BTA
BTA is a travel insurance for the LV market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
BTA operates its own 24/7 travel assistance service (+371 26 12 12 12). For treatment in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, or Russia, the insured must contact BTA or its partner before receiving medical services. In countries where EHIC is valid, the insured must first request payment under EHIC terms. Medical expenses exceeding EUR 1,000 must be approved by BTA as soon as possible. BTA may arrange direct payment to partner medical facilities; otherwise the insured pays out of pocket and submits receipts for reimbursement.
Geographic scope
Baltic
Baltic Sea territory (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Sweden), Europe (incl. Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Morocco), or worldwide; not valid in home country (Mītnes zeme) except for residence permit policies
Starting from
€1
Unique selling points
- BTA is the only non-life insurer in Latvia with its own dedicated 24/7 travel assistance helpline (+371 26 12 12 12), providing native-language consultations at any time of day or night.
- BTA is the only non-life insurer in Latvia that covers losses due to terrorist acts in Europe not only for medical expenses, but also for trip cancellation and trip interruption within specified programs.
- The maximum insured sum and maximum liability limit are explicitly stated as unlimited, offering high-value travelers full financial protection without a coverage ceiling.
- Remote eMed medical consultations via video or phone call are included, enabling insured persons to consult a Latvian doctor and receive prescriptions from anywhere in the world.
- Active leisure and high-risk sports coverage (including skiing, scuba diving to 30m, mountain hiking to 4,500m, and watersports) is available as a selectable add-on with explicit coverage for a broad range of amateur activities.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses
Covered
BTA compensates expenses arising during travel due to acute illness (not manifested before policy conclusion), chronic disease exacerbation, or accident, up to the point when transfer to the home country becomes possible but no longer than 30 days from hospitalization. Covers emergency medical care, emergency surgery within 72 hours, prescription medications, short-term medical aids (up to EUR 300), and transport to/from medical facility. Cardiac surgery linked to emergency care is covered up to EUR 5,000. Minimum insured sum is EUR 10,000; maximum insured sum is unlimited.
Emergency medical treatment
Covered
Covers the first doctor visit (outpatient) or treatment until discharge from hospital (inpatient) for acute conditions during travel. Included within the Medical expenses insured risk. Minimum insured sum EUR 10,000; no maximum cap stated.
Hospitalization
Covered
Inpatient hospitalization costs covered under the Medical expenses risk, up to 30 days from the moment of hospitalization or until transfer to the home country becomes possible, whichever comes first. Minimum insured sum EUR 10,000.
Outpatient treatment
Covered
Outpatient emergency medical care (first doctor visit) is covered under the Medical expenses risk. Prescription medications and short-term medical aids (up to EUR 300) are also included. Repeated visits are generally not covered unless new treatment is prescribed. Minimum insured sum EUR 10,000.
Emergency dental treatment
Covered
BTA compensates expenses arising from emergency dental care during travel. Minimum insured sum EUR 100. For residence permit policies only pain relief and temporary measures are covered (X-ray, temporary filling, tooth extraction, local anesthesia, canal opening and medication).
Medical transport
Covered
Covered under Medical expenses: transport to and from the medical facility providing emergency care. Also covers accommodation up to EUR 100 per night for up to 3 nights if the insured misses a planned return flight due to hospitalization. Included in the Medical expenses minimum sum of EUR 10,000.
Medical evacuation
Covered
BTA covers transport back to the home country if the Medical expenses insured risk has occurred: new transport tickets replacing lost ones, or transport from a hospital abroad to a hospital in the home country per treating physician's instructions. Accompanying person's transport ticket is covered if a medical escort is required. If evacuation is to a home country other than Latvia, BTA pays only up to the amount it would cost to transport to Latvia. Minimum insured sum EUR 10,000.
Repatriation of remains
Covered
BTA covers transport of mortal remains to the home country airport (if by air) or to a mortuary (if by other transport). Alternatively, BTA covers burial in the country of death (coffin/cremation urn) if agreed with BTA, up to the cost of transporting remains to Latvia. If the home country is not Latvia, BTA pays only up to the amount it would cost to transport to Latvia. Minimum insured sum EUR 10,000.
Search and rescue
Not offered
Search and rescue as a standalone insured risk is not explicitly listed in the BTA Travel Insurance Terms and Conditions Nr. 18-01 or the IPID. The IPID notes that EHIC does not cover emergency/rescue service costs, but BTA's own policy documents do not include a dedicated search and rescue coverage item.
COVID-19 treatment
Conditional
If the insured is diagnosed with COVID-19 (illness caused by Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), insurance indemnity is disbursed only for the insured risks Medical expenses, Repatriation, Medical evacuation, and Expenses for accompanying person, subject to a fixed maximum limit of EUR 40,000. Costs of self-isolation and COVID tests are not reimbursed.
Pre-existing conditions / chronic disease exacerbation
Conditional
Acute exacerbation of a chronic disease (sudden onset of characteristic symptoms requiring emergency medical care) is covered under the Medical expenses risk for standard policies. For residence permit policies ("Polise uzturēšanās atļaujas saņemšanai"), chronic disease exacerbation is explicitly excluded and no indemnity is paid. Illnesses that manifested before the policy conclusion are also excluded.
