Health policies with COVID-19 - which to choose?

Many people assume that since they buy health insurance, COVID-19 treatment is „just included.” In practice, this is sometimes not the case. In the T&Cs (general terms and conditions of insurance), COVID-19 may have a separate definition, an additional clause, or specific documentation requirements.

If you are a foreigner in Poland, the choice is even more important. Such a policy often has to meet specific formal conditions, while realistically protecting you from medical costs. In this guide, we show you how to read COVID-19 coverage i which ones to choose, so as not to overpay and be left with a bill.

COVID-19 Coverage This is not a marketing slogan, but the specifics in the T&Cs: what benefits are paid and under what conditions. In many provisions, one encounters the condition that the illness must be confirmed by a diagnostic test (e.g., rRT-PCR or antigenic) and that the costs are to be „medically necessary.”.

Pay attention to the definitions. Often, „hospitalization” means a hospital stay of at least 24 hours (and a mere stay in the ED is not always treated as hospitalization). This affects whether specific benefits will trigger, such as reimbursement for a stay or an additional benefit for a hospital stay.

A good policy with COVID-19 coverage primarily covers the costs of consultation, diagnosis and treatment. With some insurers, there are also „peri-medical” elements, such as isolation costs, medical transportation or teleconsultation. Details depend on the variant and limits.

In practice, it is worth checking whether the coverage applies only to sudden illness or also to complications. In some products, one encounters a definition of „COVID-19 serious illness,” for example, with complications such as acute respiratory failure requiring oxygen therapy or septicemia. This is important, because benefit payments may depend on this definition.

In the T&Cs, you may encounter conditions that need to be met in order for the insurer to cover COVID-19. For example, coverage may require: a negative PCR or antigen test performed up to 72 hours before the start of travel, full vaccination (with 14 days after vaccination), or recovery status for up to 6 months.

These will not always be mandatory conditions in every product, but if they are present, you must be able to document them. Therefore, before you buy, check whether it is an „unconditional” policy, whether it triggers the COVID-19 coverage Only after meeting additional criteria.

To answer the question „which ones to choose”, first match the policy to the situation: whether you are in Poland for a longer period of time (e.g., work, study) or coming for a short time. It makes different sense to have a typical travel policy and another to insure medical expenses for foreigners in Poland.

To get started, you can compare formal requirements and coverage. If you need insurance for your application, check out the guide on insurance for visa and residence cards. If budget is a priority, see also the summary of cheapest policies To the residence card.

The mere presence of „COVID-19” in the name of the clause does not yet tell you whether the sum insured is enough. Compare: the sum insured for medical expenses, limits for diagnosis and treatment, as well as limits for fringe benefits (e.g., room and board in isolation or quarantine). In different products, limits may be given as a total amount or as a daily limit and a maximum number of days.

If you want to better assess the risk, read the material on treatment costs foreigner in Poland. This will make it easier for you to assess whether a particular protection option is „on paper” or actually protects you from large bills.

Even good health policies have exclusions of liability. Most often, they apply to situations in which the insured failed to follow procedures, failed to contact the emergency center or failed to provide required documents. Limitations on pre-contractual conditions (e.g., diagnosed and treated within a certain period of time) may also appear in the T&Cs.

COVID-19 also encounters requirements to provide documents proving that the conditions for protection have been met, such as a test result, proof of vaccination, or a document of recovery. Without this, settlement may be prolonged or rejected.

Here's a quick checklist to help you compare offers without reading the entire T&Cs from cover to cover. If two products cost similarly, it is usually the limits, definitions and billing procedure that differ.