LähiTapiola
LähiTapiola is a travel insurance for the FI market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
LähiTapiola's 24/7 Matkahätäpalvelu (Travel Emergency Service) coordinates care abroad, including pre-authorising medical transport to Finland when medically necessary; the insurer pre-approves repatriation costs. Direct billing arrangements are handled in cooperation with SOS International. For domestic incidents, policyholders can access LähiTapiola health partners without upfront payment once the deductible is satisfied.
Geographic scope
FI
Worldwide (as noted on policy certificate); valid in Finland when destination is more than 50 km from home, workplace, study place or holiday home; not valid in war-risk zones; not valid in uninhabited areas outside Nordic countries more than a day's walk from permanent settlement and road access
Unique selling points
- Medical expenses covered with no deductible and no monetary ceiling — unlimited benefit for both illness and accident treatment abroad.
- Children under 18 travelling with the insured are automatically covered at no extra cost under the adult's traveller insurance.
- 24/7 multilingual Travel Emergency Service (Matkahätäpalvelu) is included as standard, operating in cooperation with SOS International and reachable from abroad at +358 800 0 4531.
- LähiTapiola is the only insurer in Finland whose travel insurance also earns S-ryhmä Bonus (up to 5%) and loyalty discounts of up to 17% for consolidating policies.
- The fixed-term policy covers trips from a single day up to 3 months and can be purchased entirely online instantly before departure, with no waiting period for medical coverage.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses (illness and accident treatment costs)
Covered
Covers treatment costs for sudden illness or accident occurring during travel with no deductible and no maximum monetary benefit limit. Illness treatment covered for up to 120 days from start of medical care; accident treatment covered for up to 3 years from the accident. Covered items include physician fees, prescribed investigations, treatments and procedures, hospital daily charges, prescribed medications, travel costs to treatments within the destination, and repatriation pre-approved by LähiTapiola.
Emergency medical treatment
Covered
Covers emergency and acute medical treatment arising from sudden illness or accident during travel; no deductible and no monetary ceiling. Treatment must be sought during the trip or within one week of the trip's end.
Hospitalization (hospital daily charges)
Covered
Hospital daily charges incurred due to a travel illness or travel accident are covered as part of medical expenses, with no deductible and no monetary limit.
Outpatient treatment
Covered
Outpatient physician consultations, prescribed investigations, treatments, procedures and medications are covered under medical expenses with no deductible and no monetary limit.
Emergency dental treatment
Covered
Covers emergency dental first-aid treatment for sudden toothache or a dental injury caused by biting that begins during an international trip, up to a maximum of EUR 120.
Medical transport (repatriation to Finland)
Covered
Covers medically necessary patient transport (ambulance transport) back to Finland when pre-approved by LähiTapiola, and also covers reasonable travel costs to treatments and investigations within the destination country.
Medical evacuation
Covered
Medically necessary evacuation (including air ambulance) to Finland is covered when pre-approved by LähiTapiola in cooperation with SOS International. The 24/7 Matkahätäpalvelu coordinates evacuation arrangements.
Repatriation of mortal remains
Covered
Covers the cost of transporting a deceased insured person's remains back to Finland, subject to LähiTapiola's prior approval.
Search and rescue
Not offered
Search and rescue costs are not explicitly listed as a covered benefit in the verified sources for this product.
COVID-19 treatment
Covered
COVID-19 is treated as any other sudden illness that begins during the trip; treatment costs are covered under the standard medical expenses benefit with no deductible and no monetary limit, provided the illness first manifests during the trip and was not present before departure.
Pre-existing conditions (sudden acute worsening)
Conditional
A pre-existing illness or injury that suddenly and unexpectedly worsens during the trip is covered for first-aid equivalent treatment at the destination for up to 10 days from the start of treatment. Treatment for the underlying pre-existing condition itself (i.e. not the acute worsening) is not covered; treatment that was already underway at departure is also excluded.
Winter sports cover
Conditional
Recreational skiing and other non-competitive winter sports are covered for persons under 18 automatically. For adults (18+), standard recreational skiing is covered unless it falls under the excluded risk sports categories (e.g. freestyle skiing). Competitive winter sports and risk-category winter sports are excluded for adults; the fixed-term (määräaikainen) policy cannot be extended to cover competitive or high-risk sports.
Adventure and risk sports cover
Conditional
For persons under 18, all sports and risky activities are automatically covered. For adults (18+), the fixed-term policy does NOT cover competitive sports, professional sports, or activities listed as high-risk in the policy terms (e.g. scuba diving, skydiving, bungee jumping, freestyle skiing). The fixed-term policy cannot be extended to cover these activities. A separate sports extension is available only with the continuous (jatkuva) policy.
