Did you know that ALL visitors to Cuba must have proof of comprehensive insurance coverage to enter the country? It’s an entry requirement for Cuba that takes many travelers by surprise – ut with a basic understanding of Cuba travel insurance requirements, it can be easy to avoid any unexpected issues.
As locals and travel guides, we’ve navigated Cuba travel insurance requirements for years and consider ourselves experts on the latest in travel insurance plans for Cuba. Read on for the easiest (and least expensive!) way to find the travel insurance Cuba requires, plus the select few options for medical insurance to Cuba for US citizens.
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Since 2010, proof of insurance coverage has been an entry requirement for all travelers to Cuba. If you a planning a trip to Cuba, you must make sure that you have insurance coverage for the duration of your trip.
Cuban entry requirements do not specify that you need travel insurance for Cuba—they simply require that travelers have comprehensive medical insurance coverage for Cuba. However, in almost every case, the only way to obtain comprehensive medical coverage in Cuba is through a travel insurance plan that covers medical expenses from applicable companies like Visitors Coverage or Insubuy.
Even if you have private health insurance at home, you can not assume that your home health insurance covers you in Cuba – it is very rare that domestic healthcare plans cover international travel, and even less common that they function as Cuban health insurance.
Cuba does not maintain a list of accepted companies to meet their insurance, so make sure that your insurance plan shows that it covers you while in Cuba. There are very few travel insurance companies that cover travel to Cuba, unfortunately. These are the companies that we recommend:
There are no specific requirements for types of documents that demonstrate proof of health coverage – a copy of your policy should be more than enough. There is also no specific coverage amount required for admission – as long as your policy covers medical and health expenses in Cuba, it is acceptable.
Travelers must have proof of insurance for Cuba when arriving in the country and should be prepared to show proof of their travel insurance policy when passing through immigration. (a hard copy or a digital copy of your plan is fine – but make sure it’s downloaded before you land!).
Immigration is not always consistent in asking visitors to present this information – I am occasionally asked for proof of health insurance for Cuba when entering Cuba, but other times it isn’t mentioned!
Regardless, you shouldn’t take a chance and arrive in Cuba without a Cuban health insurance plan that covers you, and proof of coverage. If you arrive without it, you will be forced to purchase a local policy at whatever the cost or you could be denied admission to Cuba.
Check out our Ultimate Cuba Packing List to help you pack for your trip – we’re sharing exactly what to bring to Cuba and what we never travel without.
Unfortunately, very few travel insurance companies cover travel to Cuba due to the decades-long embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States. Because of this, your go-to travel insurance provider or blanket travel insurance plans are not likely to cover your trip.
While these limitations impact all travelers, they impact travelers from the United States more than anyone else – even fewer travel insurance companies cover U.S. travelers in Cuba. Regardless of your nationality, these are some of the different companies that we recommend for travel insurance for Cuba:
Visitors Coverage is a fantastic company with nearly 20 years of experience. Not only do they offer a variety of plans for covering your trip to Cuba, but their website is extremely user-friendly! You can get quotes in just a few minutes – it’s a breeze.
For most travelers headed to Cuba, we recommend checking Visitors Coverage travel insurance first. Visitors Coverage offers flexible and affordable travel insurance policies that cover all travelers – even travelers from the United States! – and go above and beyond the requirements for entering the country.
Note to travelers: Visitors Coverage currently does not cover travelers from the United States that are residents of New York or Maryland. Residents of other states from the U.S. are able to purchase coverage for travel to Cuba.
Insubuy is one of the few companies that provides Cuba travel insurance to travelers of all nationalities – the United States included – and doesn’t have any restrictions on travelers from different states.
Like Visitors Coverage, Insubuy offers an easy-to-use platform and helpful customer service, as well as highly competitive rates. It’s long been one of our top recommendations for travelers headed to Cuba.
Healthcare in Cuba is considered quite good, and it is readily available to all. Cuba is increasingly becoming a destination for healthcare “tourism” for those from other countries looking for more affordable yet quality procedures.
Healthcare is provided free of charge to all Cubans – but is not freely provided for foreigners. Use of most local clinics and hospitals is restricted to Cubans, meaning that tourists traveling to Cuba who happen to need medical attention during their stay are limited in where they can seek treatment.
In Havana, most foreigners seeking medical care are attended at these locations:
Many larger hotels and resorts provide services of doctors who can make visits to their guests or will be able to point to medical care should you need it. Travel insurance Cuba plans, including those from Visitors Coverage and Insubuy, will generally cover this even if you don’t have to leave your hotel!
Plus, even if you’re staying in a rental apartment, the host should always be able to direct you to assistance.
While Cuba doesn’t specifically require a travel insurance policy (rather than other medical insurance policies), choosing a travel insurance policy that covers health and medical expenses in case of an emergency while traveling is the best way to meet health insurance requirements.
These travel insurance for Cuba policies provide you with the coverage you need and more. Travel insurance policies also give you additional protection that can make or break your trip. Most policies include reimbursement for canceled or delayed trips, covering things like stolen travel gear in case of a robbery, and much more.
