BALTA
BALTA is a travel insurance for the LV market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
BALTA can pay the service provider directly (e.g. hospital) based on submitted payment documents. For repatriation, evacuation, burial abroad, and in-home-country medical transport, prior written coordination with BALTA or the assistance service is required. In Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Russia, and the USA, the policyholder must use the assistance service's recommended medical facilities; otherwise BALTA may limit reimbursement to the cost of services at the recommended facility.
Geographic scope
worldwide
Worldwide except Antarctica, Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas, and countries with declared war (including Ukraine and Israel). Coverage operates in the territory specified in the policy.
Unique selling points
- 14 distinct insurance programmes tailored to different traveller needs — from standard leisure trips to student exchanges, business travel, and winter sports — all under one insurer.
- Policies can be purchased online instantly even during an ongoing trip and activate within 48 hours, providing flexible last-minute cover.
- 24/7 assistance service at +371 67500174 provides round-the-clock emergency coordination, including medical facility recommendations and emergency transport arrangement worldwide.
- BALTA is the non-life insurance market leader in Latvia with over 30 years of experience and has been voted the most honest insurer by Latvian residents for 22 consecutive years.
- Coverage includes child evacuation (up to age 16) and family member arrival expenses if the policyholder is hospitalised abroad for more than 10 days — benefits often charged as extras by competitors.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses
Covered
Covers unexpected medical and repatriation expenses incurred during the trip abroad due to an accident, sudden illness, or exacerbation of a chronic disease. Covers outpatient and/or inpatient emergency medical care (including medications) to eliminate the acute condition. Typical coverage range is 70,000–120,000 EUR depending on the program selected. Chronic disease exacerbation: covered for up to 5 days from first doctor visit; hospital stay covered up to 30 days from hospitalisation.
SourceEmergency medical treatment
Covered
Covers the cost of emergency medical services required to eliminate threats to the policyholder's life. Includes outpatient and inpatient treatment of the acute condition. Surgical operations covered only if immediate non-performance would endanger the client's life. The insured sum for medical expenses (covering emergency treatment) falls within 70,000–120,000 EUR depending on the program variant.
SourceHospitalization
Covered
Inpatient hospital treatment is covered within the overall medical expenses sum insured (70,000–120,000 EUR depending on programme). Cover extends up to 30 days from the date of hospitalization or until the client can be transported home, whichever is earlier. Additionally, a hospital daily cash allowance of EUR 20 per day is payable for stays of at least 48 hours.
SourceOutpatient treatment
Covered
Emergency outpatient medical care is covered within the overall medical expenses sum insured (70,000–120,000 EUR). Covers consultations, diagnostics, medications prescribed by a doctor, and other outpatient emergency treatment services needed to address the acute condition. Planned/scheduled treatment is explicitly excluded.
SourceEmergency dental treatment
Covered
Covers the first emergency dental care for acute toothache or dental trauma, including doctor consultation, dental X-ray for diagnosis, local anaesthesia, root canal opening and cleaning, temporary filling, tooth extraction, and pain relief medication. Typical coverage: 150–300 EUR depending on the program.
SourceMedical transport
Covered
Covers expenses for emergency medical services, rescue services, and ambulance transport to the medical facility where the first emergency medical assistance is provided. Typical sum insured: 70,000–120,000 EUR (shared with the overall medical expenses limit). Also covers in-country medical transport from the airport back to the hospital in Latvia following an organised patient repatriation.
SourceMedical evacuation / Patient repatriation
Covered
Covers expenses for transporting the insured from a foreign hospital to the home country when the client is physically unable to return independently. Covers necessary accompanying qualified medical specialist or one family member. Must be coordinated in writing with BALTA in advance; if not coordinated, reimbursement is limited to what it would cost if organised via the assistance service. Typical sum insured: 70,000–120,000 EUR.
SourceRepatriation of remains
Covered
Covers expenses for transporting the insured's mortal remains to their home country at the family's direction, including coffin transport costs and the processing of necessary documents and permits. Alternatively, covers burial or cremation abroad (up to EUR 1,000 for the coffin; total burial abroad covered only up to the equivalent cost of repatriation). Must be coordinated in writing with BALTA in advance. Typical sum insured: 70,000–120,000 EUR.
