Ethias SA
Ethias
Ethias is a travel insurance for the Belgium market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Ethias may pay medical costs either as a direct advance to the foreign doctors or hospitals, or reimburse the policyholder upon return to Belgium against submission of all original supporting documents detailing the treatment provided and the nature of the illness.
Geographic scope
Belgium and worldwide
Cover applies in Belgium outside the policyholder's domicile, and worldwide, excluding countries at war or experiencing civil unrest and countries where free movement of persons is not permitted. For stays exceeding 90 consecutive days, only incidents occurring during the first 90 days are covered (extended to 120 days if a WHO-declared pandemic closes borders on day 90).
Unique selling points
- No deductible applies — claims under the travel assistance cover are reimbursed in full up to the stated limits.
- The Assistance Family policy automatically covers your entire household domiciled in Belgium, including children of any age, with no surcharge per person.
- Medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and hospitalisation costs abroad are reimbursed up to €500,000 per insured person and per event.
- A dedicated Ethias Assistance helpline is available 24/7 to organise medical repatriation and emergency support anywhere in the world.
- You can calculate your quote and sign your Ethias insurance policy directly online.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses abroad
Covered
Reimbursement of pharmaceutical, surgical and hospitalisation costs incurred abroad due to accident or illness, up to €500,000 per insured person and per event.
Emergency medical treatment
Not offered
Not itemised as a separate benefit; emergency medical costs are covered under the outpatient, hospitalisation and transport provisions.
Hospitalisation costs abroad
Covered
Reimbursement of pharmaceutical, surgical and hospitalisation costs abroad up to €500,000 per insured person and per event, payable as an advance to the foreign hospital or reimbursed on return to Belgium.
Ambulatory (outpatient) medical care
Covered
Reimbursement of ambulatory medical care costs prescribed by a doctor abroad, limited to €1,250 per insured person and per event.
Emergency dental care
Covered
Reimbursement of dental care costs abroad up to €125 per insured person and per event.
Medical transport
Covered
Organisation and cost of transport of the sick or injured insured person (by train, ambulance, hire vehicle, scheduled or air-ambulance flight) to a hospital or better-equipped facility, under medical supervision if required. No stated monetary cap; transport must be pre-approved by Ethias.
Medical repatriation / evacuation
Covered
Repatriation of the insured person to Belgium, or transfer to a better-equipped hospital, organised by Ethias in agreement with the local doctor and family, at no stated cap; must be pre-approved by Ethias.
Repatriation of remains
Covered
In the event of death abroad, Ethias covers coffin costs up to €750, administrative and post-mortem formalities, and organises and pays for the repatriation of the remains to the home or a funeral home in Belgium (transport of the body itself is uncapped); ceremony and burial costs remain with the family.
Search and rescue costs
Covered
In the event of an accident or disappearance abroad, Ethias covers search and rescue costs up to €6,250.
COVID-19 treatment
Not offered
The policy does not address COVID-19 treatment cover specifically; it only extends the 90-day trip cover to 120 days if a WHO-declared pandemic causes border closures on day 90.
Pre-existing conditions
Excluded
Costs linked to pre-existing conditions, continuation of treatment of a previously known illness, or relapse of an illness contracted before departure are excluded from both repatriation and reimbursement.
Winter sports cover
Covered
In case of an accident on or off a ski slope, Ethias covers sled/helicopter descent costs and transfer to hospital with no stated cap, plus reimbursement of the unused, pro-rata ski-pass cost up to €125 (on medical certificate) if the insured cannot ski due to accident or illness.
Adventure sports cover
Not offered
Not addressed by the policy, other than a narrow exclusion for participation as a competitor in motorsport competitions (races, rallies).
Pregnancy complications
Conditional
Pregnancy does not give rise to repatriation or reimbursement unless a clear and unforeseen complication occurs. Childbirth costs and voluntary termination of pregnancy are always excluded.
Personal liability
Not offered
Not covered by this assistance policy; no personal liability benefit is described in the sources.
Legal assistance / bail and lawyer's fees advance
Covered
If the insured is imprisoned or threatened with imprisonment following a traffic accident, Ethias advances the criminal bail demanded by the authorities up to €12,500, and may also advance lawyer's fees up to €1,250 per insured person; both advances are repayable within six months.
24/7 assistance line
Covered
A dedicated Ethias Assistance hotline is available 24 hours a day to organise medical contacts, transport, repatriation and other assistance services, operated on behalf of Ethias by IMA Benelux.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
Guaranteed services that were not requested from Ethias during the trip, or not organised by or with the agreement of Ethias, do not give rise to reimbursement or compensation after the fact.
Unauthorized treatment
All medical transport and assistance services must be pre-approved by Ethias; services organised without its prior agreement are not reimbursable.
Purchase while abroad
The sources do not address buying the policy while already abroad. Cover starts the day after payment of the first premium, and at the earliest on the date stated in the special conditions; any request relating to facts predating entry into force of the contract is excluded.
Chronic conditions
Relapses and convalescence from any condition already under treatment, or that has required hospitalisation in the last six months, or at least three episodes of complication or relapse each requiring hospitalisation in the last two years, do not give rise to repatriation.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy does not give rise to repatriation or reimbursement unless a clear and unforeseen complication occurs; childbirth costs and voluntary termination of pregnancy are always excluded.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
Costs linked to pre-existing conditions, continuation of treatment of a previously known illness, or a relapse of an illness contracted before departure abroad are excluded.
Coverage duration limit
For stays exceeding 90 consecutive days abroad, only incidents occurring before the expiry of the first 90 days are covered; this is extended to 120 days if a WHO-declared pandemic causes border closures on day 90. Beyond that, a temporary policy is required.
Policy specifics
Medical expenses abroad
Coverage for medical expenses incurred abroad up to maximum limits
Medical repatriation
Transport and repatriation of insured person in case of illness or accident abroad
Early return coverage
Covers early return in case of death, serious hospitalization of family member, or home damage
Geographic coverage limitation
Coverage excludes countries at war, civil unrest, or where free movement is restricted
Duration limit per trip
Annual insurance covers trips up to maximum of 90 consecutive days abroad
Pre-approval requirement for assistance
All medical transport and assistance services must be pre-approved by Ethias; services organized without approval are not reimbursable
Medical expenses in Belgium excluded
Medical expenses incurred in Belgium are not covered under travel assistance
Intoxication exclusion
Assistance or compensation for events occurring while insured is under influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances is excluded
Automatic family coverage
All family members domiciled in Belgium are automatically covered without per-person surcharge
Payment method for medical costs
Ethias can pay medical costs either as direct advance to foreign providers or reimburse policyholder upon return to Belgium