BTA
BTA is a travel insurance for the EE market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Medical costs exceeding 1,000 EUR must be pre-authorised with BTA. Repatriation, legal assistance costs and other major expenses must also be pre-coordinated with BTA before being incurred. BTA may pay providers directly when pre-authorised; otherwise reimbursement is made to the insured upon submission of original documents.
Geographic scope
international
Coverage valid on policyholder-selected territory (Europe incl. UAE/Egypt/Israel/Tunisia/Turkey; World excl. USA/Canada/Australia; or full World). Not valid in Estonia (except trip cancellation and accident follow-up treatment), Antarctica, Arctic, Belarus, Russia.
Unique selling points
- COVID-19 medical costs and travel disruption are explicitly covered as standard benefits under the BTA travel insurance policy.
- Coverage can be purchased even after the trip has started if the insured is already abroad, making last-minute protection accessible.
- Trip duration automatically extends by 48 hours if delayed by circumstances beyond the insured's control, and by up to 30 days if extended due to an insured event.
- Optional high-risk activities add-on covers competitive sports, alpine skiing on marked pistes, mountaineering up to 4,000m, and wilderness trekking — perils typically excluded by standard policies.
- One accompanying person's travel and accommodation costs are covered when the insured is hospitalized for at least 2 days, and minor children's return travel costs are covered if the insured is the sole guardian.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses (emergency medical care)
Covered
Covers necessary and justified costs arising from an insured event during travel: emergency medical services, prescribed medicines, tetanus/rabies/hepatitis vaccine costs, emergency dental treatment, medical aids (e.g. crutches, orthosis). The insured sum and limits are stated on the policy. Covers unexpected illness, accident-related bodily injury, and unforeseen exacerbation of a chronic disease.
Emergency medical treatment
Covered
Emergency medical treatment abroad is the core coverage of BTA travel insurance. Covers treatment costs for unexpected illness, bodily injury from accident, or unforeseen exacerbation of chronic disease during travel. Medical costs exceeding 1,000 EUR must be pre-authorised with BTA.
Hospitalization
Covered
Inpatient hospitalization costs are covered as part of emergency medical care. Additionally, one accompanying person's travel and accommodation costs are covered if the insured is hospitalized for at least 2 days. The specific hospitalization limit is set on the policy.
Outpatient treatment
Covered
Outpatient emergency medical treatment costs are covered under the medical expenses coverage. Elective outpatient treatment, planned rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation services (except accident follow-up in Estonia per clause 5.1.2) are excluded.
Emergency dental treatment
Conditional
Emergency dental treatment costs are covered under the medical expenses clause. Planned dental treatment, dental courses and complications from planned dental care are excluded. Coverage for emergency dental care applies within limited sub-limits as stated on the policy.
Medical transport
Covered
Transport costs for obtaining medical assistance abroad or for transportation back to Estonia are covered. Also covers transportation and communication costs if the insured cannot use previously purchased travel tickets. Must be pre-authorised with BTA.
Medical evacuation
Covered
Covers pre-authorised costs of transporting the insured back to Estonia (medical evacuation) on the physician's recommendation and approval. A medical escort may be replaced by another person with the attending physician's written consent, in which case BTA covers one accompanying person's travel and accommodation costs. Average evacuation costs can reach 3,000 EUR.
Repatriation of remains
Covered
In the event of the insured's death, BTA covers the cost of burial abroad or cremation and/or transportation of remains to Estonia (repatriation). These costs must be pre-authorised with BTA.
Search and rescue
Not offered
Search and rescue costs are not explicitly covered as a standalone benefit in the BTA travel insurance terms (EE 18.01). No specific search and rescue clause is present in the policy conditions.
COVID-19 treatment
Covered
BTA travel insurance explicitly covers medical costs and travel disruption caused by COVID-19. However, damages caused by epidemic or pandemic (in the general exclusions clause 14.1.4) are excluded — this applies to systemic epidemic/pandemic disruption rather than individual COVID-19 illness treatment, which is confirmed as covered.
Pre-existing / chronic disease exacerbation
Conditional
Unforeseen exacerbation of a chronic disease is covered as an insured event under medical expenses. Coverage for chronic disease exacerbation is limited to 30 days from the onset of the insured event. If the trip end date is not communicated in writing, the 30-day limit is calculated from the trip start date. If the policy territory includes Estonia, chronic disease exacerbation costs are NOT covered.
