Travel insurance

We will provide financial and practical support in the event of travel-related injuries, sudden illness or exacerbations of chronic diseases, and help with pregnancy complications if the pregnancy has not lasted the full 32 weeks. A newborn baby will also be covered if complications of pregnancy result in premature birth.
We will compensate you for:

• emergency medical treatment after an accident, exacerbation of a chronic illness or sudden illness;
• purchase of medicines and aids;
• dental treatment for acute pain;
• medical treatment for pregnancy complications up to the 32nd week of pregnancy and assistance to the newborn in the case of premature birth;
• medical transport abroad and return to Latvia or the home country;
• transport of children left without parental care to their home country;
• travel expenses for the arrival of a relative if the presence of a relative is required on the doctor’s advice;
• funeral expenses abroad or repatriation in the event of death.

If you choose a policy with extended coverage, we will compensate medical expenses in the home country for hospital treatment and an additional indemnity of EUR 20 per day spent in hospital, as well as expenses for telephone calls while travelling if incurred in an emergency.

We will compensate transport and accommodation costs incurred if the travel has to be cancelled or interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances. We will compensate transport and accommodation expenses, as well as the purchase of a cancelled concert ticket or conference registration fee if the purpose of the travel was to attend a concert or conference.
The travel cancellation risk will apply if before the travel:

• you or a family member fall ill;
• you are involved in a road accident on the way to the departure or departure point;
• you lose your job shortly before the travel;
• the concert or conference, which was the sole purpose of the travel, is cancelled;
• you are called to a court hearing as a witness or victim;
• your property is seriously damaged, and the travel has to be cancelled (e.g., fire, burglary, etc.).

The cancellation will apply if you are recalled from annual leave, a family member has a serious health problem, or the travel cannot continue because the private or hired car has been involved in a road accident and it is not possible to continue.

Please keep in mind!
Make sure the travel insurance policy you choose includes cancellation and interruption risk, and remember to buy the policy at least five days before the start of your travel.

We will compensate you for losses incurred if your luggage is damaged, delayed, lost or stolen.

If your luggage is damaged, lost or stolen, we will compensate you for both the suitcase and the lost or damaged property in the luggage. If your luggage is delayed for more than three hours, we will compensate the cost of essentials such as clothing and footwear suitable for the local climate and hire of sports equipment.

If your flight outside your home country is delayed for four hours or more, we will compensate the cost of meals, accommodation and transport while you wait for another flight offered by the airline. If you are not satisfied with the replacement flight offered, we will compensate up to 50% of the value of the economy-class ticket on another flight of your choice.

If you are travelling with a minor child unaccompanied by an adult, we will compensate the cost of changing the ticket if the national law prohibits accommodation without an adult.

If you miss your flight because of a traffic accident (including disruption to public transport), we will compensate the cost of re-booking or buying a new ticket, meals, transport and accommodation.

We will also provide financial support if one of several connecting flights of the same journey is cancelled, delayed or missed. For more information on the risks covered, the sum insured and the items of reimbursable expenses, see the travel insurance terms and conditions.

Medical assistance in the case of COVID-19 is included in all BALTA travel insurance policies, except for expatriate insurance. Under this policy, we will compensate medical assistance if it is not covered by the country concerned, by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or by another organisation (airline, hotel, etc.). For the Silver, Gold and Platinum travel insurance programmes, outpatient and inpatient care is covered up to the full sum insured (for those who are not eligible for an EHIC, there are limits according to the policy chosen), and for the Senior, Extreme Sports, Visa and Bronze programmes, up to EUR 5000. We will also compensate for medical transport and repatriation expenses, as well as the cost of taking your child home if they are left without adult supervision.

If your travel insurance policy includes cancellation or interruption risk, this will also apply in the case of COVID-19. For more information on the risks covered, the sum insured and the items of reimbursable expenses, see the special terms and conditions of the travel policy.

Please keep in mind!
Travel cancellation due to COVID-19 will only be compensated if the disease is laboratory-proven.

If you are going to take part in recreational activities and sports activities during your travel, make sure that the planned activities are included in the basic coverage. If not, buy additional coverage.

Make sure that the means of transport you choose for the duration of your travel is included in the standard coverage. If you still need to take extra precautions, take out additional insurance.

If you are travelling to a European country where traffic is organised on the right, plan to rent a car and are aged between 26 and 69, rental car insurance is for you.

