OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2008. ROSNO experts are worried by the more frequent acute attacks of chronic diseases among the Russian tourists when on vacations abroad. In this summer season, 256 insured tourists have turned to hospitals with health problems related to chronic diseases, of whom 245 were hospitalized, and 4 even died. As compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of such applications has increased by about 35%, reported the press-centre of ROSNO.

Overall, in the 8 months of 2008, the volume of payments made by ROSNO in connection with travellers insurance grew by 25%, as compared to the same period of the previous year. The company has settled over 33 thousand insured accidents and paid over 4.5 million US dollars for the medical assistance provided.

Summing up the preliminary results of the 2008 summer tourist season, ROSNO is noting the decreasing child mortality at resorts, including mortality from drowning cases. Largely thanks to the intensive mass media coverage of safe resort conduct rules and precaution measures for parents traveling abroad with children, the quantity of such cases in ROSNO’s portfolio was made possible to decrease fourfold versus the previous year.

However, this season has become noteworthy for another negative trend: there is an increasing number of tourist applications related to acute attacks of chronic diseases (pancreatic diabetes, asthma, gastrointestinal diseases, cholelithiasis, or hypertension), which are, as a rule, provoked by the rapid change of climate, nutrition and lifestyle, which are counter-indicative for the people with such diagnoses.

Under the law, the insurance company is only obliged to cover those expenses which are stipulated in the terms of the insurance contract and fall within the limits of contractual insurance amount and liability limits. According to the medical classification, the diseases classified as chronic are not covered by the travellers insurance policy. Such insurance policy will only cover medical expenses incurred in connection with acute sudden diseases.

In case of any acute attack of the chronic disease threatening life of the insured tourist, the company will bear emergency medical aid costs within the insurance amount of 1,000 US dollars. Furthermore, the insurer will cover transportation costs and arrange transportation of the affected tourist to Russia (if necessary, accompanied by doctors). All other medical aid expenses incurred in connection with acute attack of the chronic disease shall be paid at the expense of the respective tourists themselves.

"Prior to traveling to another climatic zone, the person suffering from chronic diseases is obliged to visit his or her physician and obtain necessary recommendations, because long-distance trips, change of climate, water, nutrition mode, and other factors can provoke acute attacks of the person’s diseases. And if the tourist decides to spend his or her vacation in another country, it is an important thing to remember that the travellers’ insurance policy contains the number of limitations. Therefore, it is advised to be introduced to the list of diseases excluded from insurance coverage", comments on the situation Mr. Artur Zulfikarov, CEO of Global Voyager Assistance CIS.

"Even if the limit has been used or the event occurring to the client has been excluded from insurance coverage, we never refuse to help the affected tourists. However, the insurant must be ready to pay at his or her own expense for the costs incurred in cases excluded from insurance coverage.

As a rule, the insurer will help with calling emergency aid and will recommend the medical establishments best to apply to, etc. One should never ignore such an opportunity in a foreign country. In case there are any health problems, one should call the phone number specified in the policy without delay. The practice shows that the receiving party is not always fair to the tourists", notes Ms. Svetlana Schwab, head of ROSNO’s Travellers’ Insurance Department.