No travel policy bought in Poland works in Ukraine today, and even if it did, the Ukrainian border guards would not recognise it. These are two separate problems, and it is worth understanding both before you join the queue at Medyka or Dorohusk.
Problem 1: the Polish insurer excludes Ukraine
The general terms and conditions of PZU, Warta, Allianz, Generali, Ergo Hestia, Signal Iduna and Uniqa all contain an exclusion of liability for events in countries to which the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel. Since 24 February 2022 Ukraine has carried the highest, fourth warning level in the Odyseusz system: "Do not travel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Ukraine because of military action".
In practice this means that the cover under your travel policy lapses the moment you cross the border. The same mechanism applies to:
- insurance bundled with a payment card (Visa Platinum, Mastercard World, Revolut Premium): the terms refer to the same exclusions;
- company or group policies, unless the employer has bought special cover for conflict zones, which is rare and expensive;
- insurance from a travel agency or booking platform.
Some specialised foreign insurers (e.g. Battleface) do sell policies for Ukraine, but they lead straight to problem number two.
Problem 2: the border only recognises Ukrainian insurers
Article 7 of the Ukrainian Insurance Act requires foreign nationals to hold a medical policy from an insurer licensed by the National Bank of Ukraine. The DPSU (Ukrainian State Border Guard Service) officer applies the provision literally: he looks at the insurer's name on the document and compares it with the list of licensed companies. A policy from Allianz, Battleface or any other foreign company is not on that list.
The most common scenario when you have no valid policy: the border officer lets you buy Ukrainian insurance on your phone while you wait in the queue. The worst: refusal of entry and a return to the Polish side.
What about the EHIC?
It does not work. The European Health Insurance Card covers the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Ukraine is not part of the system, and Ukrainian hospitals do not accept the EHIC as a form of payment. Nor do Poland and Ukraine have a bilateral agreement on the mutual treatment of tourists.
So what should you buy?
A medical policy from a Ukrainian insurer, issued in your passport details and for specific dates. That is how this service works: the policy is issued by EUROINS Ukraine, licensed by the National Bank of Ukraine, and you receive the PDF within five minutes.
| Basic | Extended | |
|---|---|---|
| Insured sum | €3,000 | €30,000 |
| Accepted at the border | yes | yes |
| Treatment, hospital, ambulance, emergency dental care | yes | yes |
| Injuries from acts of war | yes | yes |
| Medical evacuation and repatriation | yes | yes |
| Radiation risk (option, ×3.5) | yes | yes |
| Price for 3 days | €3.56 | €5.75 |
The cover is identical; only the limit differs. For a weekend in Lviv the Basic plan is enough; for a longer stay, work, volunteering or skiing in Bukovel it is wiser to take €30,000, because a day in intensive care at a private clinic in Kyiv costs €800–1,500.
How the Ukrainian policy works when something happens
You call the 24-hour assistance number from the PDF. The insurer's centre names a hospital and arranges direct payment. In private clinics in Kyiv and Lviv it works as it would in any country; in public hospitals closer to the front you may have to pay upfront and be reimbursed later, so keep every receipt.
Buy insurance or see the full price list. You can read about the other documents in the guide entering Ukraine from Poland.