Do you need insurance for a trip to Kazakhstan

Russian citizens enter Kazakhstan without a visa, including with an internal passport. Tourists are not asked for medical insurance at the border. But the OMS policy is valid only in Russia: in Kazakhstan you are a foreigner, and treatment in clinics is paid, except in cases provided for by intergovernmental agreements. To avoid dealing with this while ill, it is simpler to buy a travel insurance policy.

Almaty and Astana have good private clinics with modern equipment, while healthcare in small towns and in the mountains is more modest. A serious injury may require transportation to a big city or home — the insurer pays for this within the sum insured.

Which sum to choose

For a business trip or city tourism USD 30,000 is enough. For skiing, trekking or a trip with children, USD 50,000 is better: evacuation from the mountains and subsequent transportation are expensive.

What to consider on a trip to Kazakhstan

  • The Almaty mountains. Shymbulak and Medeu are popular for skiing and skating, and Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon for trekking. Such activities require the active sports option.
  • Long distances. The country is huge and many people travel by car. Consider the accident option and the travel by private car option.
  • Climate. Sharply continental: hot summers and severe frosts in winter, especially in Astana. Frostbite and colds are ordinary insured events.
  • Lakes and resorts. Burabay, Alakol and Kapchagay are full of holidaymakers in summer. Injuries while swimming and during water activities are covered by basic plans, except incidents while intoxicated.
  • Business trips. If you are going to work, especially in production or construction, indicate this in the calculator: an ordinary tourist policy does not cover manual work.

If you travel to Kazakhstan regularly, compare the price of an annual policy: it may be cheaper than several single-trip ones.

How to buy travel insurance to Kazakhstan on polisre.ru

The calculator at the top of the page is already set to “Kazakhstan”. Quotes and purchase are handled by Polis Re’s partner, the Cherehapa service: you compare plans from 16 Russian insurance companies and buy a policy online, and the policy itself is issued by the insurer you choose.

  1. Enter your travel dates and the age of each traveller.
  2. Choose the sum insured and add the options you need: skiing, trekking, accident cover, travel by private car.
  3. Compare plans: the deductible, the assistance company, limits for individual risks and the exclusions in the policy terms.
  4. Enter your first and last name in Latin letters as in your international passport (if you do not have one, use standard transliteration), then pay by card.
  5. The policy is sent to your e-mail. Save it on your phone and print it if that is convenient.

If you fall ill or get injured in Kazakhstan

Do not go to a random clinic: without approval from the assistance company the insurer may refuse to pay or reimburse only part of the costs. Here is the procedure.

  1. Contact the assistance company using the phone number in the policy. Call costs are reimbursed if the policy includes this service.
  2. Describe the situation and get a case number and the clinic address.
  3. Keep all medical documents and receipts, even if the assistance company paid for treatment.
  4. In an emergency, call an ambulance and report the case to the assistance company as soon as you can.

What counts as an insured event and how to get reimbursed is explained in the “Insured event” section.

Nearby destinations

If your route covers several countries, see the other pages too: insurance to Uzbekistan, insurance to China, insurance to Armenia, insurance to Belarus. The full list of destinations, annual policies and tips on choosing cover are on the travel insurance page.