Compare Caribbean travel insurance
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Key things to know about travel insurance for the Caribbean
- Mandatory Entry Requirements: Travel insurance is a legal requirement for entry into Cuba, Aruba, and Bermuda; without valid proof of medical cover, you may be denied entry at the border.
- High-Cost Region: The Caribbean is often classed in the most expensive "Worldwide" insurance tier due to high medical costs and repatriation flights to the UK, which can exceed £60,000, according to Sky Care Repatriation.
- Essential Specialist Add-ons: Standard policies usually exclude cruises and high-risk activities like skiing or quad biking; you may need to purchase specific add-ons to ensure these are covered.
- Strict Policy Conditions: Cover is voided if you fail to disclose pre-existing conditions, leave items unattended on beaches, or are injured while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Compare Travel Insurance for the Caribbean
The Caribbean has some breathtaking holiday destinations, such as:
- Grenada – You can enjoy the Grand Anse Beach, go snorkelling or dive to visit the Underwater Sculpture Park, or check out the Grand Etang National Park, a beautiful rainforest reserve with Mona monkeys.
- Jamaica – Relax in Dunn's River Falls, a 183m waterfall. Or you could take a stroll around Negril Beach and take in the stunning sunsets.
- Trinidad and Tobago - If you love to dance/party, the annual Trinidad Carnival could be a good option. If you want to relax and love animals, you can visit the Caroni Bird Sanctuary.
With so many things to do across so many islands, the right travel insurance policy is crucial to having the peace of mind to enjoy activities and experiences like these.
You wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of medical care in the Caribbean, which can be costly without travel insurance. PayingTooMuch helps you easily compare travel insurance policies so that you can find the one that is right for you.
Whether you’re island hopping or only visiting one location, you can choose to compare travel insurance options for multiple islands or just one.
Top tip: It is a legal requirement for these Caribbean islands to have travel insurance:
- Cuba
- Aruba
- Bermuda
You will not be able to enter these countries without it.
What does travel insurance for the Caribbean cover?
Emergency medical expenses | This covers hospital stays and treatment. Medical care in Caribbean hubs like the Bahamas or Barbados can be costly. |
Repatriation | If you need to be flown back to the UK with a medical escort, it can cost over £60,000, according to Sky Care Repatriation. |
Medical evacuation | If you fall ill on a smaller Caribbean island like Antigua, and they are unable to treat you, your insurance can cover the cost of a medical evacuation to a larger island with better medical facilities. |
Travel disruption | You’ll be covered if you weren’t able to travel due to injury, illness or emergency. You’d also be covered if you had to cut your trip short for the same reasons. Flights between islands are often disrupted. |
Natural disasters | Many standard policies can cover natural disasters. It can help you pay for evacuation or accommodation |
Why you need travel insurance for the Caribbean
Both the GHIC and EHIC are not valid in the majority of Caribbean countries, apart from places like Martinique and Guadeloupe. In all other countries, you are fully responsible for all of your medical costs.
Another reason to get travel insurance for the Caribbean is that the quality and cost of medical care can vary depending on which island you are visiting. Having travel insurance can allow you to get access to higher-quality doctors and facilities, no matter the island you are on, without having to pay large fees.
This is because travel insurance can cover both medical evacuation and repatriation, so even if you're on an island with lower-standard facilities, you can be transported either to a nearby location or back home to get the care you need.
The Caribbean also has to deal with hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. Being on an island during a hurricane significantly increases the risk of serious injury or illness and can increase the numbers in the table above considerably.
Choosing the right region for your policy
For annual multi-trips, regional categories vary significantly by insurer and can have an impact on the cost of your travel insurance.
Most insurers use broad terms such as "Worldwide," but these are frequently split into two distinct tiers:
- One that includes the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean.
- One that excludes them.
Because medical costs in these areas are some of the highest in the world, selecting the wrong region could leave you entirely without cover for a claim.