Pregnancy complications
Conditional
Coverage applies only to pregnancy-related incidents occurring before week 29 of pregnancy. If delivery occurs during the trip, the newborn is automatically covered from birth.
Personal liability (travel liability insurance)
Covered
Covers personal injury and property damage caused to third parties during the trip for which the insured is legally liable, up to EUR 100,000 per event. LähiTapiola will investigate the basis and amount of any claim presented to the insured. Excludes damage to own property, intentional damage, traffic accidents, and damage caused in employment.
Legal assistance (travel legal expenses insurance)
Covered
Covers legal counsel costs in civil, criminal or petition matters related to and arising directly from the trip and travel, up to EUR 10,000 per incident. A 15% of costs excess applies. LähiTapiola must be notified before legal costs are incurred. Valid worldwide on trips starting from Finland.
24/7 Travel Emergency Assistance (Matkahätäpalvelu)
Covered
A 24-hour emergency assistance service (Matkahätäpalvelu) is included as standard with the traveller insurance. Available by calling +358 800 0 4531 from abroad; provides guidance in Finnish, Swedish and English; assists with finding suitable medical care, practical arrangements, and acts in cooperation with SOS International.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
There is no explicit deadline stated in the sources for calling the Matkahätäpalvelu, but the insurer must pre-approve medically necessary repatriation before it is arranged. Treatment must be sought during the trip or within one week of the trip's end for costs to be eligible.
Unauthorized treatment
Treatment costs are covered only if treatment is sought during the trip or within one week of the trip's end. Costs not pre-approved by LähiTapiola (particularly repatriation and major transport arrangements) may not be reimbursed. Failure to notify LähiTapiola before incurring legal costs under the legal expenses insurance results in non-coverage.
Purchase while abroad
The insurance contract must always be concluded before the trip begins. It is not possible to purchase the fixed-term travel insurance after the trip has started.
Chronic conditions
Chronic or pre-existing conditions that were already being treated or had ongoing treatment at the time of departure are not covered. Only a sudden and unexpected acute worsening of a pre-existing condition is covered, and only for first-aid equivalent treatment for up to 10 days from the start of treatment at the destination.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related incidents are covered only up to and including week 28 of pregnancy (i.e. only events occurring before week 29). If childbirth occurs during the trip, the newborn is covered from birth. Pregnant travellers should plan travel timing accordingly.
pre_existing_conditions
Conditions that started before the trip are generally not covered. Exception: a sudden and unexpected acute worsening of a pre-existing condition is covered for first-aid equivalent treatment at the destination for up to 10 days from the start of treatment. Treatment already in progress at departure is excluded.
coverage_duration_limit
The fixed-term (määräaikainen) policy is valid for a maximum of 3 months per trip. Illness treatment is covered for up to 120 days from the start of medical care; accident treatment for up to 3 years from the accident date. For trips longer than 3 months, the continuous (jatkuva) policy is required.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Trip cancellation
Covers costs for cancelled trips if compelled by sudden illness, injury, or death of insured or family member
Trip interruption
Covers costs for prematurely interrupted trips due to sudden illness, injury or death of insured or close family member
Trip delay
Covers additional costs incurred when arriving late to a booked trip due to weather or technical issues during transfer
Baggage coverage
Covers damage and theft of baggage; includes compensation for emergency necessities if baggage arrives late to destination
Emergency service
24/7 emergency assistance service for medical emergencies and accidents during travel; multilingual support
Minimum distance requirement
Insurance is valid for trips at least 50 kilometers away from home, vacation property, workplace, or study location
Maximum trip duration
Trip-specific policy (määräaikainen) valid for maximum 3 months per trip; continuous policy also valid for max 3 months per individual trip unless extended
Eligibility criteria
Insurance available to persons aged 0-99 with valid Kela card, permanent Finnish residence, and residing in Finland more than 6 months per calendar year
Dependent coverage
Children under 18 years, grandchildren under 18, and spouse's children automatically covered in insured's traveler insurance when traveling together
Sports coverage limitation
Comprehensive traveler insurance automatically covers sports and risky activities for under-18s; adults require separate sports extension for activities like scuba diving, skydiving, or freestyle skiing
Pregnancy coverage limit
Insurance covers claims arising from pregnancy events only up to pregnancy week 29; childbirth during travel automatically covers newborn