Balcia Insurance SE
Balcia
Balcia is a travel insurance for the Latvia market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
The product operates mainly on a reimbursement basis: the insured pays for medical or other covered expenses and submits supporting documents to Balcia for reimbursement. If costs described under the medical expenses chapter exceed EUR 1000, the insured or a relative must contact Balcia before arranging payment.
Geographic scope
Worldwide, in any country other than the insured's home country
Cover applies to travel in Ārvalsts (any country other than the insured's home country/Latvia); the trip starts when the insured leaves the home country and ends upon return.
Unique selling points
- Get an online travel insurance price and policy in under 60 seconds directly on Balcia's website.
- Manage your travel insurance as a flexible subscription through the Balcia app, with easy cancellation at any time.
- Balcia guarantees the fastest claims processing and offers a special compensation if that promise is not met.
- Customers report submitting travel insurance claims through the Balcia app in just a few minutes.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses abroad
Covered
Balcia reimburses medically justified costs related to emergency treatment abroad following an Accident or Illness during the trip. The exact sum insured is fixed on the individual policy schedule and is not stated as a fixed figure in the T&Cs.
Emergency medical treatment
Covered
Emergency medical treatment abroad due to a sudden Accident or Illness during the trip is covered as part of the medical expenses insurance; also includes dental treatment for acute pain/inflammation or emergency care after an accident, and OTC medication up to EUR 50.
Hospitalization
Covered
Inpatient/hospital treatment costs abroad are covered under medical expenses. If the insured chooses treatment at a public-healthcare-system facility instead of private care, Balcia additionally pays EUR 25 per day in hospital, up to EUR 200. Companion accommodation/meals if hospitalization extends beyond the planned return date are covered up to EUR 500.
Outpatient treatment
Covered
Reasonable transport costs to and from the medical facility and to accommodation are covered, along with telephone calls to the medical facility or Balcia up to EUR 50.
Emergency dental treatment
Conditional
Dental treatment is covered only for acute pain/inflammation or emergency care needed as a result of an accident. Repair or replacement of damaged dentures (combined with glasses/hearing aids) is capped at EUR 200.
Medical transport
Covered
Reasonable transport costs to/from the medical facility, and a substitute driver to bring the insured and travel companions home if illness/accident prevents the insured from driving and no companion holds a valid license.
Medical evacuation / early return
Covered
Balcia covers the insured's (and insured relatives') early/priority return to the home country if health condition, following an Accident or Illness, allows for such transport.
Repatriation of remains
Covered
Covers transportation of the insured's remains, the coffin needed for transport, burial expenses, or cremation abroad and transport of the urn to the home country; these costs are reimbursed in any scenario not listed as an exception in the T&Cs.
Search and rescue
No limit stated
Search and rescue costs are not addressed as a distinct benefit in the reviewed Terms and Conditions.
COVID-19 treatment
Conditional
The current T&Cs (LV-18/02-03) carve out Covid-19, Clade 1b and Clade 2 as exceptions to the general pandemic/epidemic exclusion, meaning related medical and cancellation costs can be covered subject to normal terms. The earlier edition (LV-18/02-01) additionally required proof of full vaccination, a negative test within 72 hours before travel, or recovery more than 6 months before the trip, with cover limited to the first 30 days of the trip and hospital treatment reimbursed for up to 12 months per event.
Pre-existing conditions
Excluded
The policy's definition of 'Illness' is limited to an unforeseen sickness or chronic-disease flare-up that had not manifested before the trip started; illnesses/injuries whose symptoms had already appeared before the trip are therefore excluded from medical expenses cover.
Winter sports cover
Optional
Piste skiing/snowboarding falls under 'Active recreation' (Aktīvā atpūta); Balcia may refuse to pay a claim arising while engaging in Active recreation unless the insurance policy states otherwise, meaning it must be specifically added/confirmed on the policy.
Adventure/extreme sports cover
Optional
Extreme Sports Activities (e.g. mountaineering, motorsport, off-piste skiing, diving beyond 30m, skydiving) are excluded by default; Balcia may refuse a claim arising from such activities unless the policy explicitly states otherwise.
Pregnancy complications
Conditional
Costs arising from pregnancy (from the 28th week) or childbirth are excluded, except when related to emergency care provided after an Accident.
Personal (civil) liability abroad
Covered
If the insured causes harm to a third party's life, health or property during the trip, Balcia covers material damages related to the third party's treatment or death, property damage mitigation, the third party's lost income, and previously agreed litigation costs. Excludes damage to family/household members, entities the insured represents, motorised land/water vehicles (except low-speed electric/non-motorised ones), and claims arising from traffic-rule violations.
Legal assistance
Covered
Under the civil liability chapter, Balcia covers legal assistance costs if the insured accidentally or unknowingly fails to observe local rules/customs at the destination or breaches local regulations, causing harm to a third party's health or property; prior consent from Balcia is required before admitting fault or settling any claim.
24/7 assistance line
No limit stated
A Balcia contact phone number (including a dedicated number for calls from abroad) and email are provided for reporting claims, but the reviewed sources do not explicitly state the assistance line operates 24/7.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
If medical/repatriation-related expenses described in the medical expenses chapter exceed EUR 1000, the insured or a relative must contact Balcia before arranging payment of those costs, and Balcia will advise on further steps.
Unauthorized treatment
Balcia may refuse to pay compensation if the insured or policyholder failed to notify Balcia of the insured event in a timely manner, such that Balcia cannot determine the exact amount of expenses or losses incurred.
Purchase while abroad
The reviewed Terms and Conditions do not specifically address purchasing this insurance while the traveler is already abroad.
Chronic conditions
A sudden flare-up of a chronic illness during the trip can qualify as covered 'Illness'; however, accident insurance benefits are not paid if the accident occurred due to chronic, congenital, degenerative or other pre-existing disease/defect, and symptoms present before the trip started are excluded from medical expenses cover.
Pregnancy
Costs related to pregnancy from the 28th week onward, or to childbirth, are excluded from medical expenses cover unless they relate to emergency care provided after an Accident.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
Illness is defined as an unforeseen sickness or chronic-disease flare-up not manifested before the trip; conditions/symptoms already present before the trip began are not covered under medical expenses insurance.
Coverage duration limit
The insurance period matches the trip duration chosen at purchase. If the return is delayed for documented reasons beyond the insured's control (e.g., vehicle breakdown, rescue operations, weather/strike-related transport delay or cancellation), the period is automatically extended by up to 3 days.
Documents
Policy specifics
Trip cancellation reimbursement
Coverage for non-refundable trip costs if the insured must cancel the trip due to covered reasons
SourceLost or damaged luggage
Coverage for loss or damage to insured person's baggage and personal belongings during travel
SourceFlight delay reimbursement
Coverage for costs incurred due to flight delays or missed connections, including ticket changes or emergency transport
SourceEmergency assistance approval requirement
Medical assistance and certain emergency services must be approved by Balcia support desk prior to treatment in most cases; failure to obtain prior approval may result in reduced or no reimbursement
SourceHospital minimum stay requirement
Hospital treatment is defined as a minimum continuous 48-hour stay due to a sudden acute illness or injury to qualify for inpatient benefits
SourceLatvian language terms prevail
In case of any conflict or discrepancy between Latvian-language terms and any translation into a foreign language, the Latvian text prevails and is binding on both parties
Source