SourceSearch and rescue / Emergency rescue services
Covered
Rescue service costs are covered as part of the medical transport benefit. Clause 11 of the T&C explicitly covers glābšanas dienesta pakalpojumi (rescue service services) and sanitāro transportu (ambulance transport) to the first medical facility. No separate standalone sum insured is stated; covered within the overall medical expenses limit.
SourceCOVID-19 / Pandemic treatment
Excluded
Losses related to a pandemic or epidemic, swine flu, bird flu, or illnesses that were not known or declared at the time the insurance contract was concluded are explicitly excluded. If COVID-19 was already a known pandemic at the time of contract conclusion, claims related to it would be excluded under clause 22.15 (T&C 4101.04).
SourcePre-existing conditions / Chronic disease exacerbation
Conditional
Sudden exacerbation of a chronic disease is conditionally covered for emergency medical treatment for up to 5 days from the first doctor visit, and only once per insurance period for the same condition. Coverage is NOT provided for conditions that started before the insurance contract came into force. Specific conditions — oncology, dialysis, cirrhosis, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis — are categorically excluded regardless of disease stage. Cardiovascular surgery must be pre-approved in writing by BALTA.
SourceWinter sports coverage
Optional
Winter sports coverage is available as an optional add-on (indicated in the policy). When included, it covers skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, short-track, figure skating, hockey, and sledding – excluding professional sport and competitions or activities outside designated slopes. Additional winter sports equipment coverage (damage, loss, delay, theft) is also available as separate optional risks.
SourceAdventure / Extreme sports coverage
Optional
Extreme sports and amateur sports coverage is available as an optional add-on. Extreme sports include: motorsports (excl. motosport), bobsleigh, motorcycle riding, combat sports (excl. MMA/boxing), freestyle, equestrian, kite-boarding, triathlon, hunting, shooting, polo, rugby, safari, sandboarding, surfing, skeleton, skateboard, inline, slalom, weightlifting, water-skiing, wakeboarding, whitewater rafting (I–III class). Completely excluded (regardless of policy add-ons): motosports, BMX, heliboarding, cave diving, spelunking, expeditions, parkour, trampolining, ice fishing, MMA/boxing, mountaineering above 3,000m.
SourcePregnancy complications
Conditional
Emergency medical expenses related to pregnancy complications are covered up to EUR 1,500 per insurance period, conditional on the pregnancy not exceeding 32 full weeks at the time of the event. Normal pregnancy, childbirth, post-natal care, and complications thereof are explicitly excluded. The newer IPID (4101.07) does not explicitly state the 1,500 EUR sub-limit, while T&C 4101.04 clause 9.3 sets this limit at EUR 1,500.
SourcePersonal liability
Optional
Personal civil liability insurance covers the policyholder's liability arising during the trip from their actions or omissions resulting in bodily injury or property damage to a third party. The liability limit is 30,000–50,000 EUR depending on the program. Each sub-risk (bodily injury to a third party / third-party property damage) is capped at 50% of the total liability limit. Claims must be submitted within the insurance period or 30 days after. Must be listed as an insured risk in the policy.
SourceLegal assistance and translation services
Optional
Legal expenses coverage reimburses legal assistance costs incurred during the trip in connection with third-party claims against the policyholder for unintentional violations of local laws causing damage. Also covers translation of official documents. Typical sum insured: 1,000–2,000 EUR for legal expenses; 500 EUR for translation services. Must be listed in the policy as an insured risk.
Source24/7 Assistance service
Covered
A 24/7 assistance service is available to all policyholders at +371 67500174 (or [email protected]). The service organises emergency medical assistance, advises on the nearest suitable medical facility, coordinates emergency transport, and is mandatory in Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Russia, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, and the USA. Phone call costs to the assistance service are partially reimbursed (30–100 EUR per the IPID). The assistance service must be notified as soon as possible when an insured event occurs.
