For a volunteer assignment in Ukraine you need health insurance that covers Ukrainian territory and war risk and is valid for the entire assignment: both the border guard and almost all aid organisations require this before departure. The Complete plan covers up to €30,000 for a maximum of 180 days and costs €156.08 for three months.
Why do aid organisations require a dedicated policy?
Because ordinary travel and international health insurance policies — including credit-card cover — exclude war zones and countries under a travel warning (Reisewarnung) from Germany's Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). If a volunteer is injured during an aid delivery near the front, the German insurer can refuse to pay by invoking the war exclusion clause (Kriegsklausel). Organisations know this and, before accreditation, ask for a policy that explicitly names Ukraine and injuries caused by acts of war. The EUROINS Complete policy contains both points in an English-language document that coordinators on the ground can read too. Background in the guide Why German travel health insurance usually does not apply.
Which plan suits an aid assignment?
| Basic | Complete | |
|---|---|---|
| Sum insured | €2,300 | €30,000 |
| War risk | no | yes |
| Medical evacuation | yes | yes |
| Repatriation of remains to Germany | no | yes |
| 3 days, fees included | €3.56 | €5.75 |
| 30 days | €32.72 | €52.40 |
| 90 days | €97.52 | €156.08 |
| 180 days | €194.72 | €311.60 |
For humanitarian assignments the answer is: Complete. Each additional day costs €1.73 (Basic: €1.08). The Basic plan only makes sense for short visits to cities far from the front, such as a weekend in Lviv to hand over supplies to a shelter.
How long is the policy valid, and can it be extended?
From 3 to 180 days in a single policy. If the assignment lasts longer, you buy a new policy starting the day after the old one expires — from inside Ukraine as well: the PDF arrives by email in about 15 minutes. Bear in mind that German citizens may stay visa-free for only 90 days within 180 days: for longer assignments the organisation has to apply for a temporary residence permit.
Can I insure a whole team in one order?
Yes. In the form you add up to 9 fellow travellers, each with their name as in the passport, passport number, date of birth and nationality. Every person pays the same price, payment is made once, and every person receives their own policy. For a team of four volunteers, 30 days on Complete cost €209.60 (4 × €52.40). Split larger groups across several orders.
What do I do in case of accident or illness?
- Call the emergency assistance centre whose number is in the policy PDF (around the clock, English spoken), or 103 for the ambulance service.
- Give the policy number: the centre arranges the nearest partner hospital and settles the bill directly with the clinic, up to the sum insured.
- Keep medical reports and receipts in case you had to pay something up front: you claim reimbursement from the insurer with the original documents.
- Inform your organisation's coordinator and, in serious cases, the German Embassy in Kyiv or the Federal Foreign Office (+49 30 18170). Contacts are in the guide on the German Embassy in Kyiv.
What is not covered for volunteers?
- Chronic and pre-existing conditions and planned treatment.
- Accidents under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Military or paramilitary activity: the policy covers civilian volunteering, not service in armed units.
- Luggage, equipment, vehicles and third-party liability.
Pre-departure checklist for volunteers
- Complete policy for the whole assignment, the PDF on your phone and a printout for the coordinator.
- Registration on the Federal Foreign Office's ELEFAND crisis-preparedness list (krisenvorsorgeliste.diplo.de).
- A letter from the organisation with contacts in Ukraine: not mandatory at the border, but it speeds up checks and helps at checkpoints inside the country.
- A personal first-aid kit and regular medication with a prescription.
- Air-raid alert app installed and numbers saved: 112 emergency, 103 ambulance, the policy's emergency assistance centre.
- Travel planning with the curfew in mind: arrivals and journeys before the curfew begins.
You can calculate the price for the length of your assignment in the calculator on the home page; more answers are in the frequently asked questions.