Are there countries "excluded" from travel insurance?

The country you're travelling in is suddenly exposed to a serious security problem, such as
- terrorist attacks,
- wars,
- restrictions on free movement due to a revolution, riots, a coup, a crackdown by the ruling regime, etc.

What should you do?
Is this destination still covered by your travel insurance?
Will your assistance company be able to help you if something happens to you there?

Why are some countries "excluded" from travel insurance?

One of Redion's great strengths is having multiple ways of stepping in abroad, thanks to its extensive network of correspondents and service providers. In some very specific cases, however, the situation on the ground can become such that it's not possible for these local correspondents to intervene effectively and safely, or to have the essential logistical resources needed to help the traveller.
This is why these countries may be contractually excluded from assistance cover.

Under the contractual terms of Redion's travel assistance cover, this concerns countries and regions:

• in a state of war or civil war;
• where security is disrupted by uprisings, riots, popular movements, or acts of terrorism;
• where the free movement of people and goods is hindered;
• affected by strikes or other unforeseen events that prevent Redion from carrying out the services provided for under the contract.

To assess the political and security situation in a country or region, Redion follows the recommendations and notices of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs.

Countries, regions or areas for which the government authorities of the country of residence have issued a negative notice or have advised against all travel for any reason other than essential travel may also be excluded from travel assistance.

In addition, sanctions regimes imposed by the United Nations, Europe, Belgium or other international bodies or organisations on certain territories or countries may prevent us from carrying out or providing a service or payment there, meaning they are excluded.
If you have any questions about these exclusions, please contact our Customer Service during office hours on 02/541.91.91. You'll also find more information by clicking here.

Also get in touch with our Customer Service if you're travelling to Cuba (certificate and assistance cover).

Destinations "banned" by the authorities

If the Belgian authorities impose a formal ban on Belgian citizens travelling to a specific destination, for example as part of the Covid-19 pandemic, Redion Belgium will refuse to intervene as long as this ban remains in place, provided the traveller went to that destination for non-essential travel while the ban was in force.

We follow the same principle when a foreign country formally bans Belgian citizens from entering its territory.

See the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs website for more information.

As far as possible, every effort is made to help you

Taking into account the limitations mentioned above, Redion will always strive to do everything possible to assist you while you're abroad, within the scope of the services provided for under your assistance contract. In line with its assessment of the situation and the logistical resources available on the ground, it may call on its extensive network of correspondents and service providers, even in a difficult situation on the ground.

So events that temporarily occur in a city, region or country that is not excluded don't necessarily mean that no assistance intervention is possible there any more.
For example, riots taking place in one district of a major foreign city, or an act of terrorism targeting a very specific target, don't always stop our local service providers from helping tourists with medical problems elsewhere in the country concerned, or even in the city where the events took place. We may therefore still be able to intervene on the ground.

In the event of political or security unrest, the assistance company will always analyse and assess what its network can do based on the actual situation on the ground, and will follow how events unfold hour by hour.

Get properly informed and make the right choice before you leave

However, we strongly advise travellers to follow the advice of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs and not to travel to countries or regions where travel is advised against.

For any trip outside Europe, we also advise travellers to register on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Travellers Online website.

Cancel your trip or change destination?

Insecurity in a foreign country is not a valid reason for cancelling a trip under Redion's NoGo contract.
However, if you booked your trip through a tour operator, they will assess the situation based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their local correspondents, and will, if necessary, allow you to cancel, postpone or change your travel destination.

Also read:

- the “Travel and safety” dossier

- the article "How do you make a medical assistance request with Redion?"