Dating back to the 1960’s, US citizens have been restricted from traveling to Cuba due to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. Since the US President, Barak Obama took office, he promised that these restrictions would be reduced. Many educational programs and tourism agencies were preparing themselves strategically in hopes that they would be ready when these restrictions were lifted.
On January 14, 2011, this moment had finally come. The White House issued a press release officially announcing that educational travel would be allowed under what they dubbed “purposeful travel”. The press release further explained that the current legislation has been modified to allow licensed academic exchanges to permit students to travel to Cuba as long as students received credit toward their undergraduate and graduate degree. Additional modification was granted allowing academic institutions to sponsor and co-sponsor seminars, conferences, and workshops in Cuba and specifically announced that all those affiliated with an institution – student, faculty, staff – would be able to attend.
If you plan on studying or traveling to Cuba, you will most likely need an insurance plan. As you do research, you will notice that many US-based insurance companies have restrictions on coverage in Cuba. It is important to verify with you carrier about the coverage area as you may find that Cuba is an exception.
According to the US State Department, no medical facility in Cuba will accept U.S.-issued insurance cards, credit cards, or checks and that medical services must be paid for in cash. If you go to the doctor or hospital with a US policy, be prepared to pay out of pocket and then you will be able to submit receipts and bills for reimbursement.
We here at International Student Insurance work with students traveling all around the world, including in Cuba. If you are one of these students, faculty or staff looking for international travel insurance in Cuba, we recommend contacting our licensed agents that can further assist you.
Category: Country Insurance Requirements, Insurance Explained, International Student Travel Insurance, Visa Requirements
Tags: Educational Programs in Cuba Now Available to US Citizens, insurance plan in cuba, international insurance cuba, international insurance plan in cuba, international travel insurance in cuba, study in Cuba, travel insurance in cuba, traveling in Cuba
Are you familiar with any vaccination requirements when traveling to Cuba from America?
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for your question. I am not familiar with the required vaccinations when traveling to Cuba. However, you might want to check out the following site for further information. If you would like to purchase an insurance plan for your trip, you can also visit here. Happy Travels!