New Cuban law mandates travel insurance for visitors

Cuba will now require all travellers to the country to have travel insurance.

Travel Insurance News - 10/05/2010

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Cuba has implemented a new law that requires all tourists arriving in the popular holiday destination to have recognized travel insurance. Any visitor unable to provide acceptable proof of their insurance cover will be required to purchase travel insurance before being admitted into the country.

All foreigners except for diplomats and those living in Cuba while in the employ of overseas firms must prove they have the necessary insurance. Locally-provided insurance can cost up to three dollars per day. Cubatur, a state company, sells the travel insurance through kiosks set up at all international airports.

A certain amount of confusion regarding the new rules remains, however. The law came into last week but few details have been provided. Many tourists to Cuba come from countries that provide comprehensive health insurance plans, including reimbursement of healthcare costs incurred while abroad. Not only can residents of those countries be unclear about their coverage but they may struggle to prove their coverage to the Cuban authorities.

Cuba saw a record 2.4 million tourists last year. The biggest group of travellers came from Canada, followed by the UK, Spain, Italy and France.

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