Travel insurance for Cuba
Expert tips for choosing travel insurance for Cuba
Since you need travel insurance for Cuba, it can be important to choose the best travel insurance policy for your needs. Our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has some tips.
Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance
Consider all of your trip destinations
Sometimes one country just isn’t enough! If you’re planning on travelling across North America through Mexico and the USA, or heading down to South America, it’s important to list each country on your travel insurance application. While other countries may not require travel insurance like Cuba, the out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment or lost luggage can still make it a worthwhile investment.
Declare your pre-existing medical conditions
Consider searching your options before leaving for Cuba for a policy that covers pre-existing medical conditions. If you don’t declare your conditions, you might not be covered for your pre-existing conditions, meaning any claims relating to your conditions may have to be paid out-of-pocket. Declare your conditions to your insurer so they can assess your circumstances and whether they can offer you cover – though this may cost an additional premium.
Compare your options
Since travel insurance for Cuba is mandatory, it may be worth comparing your options to find a policy that suits your needs and budget. You can also choose between single trip and annual multi-trip policies, depending on how often you travel to Cuba or other international destinations. Using our travel insurance comparison tool, you can compare policies and prices in just minutes!
Is travel insurance compulsory for Cuba?
Unlike when travelling to most destinations, Australians are required to have travel insurance to allow them to enter Cuba. Your travel insurance will typically, at a minimum, need to include medical coverage, with cover for medical evacuations and repatriation.1 Travel insurance can also cover cancellation costs and stolen or damaged luggage.
If you don’t get travel insurance, or your travel insurance isn’t considered adequate by the Cuban ‘government, you’ll need to purchase travel insurance provided by the Cuban government once you arrive to be allowed entry.1
To enter Cuba, you’ll also need a visa. You can get a ‘tourist card’ for tourism trips under a certain number of days through the Cuban embassy or consulate.
Getting travel insurance for Cuba
Why is cover for medical expenses important?
Since you won’t be covered by your private medical insurance while overseas, and Cuba does not have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, you would need to pay for medical costs out of pocket unless you have travel insurance. If you have a medical emergency overseas, your comprehensive travel insurance company may offer medical cover for:
- Hospital stay expenses
- Emergency medical care
- Medication a medical practitioner prescribes to you for your injury or illness
- Hospital cash allowance
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- 24/7 emergency medical assistance
- Emergency dental treatment.
Specific inclusions and limits can vary between insurers and your level of cover. That’s why you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before departing to the Caribbean to understand the full details of your policy. Read the Target Market Determination (TMD) to check whether a policy is suitable to your needs.
What else is covered by travel insurance for Cuba?
Similar to all overseas destinations, the inclusions in your policy will depend on your level of cover and which insurer you choose. Many medical-only policies will cover medical treatment, medical evacuations, legal liability and 24/7 emergency assistance. But a comprehensive policy may include a number of additional benefits such as:
- Trip cancellation cover. This may cover losses for cancelled pre-booked accommodation, tours or flights, as long as it was cancelled or disrupted by an insured event such as a flight delay due to severe weather or a natural disaster.
- Luggage cover. If your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during your journey, you may be covered for the replacement or repair of your items, up to certain limits. This can include valuable, electronics, cash, credit cards, travel documents and more.
- Rental car excess. Some insurers may offer rental car excess cover automatically or as an optional extra. This covers the excess you would pay to your car rental company if your hire car in Cuba was stolen or damaged.
Check the PDS and TMD to find out the specifics of what your travel insurance covers and whether the product is suitable.
What’s excluded from travel insurance for Cuba?
There are a number of exclusions that come with any travel insurance policy and they can vary between insurers and the level of cover you choose.
A few common exclusions to watch out for can be:
- Travelling despite government warnings or travel advice
- Leaving your belongings unattended
- Adventure activities not already included (unless you’ve purchased extra cover for this)
- War, terrorism, civil unrest or invasion
- Cancellations costs relating to change of mind or unpreparedness
- Losses that occurred while you were acting recklessly, illegally or were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Read the PDS for the full list of exclusions for your policy.
Is it safe to visit Cuba?
Cuba can be safe and fun location for your next holiday, but there are a few things to consider before departing on your trip:
- Petty crime and pickpocketing. If you’re visiting popular tourist areas, it’s important to keep a close eye on your belongings and never leave them unsupervised in public. If your belongings are stolen, be sure to file a police report as soon as possible to assist with your claim.
- Vaccinations. It can be a good idea to discuss your travel plans with your regular doctorand get advice on any vaccinations you may need for your trip to Cuba. You may want to be vaccinated for illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, meningitis and COVID-19.1
- Severe weather. Hurricane season is from June to November in Cuba, and it can also cause landslides and flooding.1 Check that your travel insurance provider covers cancellations and follow the advice of local authorities if a natural disaster occurs.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As the Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
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1 Smartraveller – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Cuba. Current as of September 2024. Accessed September 2024.