SourceKey conditions
Assistance call deadline
The policyholder must notify BALTA or the assistance service as soon as possible when an insured event occurs. In cases of sudden illness abroad where emergency medical care is needed, the policyholder must seek qualified medical assistance within 24 hours. Claims must be submitted within 30 days after policy expiry, with supporting documents within 15 days of claim submission.
Unauthorized treatment
If the policyholder receives medical treatment in Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Russia, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, or the USA without using the assistance service's recommended medical facility, BALTA has the right to limit the reimbursement to the amount it would have paid at the recommended facility. For repatriation, burial abroad, child evacuation, and in-country medical transport — if not pre-approved in writing, reimbursement is limited to what it would cost if organised via the assistance service.
Purchase while abroad
If the insurance contract is concluded while the policyholder is already outside Latvia, it enters into force 48 hours after conclusion, provided it is concluded within 48 hours of departure from Latvia and the policyholder can prove this with documents (ticket, boarding pass, hotel reservation, etc.). Trip cancellation coverage activates only 72 hours after policy issuance.
Chronic conditions
Sudden exacerbation of a chronic disease (other than those listed in clause 22.10) is covered for emergency medical assistance for up to 5 days from the first doctor visit, once per insurance period for the same condition. Explicitly excluded chronic/severe conditions regardless of stage: oncology, dialysis, cirrhosis, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular surgery (the latter requires prior written approval from BALTA).
Pregnancy
Emergency medical expenses related to pregnancy complications are covered up to EUR 1,500 per insurance period, provided the pregnancy does not exceed 32 full weeks at the time of the insured event. Normal pregnancy, childbirth, post-natal care, and related complications are explicitly excluded.
pre_existing_conditions
Coverage does not apply to illness or exacerbation that began before the insurance contract came into force. The policyholder who travelled against a doctor's recommendation not to travel is also not covered. Specific conditions — oncology, dialysis, cirrhosis, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis — are fully excluded regardless of when diagnosed.
coverage_duration_limit
Insurance coverage is valid for trips up to 120 continuous days from departure from Latvia, regardless of the policy term (per T&C 4101.04, clause 1.6). Exception: Student programme policies may be issued for longer durations. For older T&C versions (4101.03), the limit was 181 days. If the policy covers multiple trips within one year, the per-trip limit applies independently for each trip.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Medical expenses coverage limit
Coverage for emergency medical treatment abroad including hospitalization, surgery, dental care for acute conditions
Repatriation of remains or medical repatriation
Coverage for repatriation to home country (mītnes zeme) in case of death or emergency medical condition requiring return
Preferred medical facility requirement for certain destinations
In specific destinations (Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, Russia, USA), only BALTA-recommended medical institutions must be used for full compensation eligibility
Baggage loss, delay, and damage coverage
Coverage for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage including compensation for essential purchases if baggage is delayed more than 3 hours
Trip cancellation and interruption
Reimbursement of non-recoverable expenses (tickets, accommodation, activities) if unable to travel due to illness, injury, or other covered reasons
Sporting and leisure activities coverage
Coverage for injuries during approved leisure and sporting activities, with higher altitude limits for certain card holders; high-risk sports and professional activities excluded
24/7 assistance service
Round-the-clock support service for medical emergencies, advice on nearest medical facilities, language assistance, and coordination of emergency transport
Post-return treatment within 3 days condition
Treatment requiring continuation in home country must be started within 3 days of return; failure to do so may result in denial of compensation
Trip must start from Latvia
Insurance only valid if departure occurs by crossing Latvia's border; trip concludes upon return to Latvia or home country
Maximum continuous trip duration
Insurance valid for trips up to 120 continuous days; exception for study trip insurance which has no duration limit
Post-departure policy activation and delay
Policies purchased during trip activate only 48 hours after issue; 72-hour delay for trip cancellation and some other benefits
EHIC/EVAK card requirement for EU treatment
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/EVAK) must be presented when receiving medical treatment in EU, EEA, or Switzerland; policy requires cardholders to obtain card if missing
Geographic exclusions and conflict zones
Coverage excludes Antarctica, Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas; any country with declared war, including Ukraine and Israel