Travel insurance rules for visitors to Cuba

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 50, No. 6, July August 2010, Page 295 News
By: Sandie Braid, CEBS

Effective 1 May 2010, all visitors to Cuba must be able to show proof that they are covered by medical travel insurance. Proof of coverage consists of your provincial CareCard or proof of private travel insurance coverage. However, as not all out-of-province expenses are covered by MSP, it is strongly recommended that you carry proof of private travel insurance in addition to your provincial coverage.

Members and their dependants who are insured under the extended health benefit of the BCMA Health Benefits Trust Fund (HBTF) (either the Standard or Core-Plus Plan) are cov­ered for $1 million of out-of-province travel insurance through Sun Life and their affiliate, Europ Assistance (out-of-province coverage under the Senior Plan of the HBTF is limited to $100000 lifetime per insured person). 

Insured members who do not have a Travel Card can obtain one at www.sunlife.ca/member. Alternatively, you can call 1 800 361-6212 to obtain a letter confirming coverage for yourself and your dependants. Be sure any insured dependants traveling with you also carry their provincial CareCard with them.

Members who are not insured un­der the HBTF or who wish to have an increased level of coverage can obtain travel medical insurance, including trip cancellation/interruption and baggage loss protection, through the MEDOC Plan administered by Johnson Inc. 

For more information about the MEDOC Plan provided exclusively for BCMA members, visit our web site at www.bcma.org and click on Personal Plans under Insurance in the menu on the left-hand side of the home page.

If you cannot show proof of coverage when traveling to Cuba, you will be required to buy insurance from a Cuban company upon your arrival.
—Sandie Braid, CEBS
BCMA Insurance

Sandie Braid, CEBS. Travel insurance rules for visitors to Cuba. BCMJ, Vol. 50, No. 6, July, August, 2010, Page(s) 295 - News.


Above is the information needed to cite this article in your paper or presentation. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommends the following citation style, which is the now nearly universally accepted citation style for scientific papers:
Halpern SD, Ubel PA, Caplan AL, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Solid-organ transplantation in HIV-infected patients. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:284-7.

About the ICMJE and citation styles

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