Hosting Ukrainian refugees: what you need to know in terms of insurance

27 April 2022

The war in Ukraine has pushed millions into exile. In Belgium, many families have applied to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes or to make their second residence or currently-unoccupied rental property available. Questions are now being asked about coverage under different insurance policies. Assuralia, the professional association of insurance undertakings, supports the wave of solidarity shown by so many citizens and associations and is stepping up to answer the insurance questions arising in these exceptional circumstances.

Insurance is based on the principle of peace of mind offered by the various insurance products. This principle is reflected in the solidarity initiatives put in place by many citizens and with which insurers are associated. They want to support their policyholders and contribute to creating a truly safe home; an environment to which everyone is entitled. An overview of insurance issues relating to home, motor and personal liability insurance.

In your home: are refugees insured?

If you are hosting Ukrainian guests for a short or long period of time, your insurance company will also cover the new residents under your existing family and/or fire insurance policy. Some specific examples:

If a refugee unintentionally causes damage to a third party, your family insurance will compensate the victim. For example, if he or she unintentionally hits a neighbour while riding a bicycle, resulting in a broken arm for that neighbour, your insurance will cover the damage caused.
Your children and those of your guests are playing in a park and accidentally break the mirror of a parked vehicle; your family insurance will cover the damage caused.
If a refugee causes unintended damage in your home that is covered by fire insurance – such as a broken window from a soccer ball, damage caused by a fire or a tap that he or she forgot to turn off – your fire insurance will cover the damage caused.

Offering an empty property: what insurance cover?

In the vast majority of cases, families are hosting refugees in the family home. However, some owners are also offering a currently-unoccupied rental property or their second residence to families of Ukrainian refugees.

In this case, the arrangements in terms of insurance coverage that must be made by the owner and/or the refugees to cover the damage that could be caused to this dwelling by the refugees and to cover the damage that could be caused to the refugees' contents must be examined on a case-by-case basis with the insurance intermediary or the insurer.

In your vehicle: are refugees insured?

Are you driving the children of a refugee family to school? They will also be covered under your current motor insurance. Do you allow one of your temporary residents to occasionally drive your car to, for example, sort out administrative formalities? Provided that this person has a valid driving licence, he or she will also be insured through your current motor insurance.

If coming from Ukraine by car, do refugees have to take out insurance in Belgium?

Ukrainian vehicles insured in Ukraine remain insured once they arrive in Belgium. Drivers can use their vehicle in Belgium without worrying, if their insurance is in order. However, if they do not have insurance, they must take out a frontier insurance policy valid for 30 days. They would, in principle, have been offered this insurance at the borders of the countries they passed through but it is still possible to take it out in Belgium.

If the refugees who arrive in our country stay for more than six months, they must register their vehicle and insure it in Belgium since the insurance must be taken out in the country in which it is usually parked.

Do supplementary health insurance policies extend to temporary members of the household?

Whether it is hospitalisation insurance, outpatient treatment insurance or dental care insurance, supplementary policies only cover the persons included in the contract and do not apply to persons housed on a temporary basis.

Extension of legal protection coverage

All of these scenarios reflect how insurance cover is applied by all insurance companies. However, some insurers grant additional coverage such as extending legal protection insurance to temporarily housed Ukrainian refugees.

For information about the specific conditions or extensions of cover, contact your insurer or your insurance intermediary (agent and broker). They remain your preferred point of contact and will provide you with help and advice. Assuralia is also here to help and answer any specific questions that the persons concerned may have.