Winter sports cover
Optional
Skiing and snowboarding are covered when the additional condition "Paaugstināta riska aktivitātes" (High-risk activities) is specified in the policy's Additional Conditions section. Off-piste skiing and snowboarding are excluded even with this add-on. The coverage limit equals the Medical expenses insured sum.
Adventure / high-risk sports cover
Optional
Available as an optional add-on when "Paaugstināta riska aktivitātes" is noted in the policy's Additional Conditions. Covers amateur-level competitions, sports camps, scuba diving up to 30m depth, mountain hiking without alpinist equipment up to 4,500m, motorsports (engine ≤125cc, power ≤15kW), mountain/BMX/MTB cycling, windsurfing, surfing, kiteboarding, water skiing, sailing up to 24 nautical miles, jet skiing, American football, handball, rugby, hockey, boxing, martial arts, wrestling, balloon/glider/paraglider/hang-glider flight. Excluded: alpinism, heliskiing, wingsuit jumping, motosport (racing), parkour, diving deeper than 30m, acrobatics/stunts.
Pregnancy complications
Conditional
BTA covers emergency medical expenses related to pregnancy complications (including ectopic pregnancy) up to EUR 1,000, provided the pregnancy does not exceed 32 weeks. Childbirth, abortion, and post-natal complications are explicitly excluded. The coverage applies within the Medical expenses insured risk.
Personal (civil) liability
Optional
Optional coverage compensating damages caused to third parties during travel: bodily injury (transport to medical facility, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, medication, prosthetics) and property damage (repair or replacement of equivalent item; accommodation rental repair if rental period ≤30 days). Claims must be submitted within 36 months after policy expiry. Minimum liability limit EUR 10,000; maximum is unlimited. Third-party claims arising within 24 months of the accident are covered.
Legal assistance
Optional
Optional coverage reimbursing translation and legal service expenses incurred during travel when the insured unintentionally fails to observe local traditions or inadvertently violates local laws causing damage to a third party. Excludes claims related to use/operation of motorized vehicles, professional activities, and non-fulfillment of contractual obligations. Minimum insured sum EUR 1,000.
24/7 assistance service
Covered
BTA operates its own 24/7 travel assistance helpline (+371 26 12 12 12), unique among Latvian non-life insurers. Provides operative assistance and consultation in the insured's native language at any time. Remote medical consultations (eMed) via video or phone call are also available. The insured must contact BTA before receiving medical services in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, or Russia.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
The insured must immediately notify BTA upon a potential insured event and follow BTA instructions. For treatment in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, or Russia, BTA or its partner must be contacted before receiving medical services. Medical expenses exceeding EUR 1,000 must be approved by BTA as soon as possible. If the insured fails to contact BTA in the specified countries and receives services from private clinics or medical centres, BTA will reimburse only at rates applicable to its partner organizations, or not at all (Russia private clinics).
Unauthorized treatment
If the insured receives medical services in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, or Bulgaria from medical centres, private clinics, or private practices without contacting BTA first, BTA reimburses only at rates applicable to BTA's partner organizations. For Russia's private clinics, private practices, medical centres, American, German, French medical centres and clinics, and Russian-American joint medical ventures, BTA does not reimburse at all.
Purchase while abroad
If the insurance contract is concluded while the client is outside their home country, it takes effect 24 hours after full premium payment. This delayed effectiveness is a key condition to prevent adverse selection.
Chronic conditions
Acute exacerbation of a chronic disease (defined as sudden onset of characteristic symptoms requiring emergency medical care) is covered under the Medical expenses risk for standard policies. The policy does not cover routine management, planned treatment, or general treatment of chronic diseases. For residence permit policies, chronic disease exacerbation is entirely excluded.
Pregnancy
Emergency medical expenses related to pregnancy complications (including ectopic pregnancy) are covered up to EUR 1,000, if pregnancy does not exceed 32 weeks. Planned childbirth, abortion, family planning services, and infertility treatment are explicitly excluded. Trip cancellation due to pregnancy complications is also covered as a separate risk.
pre_existing_conditions
Illnesses that manifested before the policy conclusion date are excluded. Acute exacerbation of a chronic disease is covered for standard policies but excluded for residence permit policies. Oncological diseases, diabetes and associated organ disorders, chronic renal insufficiency (dialysis) are explicitly excluded under all policies.
coverage_duration_limit
Medical expenses coverage applies up to 30 days from the date of hospitalization, or until transfer to the home country becomes possible, whichever occurs first. For annual multi-trip policies, each individual trip may be covered for a maximum of 30, 60, or 90 days depending on the selected option. Single-trip policies can be issued for 1 to 365 days.
Where to buy
Documents
Policy specifics
Repatriation
Coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains to home country in case of death or emergency medical situation
Rental car damage
Optional coverage for damage to rental vehicles during travel
High-risk activities coverage
Optional additional coverage for high-risk sports and physical activities during travel
Emergency dental treatment
Limited coverage for emergency dental care during travel
Trip cancellation
Optional coverage for losses due to unexpected trip cancellation or interruption
Territorial coverage restriction
Insurance is not effective in home country except when obtaining residence permit
Professional athlete exclusion
Insurance does not cover professional athletes engaged in sports activities as profession
Pre-existing condition limitation
Limited or no coverage for aggravation of chronic diseases during travel
Emergency medical care approval threshold
Medical expenses exceeding EUR 1000 must be approved by BTA as soon as possible