Although it may be tiresome and probably the least exciting part of planning your trip, getting travel insurance (for anywhere you go, not Just Cuba) will allow you to enjoy your trip more, without having to worry about what will happen if you miss your flight, get in an accident, etc.
If you are planning a trip to Cuba, you’ll find this article useful since it will focus on what you need to know about Cuba travel insurance.
Yes, anyone who travels to Cuba must have valid travel health insurance to be allowed to enter. Getting travel insurance for your trip to Cuba is not only advisable, it’s actually mandatory. Along with travel insurance, you should also have a Cuba Visa or Tourist Card, depending on the visa requirements, and a valid passport.
Make sure to have sufficient coverage, because the immigration officers at the entry points will check it before allowing you to enter. If you do not have travel insurance, you will have to buy it at the airport or seaport upon arrival.
However, if you apply for a Cuban visa, it is required to submit proof of purchased travel insurance, so you will likely already have insurance before you even travel.
You can compare different plans and get a free quote here.
You can get travel insurance from a local travel insurance company in your country or you can purchase online.
The most convenient method of purchasing travel insurance is online. There are insurance brokers and comparison marketplaces such as Insubuy, which allow you to compare between plans, making it easier for you to find one that is most suitable.
When buying travel insurance, make sure that the policy you choose does offer coverage for Cuba. Read the policy carefully, and if you are still not certain, ask your insurance providers specifically whether or not you will be covered in Cuba.
If you do not buy travel insurance for Cuba before travelling, then you will have to buy it at the airport, seaport, or the land point of entry. In these cases, travel insurance may not be adequate or sufficient, which is why it’s preferred to buy it in advance.
However, if you are booking from the US or from a company that is underwritten by a US insurer, finding an insurance plan which offers coverage for Cuba can sometimes be tricky.
Not all US travel insurance companies offer coverage for Cuba. This is a result of US sanctions against Cuba dating back from the 1950s. As a matter of fact, US citizens are not even to travel to Cuba as tourists at all – they can only travel if the purpose of travel falls under certain categories.
This is why before actually buying the insurance policy, read it carefully and ask your insurance company whether you will be covered in Cuba – even if the plan claims to be “worldwide”.
Some travel insurance plans which cover Cuba (for US and non-US citizens) are:
When purchasing travel insurance for Cuba, you should look at plans with at least basic coverage for:
Additional travel insurance coverage (add-ons)
Most insurance companies will have optional add-ons which you can get coverage for. Usually, this includes:
You should aim to get travel insurance as soon as you start booking your trip. That’s because you will have coverage for any payment you make after buying the policy. If travel insurance is a requirement of your Cuba visa application, then you will have to buy it before you apply.
It is recommended that you buy travel insurance at least 15 days before you travel if you want to enjoy the full benefits of the policy.
If for some reason, you travel to Cuba without having purchased travel insurance, you may also be able to buy it at the entry point, airport, or seaport.
Travel insurance for Cuba depends on the following factors:
Generally, if you have a pre-booked, non-refundable trip, you can expect to pay somewhere between 4%-10% of your total costs for travel insurance.
All Cuban citizens enjoy free healthcare and Cuban doctors are known for their skill and professionalism, although they are not paid in the same manner as in Western countries. If you get sick in Cuba as a tourist, there are tourist medical centres where medical staff will take care of you swiftly and with professionalism. You will have to pay for the medical services you receive since only citizens of Cuba enjoy free healthcare.
However, although the Cuba healthcare system is known for being one of the best in the region, they still lack some basic equipment and they are often overworked because they send a large portion of their doctors on missions overseas. This is why it is advisable to purchase evacuation/repatriation, as well as any prescription medication that you will need for that time.
Yes, Cuba is considered a generally safe place to visit. Naturally, as it if when travelling anywhere in the world, you should be careful from things such as petty crime and be mindful about where you leave your things. Another thing travellers warn about when visiting Cuba is scams, where people will try to get you to give them money, but otherwise, there is no increased risk. Even if you get sick or in an accident, you should be well taken care of there.
The US Department of State advises a Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory for Cuba, urging citizens to “Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to demonstrable and sometimes debilitating injuries to members of our diplomatic community resulting in the drawdown of embassy staff.”
As of 2019, it has become harder for US citizens to travel to Cuba in a solo trip, as well as impossible for simply tourism purposes. All American citizens have to select a reason for travel from one of the approved categories of travel, which include family visits, journalism, export, humanitarian projects, etc.
To make your trip to Cuba as safe as possible we advise you get adequate travel medical insurance coverage. You can get a free quote and compare plans at Insubuy,
You do not need to get any specific vaccinations when you travel to Cuba.