This coverage will compensate up to EUR 3000 for damage to the rental car during your travels if the rental contract deems you responsible.

Examples of damages: excess for damage to the car (including mirrors, glass, rims), total loss or theft of the car, theft or loss of car keys, incorrect fuelling, unused rental days.

Please keep in mind!
Rental car insurance is only valid if the rental contract is signed by a person who is also named as the driver of the rental car in the policy. The insurance will also be valid for a second driver if BALTA Travel Insurance has been purchased and the second driver is named in the rental contract.

By choosing this additional coverage, you can be sure that your home will be safe during your travel.

Home insurance will compensate for damage to property and belongings in the event of an accident during your absence – flooding, fire, theft, damage caused by natural disasters. We will also compensate you for damages caused to a third party if you are at fault.

Please refer to the insurance limits when purchasing this coverage.

Medical assistance and repatriation
Fractured neck vertebrae while relaxing in the pools in Türkiye: EUR 85 374
Road accident in Morocco: EUR 58 500
Stomach virus infection in Egypt after eating unwashed fruit: EUR 6750
Back injury in Türkiye after falling on slippery tiles by the pool: EUR 10 315
Fractured leg while skiing in Italy (helicopter evacuation from the mountain and medical assistance): EUR 17 449
Acute appendicitis surgery in Egypt: EUR 17 350
One day in a US hospital, laboratory and diagnostic tests: EUR 15 988

Cancellation and interruption of travel 
Travel interrupted due to critical hospitalisation of the mother in Latvia: EUR 1660
Due to a traffic accident, it was not possible to continue the journey abroad in a rented car: EUR 2120
Travel interrupted because the home in Latvia was damaged during a storm (roof damaged and property damaged from rain): EUR 1980
Illness (flu, otitis media) shortly before the travel, cancellation of the travel for the whole family: EUR 3000
Traffic accident on the way to the airport, resulting in a missed flight and cancellation of the travel for the whole family: EUR 3320

Damaged, delayed or lost luggage
Child carriage damaged in flight: EUR 700
The wheels of two suitcases broken off: EUR 296
A suitcase lost on travel to Türkiye, resulting in the purchase of essentials: EUR 844
Luggage delayed on a connecting flight: EUR 843

Flight delay or missed connecting flight
Flight cancelled and taxi, hotel and meals compensated: EUR 185
Flight delayed due to forest fire: EUR 182

COVID-19 insurance 
Travel cancelled due to COVID-19: EUR 1000

• All proof of payment, certificates and statements from the medical institution, doctors’ recommendations if medical assistance is received.
• Certificates from the travel agency and the medical institution confirming the reasons for the interruption or cancellation of the travel.
• Other documents (photographs, correspondence, certificates, etc.) that will enable us to verify the existence of the claim.

• Repatriation and medical transport expenses to return to Latvia to continue treatment.
• Transport expenses for accompanying persons (medical professional or relative) if their presence is necessary during the transport, according to the opinion of the attending physician.
• Transport and accommodation expenses of relatives if the insured person’s state of health does not allow transport.
• Expenses for repatriation if the insured person is a child under 16 years of age who has been left without adult supervision.
• Repatriation in the event of death or burial abroad.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your travel, immediately call the BALTA helpdesk on +371 67500174 (24 hours a day).
If medical assistance is required while in Türkiye, Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Russia, Thailand or the USA: in order to receive the full insurance indemnity, medical assistance must only be sought from medical institutions recommended by BALTA. Before receiving services, please contact the BALTA helpdesk on +371 67500174 and follow the instructions on receiving services and choosing a medical institution. In life-threatening situations, call the emergency number of the country concerned.

First, ask the carrier or airport staff for a certificate for damaged luggage. The certificate must state the damage to the luggage. If the luggage is missing, ask for a certificate confirming this. Keep the damaged luggage you want to claim for, such as a suitcase, or take a photo if it is unusable so that the damage can be seen. You will need to provide BALTA with the damaged luggage or photographs of it. Upon your return to Latvia, but no later than 30 days after the expiry of the policy, you must submit the documents necessary for compensation – certificates, statements, photographs, originals of all invoices or receipts, etc.

