What is insurance from Russian Railways and other railway companies

Until the two thousand thirteenth year in Russia, when buying a ticket, travelers were required to pay for insurance. Currently, carriers are required to insure liability for possible harm to the health of a passenger or his property every year.

Every person who buys a train or commuter train ticket is already considered insured. By the end of March 2023, Russian Railways has signed an agreement with the insurance company SOGAZ.If an insured event occurred during the trip, the following payments are provided:

• up to 2 025 000 rubles — upon the death of a passenger;
• up to 2 million in case of temporary disability or assignment of a disability group;
• up to 23,000 in case of damage or loss of property.

To receive compensation, it is necessary to provide the insurance company with documents confirming the fact of the trip and proving that the accident was caused by the fault of the carrier. The insurer is obliged to make a payment within a month from the date of receipt of the documents or to justify the reason for the refusal. 

In what cases can insurance payments be refused?

The following situations may serve as grounds for refusal, if an accident has occurred:

• due to drug exposure or intoxication;
• due to the passenger's chronic illness;
• because of an attempt to commit suicide or a crime;
• under force majeure circumstances, for example, during military operations.

What documents must be submitted to the insurance company?

It is necessary to get an act of the incident from the train chief or station chief, certified by his signature. You should contact a medical institution on the first day after the end of the trip, they should issue a certificate signed by the attending physician and stamped, which indicates the exact diagnosis, describes the severity of the injury, the reason for its receipt and the duration of treatment. A notarized death certificate is presented for the deceased passenger. 

In addition, you will need the following documents:

• passport (birth certificate);
• insurance policy (printed);
• application for insurance payment;
• travel ticket.

To prove the theft of luggage, it is necessary to present a certificate issued by the transport police, where the fact of the loss of the passenger's property is recorded. If a robbery has occurred, the insurer will require a certificate of initiation of a criminal case.

How long is the insurance policy valid? 

The policy is considered valid from the moment the passenger boards the train, but not earlier than 30 minutes before its departure. If boarding is performed at an intermediate station, the insurance begins from the moment the train is announced. The validity period of the document ends as soon as the passenger has arrived at the destination and left the station, but no more than 60 minutes after the arrival of the train. 

What are the advantages of a voluntary insurance policy?

It expands the number of possible risks to be compensated and increases the amount of payments. In addition to an accident , this list includes:

• cancellation of the trip;
• late boarding;
• delayed arrival of the train at the destination.

A voluntary insurance policy can be purchased when buying a train ticket at the ticket office. When making out travel documents on the railway company's website, it should be noted that by default there is already a tick in the "I agree" position (if you do not want to buy insurance, it should be removed). The policy will be sent to the passenger's e-mail immediately after paying for the ticket. It is advisable to print it out to take on a trip, but the electronic version is enough. The cost of the policy is not included in the ticket price and usually ranges from 100 to 200 rubles, depending on the selected program. You will not be able to buy insurance later (separately from the ticket).

Registration of additional medical insurance

It is usually issued for the entire period of travel, starting from the day of departure until the day of arrival at the destination. At the request of the passenger, the validity of such a policy can be issued for any period; with it, you can get medical care while away from home.

This medical insurance in case of deterioration of health provides:

• first aid;
• if necessary, hospitalization;
• treatment in a Russian hospital;
• treatment in a polyclinic, outpatient.

If an insured event occurs, you must immediately call the Service Center (phone numbers are indicated in the policy) and inform the operator of the following information:

• passenger's last name (full name);
• number of the insurance document;
• current location;
• circumstances of the insured event;
• what kind of help is needed;
• contact phone number.

Medical insurance is NOT valid for:

• chronic diseases occurring before the purchase of the policy;
• mental or oncological diseases;
• AIDS or hepatitis;
• HIV infection.

Is it possible to cancel the insurance already purchased?

You can take out an insurance policy at any time, but no later than half an hour before the departure of the train. To make a refund, you must contact the cashier, present a travel document and insurance. The cost of insurance will be refunded in full, without additional fees and penalties.

When registering via the website, you will need to provide a printed document. The money is returned to the account from which the ticket and insurance were paid. Again, after refusal, it will be impossible to buy a policy.

If the trip did not take place for any reason, then the money for insurance can be received in full upon submission of documents confirming this fact.

Each person decides independently whether or not to purchase insurance for the duration of travel by rail, but in any case it is worth carefully studying the terms of insurance.