Most travel and international health insurance policies taken out in Germany — including those bundled with credit cards and annual policies — are not valid in Ukraine: the terms exclude acts of war or countries under a travel warning (Reisewarnung) from Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). Here is how to check in five minutes, and what you can do if your policy does not apply.
Where is the exclusion in the insurance terms?
In the section headed «Ausschlüsse» (exclusions) or «Einschränkungen der Leistungspflicht» (limitations of cover). Open the general terms and conditions (AVB) and search for these German words: «Krieg» (war), «kriegerische Ereignisse» (acts of war), «Reisewarnung» (travel warning), «Auswärtiges Amt», «Geltungsbereich» (territorial scope). Two wordings are typical:
- War exclusion clause (Kriegsklausel): "No cover is provided for loss caused by war, civil war or warlike events." Some contracts cover a "passive war risk" only for a few days after an unexpected outbreak of war — that does not help on a trip to a country that has been at war since 2022.
- Travel-warning clause: "No cover is provided in countries for which a Federal Foreign Office travel warning is in force at the time of entry." This warning has applied to Ukraine since 2022 — so the exclusion takes effect even if the word "Ukraine" does not appear in the contract at all.
Which contracts are affected?
| Type of contract | Typical rule |
|---|---|
| International travel health insurance (annual or single trip) | War exclusion clause and/or travel-warning exclusion almost always included |
| Credit-card travel cover | Same exclusions; often with the added condition that the trip was paid for with the card |
| Employer's business-travel and group insurance | Crisis regions frequently excluded or insurable only with a separate, expensive extension |
| Statutory health insurance (EHIC) | Not valid: Ukraine is neither in the EU nor in the EEA, and there is no social security agreement covering medical costs |
| Private comprehensive health insurance | Cover abroad often limited to Europe or to a fixed period; check the war exclusion clause |
There are exceptions: individual plans do without the travel-warning clause. So do not rely on a rule of thumb — rely on the wording of your contract.
What happens if I travel with a policy that excludes Ukraine?
Two separate problems arise. The first is at the border: under Resolution No. 57 of the Cabinet of Ministers and Art. 7 of the Law on Border Control, the Ukrainian border guard requires a policy that explicitly covers Ukrainian territory. A "Europe" or "Worldwide" policy that does not name the country and excludes war is not accepted; entry can be refused. The second is when something happens: even if you get in, the German insurer will reimburse neither treatment nor repatriation, because the loss occurred in an excluded country. As approximate values: three days as an inpatient in a private clinic in Kyiv cost about €2,000–4,000, and a medical evacuation to Poland from around €8,000.
How do I check my policy in five minutes?
- Download the insurance terms from the customer portal or ask your broker for them.
- Search the PDF for «Krieg» and «Reisewarnung».
- Read the section «Geltungsbereich»: if there is a list of countries, Ukraine must be named.
- If in doubt, ask in writing: "Is there cover for medical treatment and repatriation during a stay in Ukraine from … to …, including injuries caused by acts of war?" A written answer is worth more than information given over the phone.
What should I do if the policy does not apply?
You need a policy from an insurer licensed in Ukraine that names the country and includes war risk — exactly the document the border guard expects and can check in the insurer's register. The Complete plan from EUROINS covers €30,000 of treatment costs, war risk, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains: for 14 days it costs €24.75, all fees included; each additional day is €1.73. The Basic plan (€2,300, without war risk) starts at €3.56 for 3 days. The PDF arrives by email in about 15 minutes. Calculate the price and buy.
You can keep your German travel insurance for luggage and trip cancellation: the two contracts do not overlap.
Does my German policy apply again once I leave Ukraine?
Yes. The exclusion concerns losses that occur in the country under a travel warning. As soon as you are back in Poland or another insured country, your German policy continues to apply under its terms. Many travellers therefore combine the two: the German insurance for the journey through the EU, the policy for Ukraine for the days beyond the border.
Will the embassy step in during an emergency?
No. The German Embassy provides consular assistance — it helps find doctors and keeps in touch with relatives — but it does not pay for treatment or repatriation; assistance under the German Consular Act has to be repaid. What the embassy can do is set out in the guide German Embassy in Kyiv. More answers on cover and prices are in the frequently asked questions.