How can we interpret the new government measure Havana disclosed on Saturday, which requires visitors to the island to buy health insurance?
The measure states:
FIRST: For entry into the country, all travelers, foreigners and Cuban overseas residents are required to possess a travel insurance policy, covering medical expenses, issued by an insurance entity recognized in Cuba.
At points of entry into the country, the sale of these policies will be ensured by Cuban insurance entities.
SECOND: During their stay in the country, foreigners with temporary residence in Cuba are required to have a medical insurance policy issued by a Cuban or foreign insurance entity recognized in Cuba.
Diplomats and representatives of certain international organizations will be exempt, but all other visitors to the island will be subject to the new requirement. There is no mention of how much the insurance will cost.
Presumably, the new measure is not an effort to keep anyone out, but to draw further on one of the island’s main sources of income—tourism—at a time when the cash-strapped government is looking for much-needed new sources of revenue. If that is the case, they would do well to make the traveler’s insurance policy a highly affordable (read: dirt cheap) one, or it will indeed act as a deterrent.
(Photo from www.havanajournal.com)
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niche information
Thanks..
How is this tapping tourism for money? Why should the Cuban government be forced to pay for the health care of tourists? Which, by the way, the Cuban government has been paying for the medical care and therapy of each and every tourists that has been drunk or dumb enough to be injured while traveling within Cuba. Do you think it’s fair for the American tax payers to pay the bills of tourists that are injured in the USA? So why should Cuba be any different? Why should the Miami Crazy Cuban double standard be applied against Cuba once again?
Hello BrickellPrincess,
The point of the post is not that Havana is right or wrong about this, so don’t try to ascribe a moral judgment to my words when that isn’t there. Indeed, Cuba’s health care system should not have to cover tourists on the island, I quite agree. The point is that this measure, enacted at this point in time, is more of an attempt to bring in funds to a financially struggling nation than a statement on tourists abusing the free healthcare system.
Read the rest of the blog, you’ll note that I’m far from what you call the “Miami Crazy Cuban.”
Thanks for reading.
We are Canadians traveling to Cuba on May 1 so were required to get the latest info. Here is it for those interested.
If you’re traveling to Cuba you need acceptable medical insurance. Acceptable by the Cuban officials, that is. Although I have Global Medical Assistance thru my workplace (underwriters being Great West Life), neither the travel agents, nor GWL, nor the Cuban consulate were able to tell me if this insurance would be sufficient. Although my coverage through GWL is more than adequate should a medical emergency arise, would it be accepted at the Cuban airport? Possibly not, possibly yes, but who wants to be that stressed out on your vacation? Not me.
Cuban officials stated an official list of accepted insurers would be provided but have yet to publish such a list and we are now 6 days before this presumed requirement is enforced!
A no stress option to recommend to my fellow travelers: I purchased medical insurance thru my travel agency (they use ManuLife) for a grand total of $41.76 for two adults and two teenagers (a little over $10 each). Definitely worth the piece of mind! And the travel agent guaranteed this was sufficient for Cuba as this is their business and all tour companies operating in Cuba have had their insurance pre-approved. If you wait until you get to Cuba to potentially be denied access until you purchase their $$$ insurance, expect to get ripped off.
Hope this helps.
Brickelldummy has no sense. Do not bother reading or responding to stupidity.
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