New insurance rules for Cuba from 1st May 2010

[Deano]

It seems that Cuba is now enforcing visitors to have travel insurance with medical insurance and medical evacuation cover, and this is all checked at customs.

If you're found without adequate cover, you'll need to buy some at the airport at (allegedly) about 3 CUC a day - though there have been rumours of a scam where people are being asked for $500.

Anyone actually know of any UK insurers who actually have evacuation cover (not just repatriation cover). I can't find any.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/29/travel-insurance-warning-cuba-visitors

These guys look promising though:

http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/cuba-travel-insurance-advice.asp

[tippexx]

It seems that Cuba is now enforcing visitors to have travel insurance with medical insurance and medical evacuation cover, and this is all checked at customs.

If you're found without adequate cover, you'll need to buy some at the airport at (allegedly) about 3 CUC a day - though there have been rumours of a scam where people are being asked for $500.

Anyone actually know of any UK insurers who actually have evacuation cover (not just repatriation cover). I can't find any.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/29/travel-insurance-warning-cuba-visitors

These guys look promising though:

http://insurance.essentialtravel.co....nce-advice.asp

I'm not sure what medical evacuation insurance means. All sounds a bit MASH. But, I would have thought the cost of an ambulance ride to a hospital is all part of Medical Insurance.

[Emdee]

i was there at the end of may and noone was being asked for their papers. I think it is more targeted at the americans who cant get insurance before they get there. I took insurance from world nomads but never got asked for it so not sure if it would have been ok have a good time! Cuba is great.

[PoohBore]

We didn't get asked for our insurance either. Keep a pen handy to fill out the medical questionnaire that you are given on arrival.

[monkey66]

Take a look at AmEx, their travel insurance is pretty comprehensive.

[nicwing]

Deano, the way I heard it is you need a scheme approved by the Cuban Government otherwise you have to pay up on entry to join one no matter what you have, so if I was you I would start with the Cuban Travel guys in the UK. I have the contact details somewhere if you haven't got them.

[cbob]

I saw this hashed out on another forum. Nobody from Canada seems to be asked for medical guarantees either.

There have been some major problems with ex-pat Cubans from the USA arriving to "visit" family and then suddenly requiring medical procedures. As is typical of the strata of US citizens that these folks occupy, they have NO medical insurance in the USA ( not to mention travel medical) and cannot get treatment in their adopted country. This is putting a strain on the Cuban systems so they are cracking down on "medical tourists". If you are coming from a country that has "national health" and are not Cuban, you should have little difficulty.

[Soft Top]

Take a look at AmEx, their travel insurance is pretty comprehensive.

I have AmEx cover and it is pretty comprehensive, covering most dangerous sports as standard.

Worth looking at but not sure how keen the Cubans would be on cover from American Companies, especially one so obvious.

[PoohBore]

Extract from FCO page on Cuba

"From 1 May 2010 all travellers - including Cubans living abroad - are required to hold comprehensive travel insurance including medical insurance before travelling to Cuba. You will be expected to present a copy of your insurance on arrival in Cuba. Insurance should be valid for the full duration of your stay in Cuba and should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you all for the activities you want to undertake. In exceptional cases you will be able to obtain a policy from Cuban insurance companies at your port of entry. For more details of these changes please see the Cuban Foreign Ministry website’s information for travellers to Cuba : http://www.cubaminrex.cu/. See our Travel Insurance page."

[Deano]

Yep PoohBore, that's how I know I need the evacuation insurance!

[ACMCC]

That's a long way for an air ambulance to take you... back to the UK!!

[nicwing]

Yep PoohBore, that's how I know I need the evacuation insurance!

Try this

[PoohBore]

Lol never needed that in Cuba but Egypt ........ :-(