Winter sports cover
Optional
Winter sports (alpine skiing or snowboarding on marked pistes at ski resorts) are covered only if the optional 'High-risk activities' add-on is selected and marked on the policy. Skiing and snowboarding off-piste (including heli-boarding) are explicitly excluded even with this add-on.
Adventure / high-risk sports cover
Optional
High-risk activities including competitive sports, mountaineering up to 4,000m, surfing, kitesurfing, rafting, hobby diving (licensed, max 30m), ATV safari, horse/bicycle trekking, wilderness hiking — are covered only when 'High-risk activities' is selected and marked on the policy. Extreme sports (parkour, BMX tricks), contact sports (boxing, wrestling), motor sports, skydiving, bungee jumping, diving over 30m, high-alpine climbing and airborne sports are excluded regardless.
Pregnancy complications
Conditional
Pregnancy-related complications and/or emergency medical service costs are covered provided the pregnancy has not exceeded 32 weeks. Planned family planning, fertility treatment, abortion-related services, and childbirth costs are excluded. Coverage is limited in scope as stated on the policy.
Personal liability
Optional
Covers damage unlawfully caused by the insured to a third party's property or health (including medical costs and loss of working capacity) during travel. The third party must present a justified claim and the insured must be legally liable. Applies only when selected and marked on the policy. Excludes damage to co-travellers, family members, motor vehicle-related damage, sports competitions, and contractual liability.
Legal assistance
Optional
Covers legal assistance costs arising from an unlawful act committed by the insured through negligence or carelessness during travel, where such assistance is necessary to defend against claims made against the insured or to protect the insured's rights. All legal assistance costs must be pre-authorised with BTA. Applies only when selected and marked on the policy.
24/7 assistance
Covered
BTA provides 24/7 assistance and can be contacted at any time during travel in case of an insured event. Claims can be submitted via BTA's website or self-service portal. BTA's phone line (+372 5686 8668) is available for assistance.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
In the event of a claim, the insured must immediately take measures to limit the damage. Medical costs exceeding 1,000 EUR must be pre-authorised with BTA as soon as possible. Repatriation, legal assistance, and other major costs must also be pre-coordinated with BTA before being incurred.
Unauthorized treatment
Medical costs exceeding 1,000 EUR that have not been pre-authorised with BTA may not be reimbursed or may be subject to reduced reimbursement. Repatriation and legal assistance costs must also be pre-authorised; failure to do so may result in refusal of reimbursement.
Purchase while abroad
If the trip has already started outside Estonia or insurance was not purchased before departure, contact BTA directly — a solution can be found. The policy can be issued even after the trip has begun under certain circumstances.
Chronic conditions
Unforeseen exacerbation of a chronic disease is an insured event. However, reimbursement of treatment costs is limited to 30 days from the onset of the insured event. If the trip end date is not communicated to BTA in writing, the 30-day limit is calculated from the trip start date. If the policy territory includes Estonia, chronic disease exacerbation is not covered.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related complications and emergency medical service costs are covered up to and including 32 weeks of pregnancy. Planned obstetric care, fertility treatments, elective abortion, and childbirth costs are not covered.
pre_existing_conditions
Pre-existing chronic conditions are covered only for unforeseen exacerbations during travel. Coverage is limited to 30 days from onset of the insured event. Planned treatment of chronic conditions is excluded. If the policy covers the Estonian territory, chronic disease exacerbation is not covered at all.
coverage_duration_limit
The insurance policy is valid for the period stated on the policy. For multi-trip insurance, one trip may last up to 90 days from the trip start date. If the trip is extended due to reasons beyond the insured's control, the coverage period is extended by 48 hours from the end date stated on the policy. If extended due to an insured event, the policy extends accordingly but by no more than 30 calendar days.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Travel disruption / Trip cancellation
Coverage for expenses arising from trip cancellation, delay, or interruption
High-risk activities coverage
Optional coverage for sports and high-risk activities during travel
Luggage / Baggage insurance
Coverage for luggage loss, theft, damage or delay
COVID-19 coverage
Coverage for medical expenses and travel disruption related to COVID-19
Trip cancellation activation delay
Trip cancellation protection does not activate immediately but requires 3-day waiting period after policy purchase
Territorial exclusions
Insurance does not apply in Antarctica, Arctic, Belarus, Russia, or Estonia, regardless of selected coverage area.
Chronic disease exacerbation limit
Coverage for chronic disease exacerbation is limited to medical care costs up to 30 days from event onset
Chronic disease exacerbation coverage exclusion in Estonia territory
If policy is valid in Estonia, chronic disease exacerbation is not covered
Work abroad coverage
Optional coverage for working or doing internship abroad during trip