The basic insurance that can be purchased for a child is accident insurance (NNW), which provides a minimum level of protection. However, for full protection it is also worth ensuring that the child is covered by liability insurance (OC). These two types of insurance are often confused, or it is assumed that OC is part of NNW. In reality, they are two separate products that are worth having to ensure a child is fully protected. What is the difference between NNW and OC in private life?

The main purpose of Child Accident Insurance (NNW) is to provide financial support in the event of sudden accidents. The policy helps the insured return to their pre-accident health by covering treatment costs, rehabilitation, or paying benefits for each day of hospitalization. NNW for children is completely voluntary, often purchased at the beginning of the school year. NNW covers children worldwide throughout the duration of the policy. Regardless of where the incident occurred, the insurance reimburses treatment costs incurred in Poland. These costs also include the purchase of medical equipment, repair of damaged items (e.g. glasses, insulin pump), or dental reconstruction. Child NNW also includes many additional benefits to help children and parents deal with the consequences of an accident: it covers the costs of psychological assistance, legal support, and even tutoring.

Liability insurance (OC) protects us against the consequences of incidents caused by our fault. We most often encounter this type of insurance in the context of motor insurance, where the OC policy protects us from having to cover the costs of damages caused by an accident. The same applies to private liability insurance. Parents often ask about OC policies for their children – however, the fact is that children under the age of 13 do not have legal capacity and are entirely under the responsibility of their parents or guardians, who bear full liability for them. That is why it is important for parents to have private liability insurance that also covers children and the damages they may cause. Such insurance is useful if a child destroys a store display, scratches a parked car, or breaks a neighbor’s window. The injured party has the right to demand compensation from the parents, which can be covered by their OC policy.

Private liability insurance functions as a separate product, but the most cost-effective way to obtain it is by purchasing it as part of home or property insurance. In this case, the policy covers all household members. It is important to remember that OC is not part of the NNW policy, and if additional protection is desired, OC should be arranged separately.

NNW and OC are two separate insurance products, but they complement each other very well, and having both is highly advisable.