If your luggage is delayed for more than three hours, an insured event occurs. In the case of delayed luggage, request a certificate from the carrier stating that the luggage has been delayed. When you receive your luggage, get a note from the carrier stating the date and time you received it. These documents are the basis for receiving insurance compensation from BALTA. In the case of delayed luggage, you can buy essentials such as toiletries and clothing suitable for the climate to replace the delayed personal items in your luggage. Keep receipts for essential goods to be compensated. Upon your return to Latvia, but no later than 30 days after the expiry of the policy, submit them to BALTA together with other receipts, invoices, certificates and statements for compensation. If you have insured winter sports equipment and it is delayed or damaged, we will compensate ski hire up to the risk sum insured specified in the policy for a period not exceeding the luggage delay period.

It is only possible to cancel travel before the start of the travel. To do so, you must have a serious excusable reason, such as a sudden acute illness with hospitalisation or outpatient treatment lasting for at least seven days, for which a certificate of incapacity to work has been issued. As soon as you need to cancel your travel, please inform us as soon as possible and cancel any reservation that is possible.

In order to be compensated for expenses incurred in returning to Latvia because you interrupted your travel, you must have a reason mentioned in the travel insurance conditions, such as a relative’s misfortune. You will initially have to pay for the costs of the travel interruption, such as an economy-class air ticket, out of your own pocket. To be compensated, you must provide us with all the necessary documents – original invoices or receipts, etc. – upon your return to Latvia, but no later than 30 days after the expiry of the policy.

If you need medical assistance while outside Latvia and the amount of medical expenses does not exceed EUR 100, pay with your own funds and apply for the insurance indemnity upon your return to Latvia, but no later than 30 days after the expiry of the policy, by contacting BALTA on +371 67533375.

If medical assistance is required while in Türkiye, Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Russia, Thailand or the USA: in order to receive the full insurance indemnity, medical assistance must only be sought from medical institutions recommended by BALTA. Before receiving services, please contact the BALTA helpdesk on +371 67500174 and follow the instructions on receiving services and choosing a medical institution. In life-threatening situations, call the emergency number of the country concerned.

In other cases, call the BALTA 24-hour helpdesk on +371 67500174, and specialists will provide advice and, if necessary, organise assistance and the coverage of expenses.

If your passport is stolen or taken during your travel, you must notify the police within 24 hours, who will issue a certificate, which you will then need to provide to us. As soon as possible, you should go to the Latvian consulate or embassy in the country concerned to obtain a temporary travel document – a return certificate. The consulate will issue a document stating the date the passport was lost, the date of the application for loss at the consulate and the date on which the replacement passport takes effect. You will also need to submit this document to us for compensation. In the event of theft of cash, it must be reported to the police within 24 hours of the incident. You will need to provide a police certificate to claim and receive compensation.

You must buy the travel cancellation insurance policy at least five days before the start of your travel. Please note that the insurance will not be valid if the reasons for cancelling the travel were already known at the time of purchase.

No. The value of the luggage must be indicated when claiming. We will compensate for the loss of luggage within the limit of insurance stated in the policy.

No, BALTA will not compensate for such medical expenses. We only compensate expenses for medicines recommended and prescribed by a doctor.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides free emergency care for European Union citizens – both Latvian and non-Latvian. If you are planning a trip to a European country, including Scandinavia, we recommend that you get an EHIC card as well as insurance. This will be important support in the case of a very serious illness or injury where the cost of treatment of which exceeds the sum insured.

The European Health Insurance Card only covers medical emergencies. Repatriation, patient contributions, medical transport, damage to or loss of luggage, theft of documents and money and other unexpected expenses in the event of an accident are covered by private insurance only.

Yes, BALTA’s 24-hour helpdesk is +371 67500174. Call if you need advice and support during your travel.

If you are not sure which travel insurance coverage to choose, we recommend that you contact a BALTA advisor and take note of the recommendations:

• Buy travel insurance for the entire duration of your travel, from departure to return. You cannot, for example, buy a policy just for the days you spend at a holiday or ski resort.
• Buy travel insurance early to cover the risk of cancellation if you have to cancel your travel.
• Choose the right policy for your travel – pay attention to the area and the recreational, sporting and mobility activities planned. If you plan to participate in winter sports, choose the Winter Leisure Travel insurance programme, which includes additional risks appropriate to the activity.
• If your plans change during your travel and you decide to do extreme activities for a day, buy additional coverage for those days to cover the planned activity.
• If you plan to travel by cruise ship, add the additional risk Delayed transit.