Almost every travel policy sold in Italy, including those bundled with credit cards and tour operator packages, does not cover Ukraine: the terms exclude countries at war or on the Foreign Ministry's advisory list. Here is how to check in five minutes and what to do if your policy does not apply.
Where does the exclusion hide in the policy terms?
Open the information pack (DIP or set informativo) and search for these words: «war», «armed conflict», «countries advised against», «territorial exclusions», «Viaggiare Sicuri». The typical wording is: «claims occurring in countries for which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travel are excluded». Ukraine has been on that list on the Farnesina's Viaggiare Sicuri portal since 2022, so the exclusion applies automatically even if the word «Ukraine» never appears in the document.
Which types of policy are affected?
- Annual or single-trip travel policies from Italian insurers: war and advisory-list exclusions almost always present.
- Credit card insurance (Gold, Platinum, World Elite): same exclusions, often with the added condition that the trip must be paid with the card.
- Corporate business-travel policies: many exclude conflict countries or require a separate «war zone» extension with high premiums.
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/TEAM): not valid in Ukraine, which is neither in the EU nor in the EEA.
What happens if I travel with a policy that excludes Ukraine?
Two separate problems. The first at the border: the Ukrainian border guard asks for a policy that explicitly covers Ukrainian territory; a «Europe» or «Worldwide» policy without the country's name and with a conflict exclusion is not accepted and entry may be refused. The second in case of a claim: even if you got through, the Italian insurer would not reimburse treatment or repatriation, because the event happened in an excluded country. A three-day stay in a private clinic in Kyiv costs €2,000–4,000; a medical evacuation to Poland starts at €8,000.
How do you check in five minutes?
- Download the policy terms from your customer area or ask your broker.
- Search the PDF for «war» and «advises against».
- Check the «Territorial scope» section: if there is a list of covered countries, Ukraine must appear by name.
- If in doubt, ask the insurer in writing: «Does the policy cover medical expenses and repatriation for a stay in Ukraine from X to Y, including injuries from acts of war?». A written answer is worth more than a phone reassurance.
What to do if the policy does not cover it?
You need a policy issued by a company authorised in Ukraine, naming the country and including war risk. That is exactly the document the border guard expects and the insurer's register allows to verify. The EUROINS Complete package covers €30,000 of medical expenses, war risk, radiation and repatriation: for 14 days it costs €24.75, fees included, and the PDF arrives by email in 15 minutes. You can keep your Italian policy for luggage and trip cancellation: the two covers do not overlap.
Does the Italian policy work again once I leave Ukraine?
Yes. The exclusion concerns events occurring in the country advised against. As soon as you are back in Poland or another covered country, the Italian policy applies again under its own terms. That is why many travellers combine the two: the Italian one for the European leg, the Ukraine policy for the days across the border.