outbound tour operator that enters into the contract;
- the insured is the tourist travelling abroad;
- the insurer is a licensed insurance organization;
- the assistance company is the organization that coordinates medical, technical and other assistance;
- the travel agent is a participant in the sale of the tourist product and in passing on the necessary information.
The insurance certificate must contain the details needed to confirm your cover and request help. Keep it on your phone and separately in a place accessible to your family.
How a travel policy differs from OSMS
Kazakhstan's compulsory social health insurance (OSMS) system is intended for medical care within the national system and does not replace an insurance policy for expenses abroad. A foreign clinic may demand a payment guarantee, a deposit or payment on the spot.
A travel policy applies in the stated territory and for the stated period. It arranges help through an international or regional assistance network, within the sum insured and the terms of the programme.
What the programme may cover
| Section | Example of assistance | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical care | Doctor's examination, diagnostics, treatment and hospitalization | The limit, deductible and exclusions |
| Medical transportation | Transfer to a clinic or another medical facility | Who decides on transportation |
| Repatriation | Return home on medical grounds, or the expenses provided for in the event of death | The approval procedure and documents |
| Dental care | Urgent treatment of acute pain or injury | A separate sub-limit |
| Additional services | Communication, interpreting, legal or technical help | Whether they are included in the chosen programme |
The scope of cover depends on the programme and the purpose of the trip. Planned treatment, preventive check-ups and services without medical necessity are usually not part of emergency travel protection.
Sum insured and territory
The sum insured limits the maximum amount of payments under the contract. Lower sub-limits may apply to certain services. Choose the amount with the country in mind: the cost of hospitalization, diagnostics and transportation varies significantly between states.
The territory must include all the countries on the route, including transit. Wording such as "worldwide", "Europe" or a separate zone may contain excluded states. Check visa and entry requirements immediately before the trip.
Policy period
The insurance period must cover the whole length of the journey. If the trip is extended while you are already abroad, as part of the tourist service, a new compulsory tourist insurance contract is required for the additional days, in the manner established by law.
For frequent trips there are annual programmes that limit the duration of each trip. Do not confuse the total term of the contract with the maximum number of days of a single journey.
The assistance company
Assistance is the practical organization of help on the spot. The coordination centre clarifies the tourist's symptoms and location, selects a medical facility, agrees a payment guarantee and monitors the treatment.
- save the 24-hour number and alternative means of contact;
- check that multilingual support is available;
- find out whether you must call before visiting a clinic;
- give the policy number, your name, the country and the nature of the event;
- note the case number and the operator's name;
- keep correspondence, prescriptions and invoices.
Sports and active leisure
A standard programme may not cover injuries from skiing, diving, mountaineering, surfing, motor sports, high-altitude hiking or competitions. The type of activity must be declared before the policy is issued.
Check the definition of amateur and professional sport, the permitted altitude, depth, route category and supervision requirements. A simple "sports" box does not guarantee cover for a specific activity.
Pregnancy and chronic conditions
Travel insurance is not intended for routine monitoring and treatment abroad. Emergency care for pregnancy complications or an acute flare-up of a chronic condition may be covered only within special conditions and time limits.
Before the trip, find out the restrictions on the stage of pregnancy, the list of urgent conditions and the sub-limit. A chronic diagnosis should be disclosed truthfully if the questionnaire asks for it.
COVID-19 and infectious diseases
Cover for infectious diseases depends on the programme, the restrictions in force and the nature of the care. Find out whether diagnostics, treatment, medical transportation and additional accommodation costs during isolation are included.
Expenses caused by trip cancellation or a border closure are not automatically medical. They require separate cover for trip cancellation or interruption.
What is usually not covered
- planned treatment and examinations;
- events before the start or after the end of the contract;
- treatment of the condition for which the trip was made;
- expenses without medical indications;
- alcohol or drug intoxication, where the exclusion applies;
- hazardous sports not included in the programme;
- hostilities, mass disorder and special risks;
- going on your own to an expensive clinic without approval, when approval was possible;
- failure to follow a doctor's instructions or refusal of agreed transportation;
- cosmetic and dental procedures, other than the emergency care provided for.
How to arrange a suitable policy
- State all the countries and dates of the trip.
- Define the purpose: leisure, work, study or sport.
- Choose a sum insured that reflects the cost of medical care.
- Add active pursuits and other necessary risks.
- Check the deductible and sub-limits.
- Find out which assistance company is used and how to reach it.
- Check that your name and passport details are correct.
- Keep the certificate, the rules and the proof of payment.
What to do in case of illness or injury
- If life is at risk, call the local emergency service.
- Contact the assistance company as soon as possible.
- Give the policy number, your symptoms and your location.
- Follow the instructions on choosing a clinic.
- Do not agree to optional expensive procedures without checking the cover.
- Keep medical reports, prescriptions, invoices and proof of payment.
- If you paid yourself, find out how reimbursement works.
If it was impossible to reach the assistance company, record the reason and act with your safety in mind. Once your condition has stabilized, report the event and keep evidence of the emergency.
Documents for reimbursement
- a notice of the insured event;
- the insurance certificate;
- your passport and travel documents;
- a medical report with the diagnosis and dates;
- prescriptions, referrals and test results;
- original invoices and proof of payment;
- transportation documents;
- correspondence and the case number with the assistance company;
- bank details.
Additional cover
Medical insurance can be supplemented with optional protection:
- trip cancellation or interruption;
- flight or baggage delay;
- loss of documents;
- the tourist's civil liability;
- accident;
- damage to sports equipment;
- search and rescue operations.
Each section has its own events, limits and documents. A flight delay is not covered by the medical section merely because both are in the same policy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a policy while I am abroad?
This depends on the law and the programme rules. A waiting period may apply. A special compulsory insurance procedure applies to the extension of an organized trip.
Is insurance required for a visa?
The requirements are set by the destination country or the visa centre. Check the minimum sum, territory, period and acceptable format immediately before applying.
Will the insurer pay for treatment directly?
The assistance company can arrange a payment guarantee for the clinic. In some cases the tourist pays the expenses personally and claims reimbursement on the basis of documents.
Does the policy cover lost baggage?
Only if that risk is included separately. Medical cover alone does not insure baggage.
What should I do if the assistance company does not answer?
Use the alternative contacts, keep a record of your attempts to get through and, if necessary, obtain emergency care. Then notify the insurer as quickly as possible.
Licence and the compulsory class of insurance
Compulsory insurance services are provided only by insurance companies and branches of non-resident insurance organizations that hold the appropriate licence in Kazakhstan. The tour operator and the travel agent take part in arranging tourist insurance, but the insurer under the contract is a licensed organization.
Conclusion
Medical insurance for tourists works best when the programme matches the route, the duration and the actual activities on the trip. Before departure, check the dates, territory, sum insured, assistance company, exclusions and the claims procedure.
This material is for information only and is not a substitute for medical care. The terms of payments are determined by law and by the contract with a licensed insurance company.