Puerto Rico follows the American healthcare system, which is notoriously expensive. Many insurers require you to select a "Worldwide including the USA" policy to make sure you’re covered.
For single trip travel insurance policies, just tell us about every country you’ll be visiting during your trip, so that your insurance covers all these countries.
How your type of trip affects your cover
What you’re planning to do can be just as important as who you are and where you’re going when it comes to travel insurance. It’s important to remember the following when comparing your travel insurance options:
- Activity-specific add-ons – If you’re planning on doing some high-risk activities such as quad biking, jet skiing or cliff diving, you’ll likely need to purchase a separate add-on policy which covers you for these types of activities.
- Cruise cover- If you’re taking a cruise to the Caribbean, you’ll need cruise cover as part of your travel insurance. Standard policies won’t cover you for cabin confinement or missed ports. Many major cruise lines require you to have cruise insurance to board their ships.
Single-trip policies can be used for multiple destinations, so long as they’re all visited in one trip.
Entry requirements for the Caribbean
There are many visa-free Caribbean destinations for British citizens, such as:
- Antigua and Barbuda - Up to 90 days.
- The Bahamas - Up to 240 days.
- Barbados - Up to 180 days.
But there are still some important rules and regulations you need to follow to enter many Caribbean islands:
- Passport Validity – For example, Barbados and Jamaica generally require your passport only to be valid for the duration of your stay. Whereas Antigua requires that you have 6 months of validity remaining from the date you arrive.
- Digital Arrival Forms - Many islands now require online immigration and customs forms before you fly. You must complete the Barbados ED (Embarkation-Disembarkation) form 72 hours before arrival, while the Dominican Republic requires a mandatory digital "eTicket" to generate a QR code for scanning at the airport.
- Proof of onward travel – Destinations such as Jamaica, Barbados, and St Lucia legally require proof of a return or onward ticket to allow entry.
- Insurance requirements - Some destinations, like Cuba, legally require you to have valid medical insurance to enter the country.
What is not covered?
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions | It's crucial that you disclose any pre-existing conditions you have, even if you think that they’re minor or well-managed. If you don’t, your claim is likely to be rejected. |
Drug and alcohol consumption | While enjoying a rum punch or a Red Stripe can be a fun part of your trip, it’s important that you don’t drink too much. If you got injured or ill while drunk, your claim will be rejected. The same goes if you take drugs. |
Unattended items | Insurance claims will be voided if you left your items unattended. For example, if you went swimming in the Grand Anse Bay and left your belongings on the beach, with no one looking after them, and they were stolen, you’re very unlikely to have your claim accepted. |
Scooter and Moped Hire | You are only allowed to hire scooters and mopeds if you have the correct licence for the engine size and have the correct type of helmet. Riding without safety gear or the proper documentation—even if local laws are lax—will invalidate your medical cover. |
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Tips on finding affordable travel insurance for the Caribbean
- Compare Regional Tiers – Many insurers split "Worldwide" cover into two categories for annual multi-trip policies: "Worldwide excluding the USA" and "Worldwide including the USA". To save money, try to find an insurer that classes the Caribbean in the "Worldwide excluding the USA" category, which is often significantly cheaper.
- Declare pre-existing medical conditions – It is vital to declare all medical conditions honestly. While it may slightly increase your premium, it makes sure your policy is valid; an undeclared condition is the fastest way to have a high-cost claim rejected.
- Compare Annual vs. Single Trip – If you plan on taking two or more trips in a year, an annual multi-trip policy is usually more cost-effective than buying separate cover for each journey.
- Review your excess – Increasing your voluntary excess can lower your upfront premium, but only do this if you can comfortably afford to pay that amount if you did need to make a claim.
- Group policies – If you’re travelling to the Caribbean as a family or as part of a group, a group policy may be better value for money.
Get a travel insurance policy quote for your Caribbean adventure today.