International health insurance for expatriates in Latvia

Expatriates residing in Latvia should consider purchasing international health insurance, as even though national coverage is universal, it remains limited. It can result in significant out-of-pocket expenses, relatively long waiting periods, and does not cover repatriation in case of emergency.

To choose the right cover, start by assessing your needs so that you can opt for a plan that is truly suited to you. In this guide, we outline the essentials of the Latvian healthcare system, the insurance options available, and the best practices for your health insurance in Latvia.

Understanding the healthcare system in Latvia

The healthcare in Latvia is based on a universal system. It guarantees access to healthcare for all residents of the country, including expatriates. It is financed by social security contributions and the state, under the management of the National Health Service (Nacionālais veselības dienests), which is supervised by the Ministry of Health.

There are three main types of insured persons:

• Contributing employees: expatriate employees must contribute 34.09% of their gross income, of which 23.59% is paid by the employer. This contribution covers health insurance as well as retirement, disability, unemployment and workplace accidents
• Non-contributing workers: employees or self-employed persons who do not wish to pay contributions are entitled to minimum coverage
• Non-working persons: mainly children, pensioners and disabled persons are entitled to full coverage.
• The scheme covers all or part of the cost of primary and preventive care, specialist care, hospital care, emergency care, rehabilitation and certain medicines.

Challenges facing the Latvian healthcare system

• Lack of funding: despite some recent reforms, the Latvian healthcare system still faces a number of challenges, including underfunding, which sometimes leads to high out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
• Quality of care: outside major cities such as Riga, healthcare facilities are often outdated.
• Cost of medication: the price of medication is generally higher than the European average due to factors such as taxation and commercial margins. However, it should be noted that the reimbursement level for certain medications has increased to 75% in 2024.
  

Health insurance options for expatriates in Latvia

• Universal health insurance: membership of the Latvian health insurance system remains attractive for all expatriates, given the wide range of treatments that are reimbursed, even partially.
• Private health insurance: taking out private health insurance as a supplement allows you to top up your cover and facilitates access to treatment from the provider of your choice.
• Private international health insurance: for expatriates, this type of cover is the most effective, as it perfectly suits their lifestyle by offering coverage in Latvia, in their country of origin and anywhere in the world.
• EHIC (temporary option): if you are about to move abroad, you can consider the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover part of your medical care and provide you with temporary protection as soon as you arrive.

Global Health: the best health insurance for expatriates

We specialise in international health cover for expatriates.

We offer five levels of coverage tailored to your needs to protect you and your family in Latvia and elsewhere in the world.

With Global Health, you choose:

• Access to care as quickly as possible
• High-quality medical care
• Emergency repatriation coverage
• A 100% digital health service
• An online second medical opinion
• 24/7 multilingual medical assistance
• Complementary wellness services (mental health coaching, fitness programme, etc.)
  
  

Our health advice for expatriates in Latvia

• Take the initiative: as a future expatriate, it is never too early to take action. Moving to Latvia or elsewhere involves a lot of paperwork. Taking out international health insurance before you leave, or at the very least obtaining an EHIC, will ensure you are covered and avoid any unexpected surprises once you arrive.
• Choose a multilingual insurer: expatriates generally do not speak Latvian. Don’t panic! Opting for an English-speaking insurer, or even a bilingual one, will guarantee a simple and hassle-free healthcare experience.
• Get vaccinated: several EU Member States, including the UK, recommend keeping your vaccination record up to date, particularly for diphtheria, tetanus and polio. It is also advisable to get vaccinated against Central European tick-borne encephalitis, as the species is present in Latvia from April to October, especially in forests.
• Make a note of useful contacts:
  
  • Medical emergency: call 113.
  
  
  • National Health Service: call 00 371 800 012 34.
  • General medical advice service: call 66 01 60 01.

FAQ from members in Latvia