Compare Cuba travel insurance
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Key things to know about travel insurance in Cuba
- Legal Entry Requirement: Valid travel insurance is mandatory for entry into Cuba. Border officials may request proof of your policy upon arrival, and failure to present it can result in denied entry or being forced to purchase expensive, less comprehensive state-mandated cover.
- High Medical & Repatriation Costs: With no reciprocal healthcare agreement (GHIC/EHIC are invalid), travellers are liable for all costs. Emergency medical treatment can exceed £370 per night4, Medical repatriation to the UK can cost over £60,0002. Evacuation to nearby countries can cost from £10,0003.
- Essential Cover Areas: A robust policy should include high medical limits (£1m–£5m), cover for cash theft (as Cuba is a cash-first economy), and protection against natural disasters, specifically for the hurricane season between June and November.
- Accuracy in Disclosure: You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when getting a quote. Failure to do so can invalidate your policy, leading to rejected claims and significant out-of-pocket expenses for any related treatments during your trip.
Compare travel insurance for Cuba
You must have travel insurance to visit Cuba, as it is a legal requirement of entry. You may also be asked to present it to get through customs. Cuba, despite suffering from a US trade embargo, has incredible doctors and medical facilities, but they can be prohibitively expensive without travel insurance. PayingTooMuch makes it easier for you to find the right insurance policy for your Cuban adventure. It’s also important to note that at the time of writing, the FCDO is advising against all but essential travel to Cuba1. This means that it will either be more expensive or more difficult to get travel insurance for your trip
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Do you need travel insurance for Cuba?
Yes, having a valid travel insurance policy for the duration of your trip is a legal requirement for visiting Cuba. It doesn’t always happen, but a border official can ask for you to show proof of your policy when you arrive.
If you don’t have it, you could be either:
- Refused entry into the country
- Forced to buy a state-mandated policy which is generally less comprehensive and more expensive than a pre-booked policy.
What does Cuba travel insurance cover?
Most standard policies for Cuba will cover the following:
Emergency medical treatment | Covers the costs of emergency private medical treatment at designated international clinics where there’s no alternative available. These are normally located in tourist hotspots such as Havana and Santa Lucia. |
Medical repatriation | The cost of flying you home in an air ambulance from Cuba can be more than £60,0002. |
Cash | While some businesses accept cards, Cuba primarily operates as a cash-first country1. So, you’ll have to carry cash with you wherever you go, which increases the chances of losing it or having it stolen. |
Cancellation cover/curtailment | If an emergency (e.g., illness, injury or a bereavement) means that you have to either end your trip early or cancel it before it starts, you can be covered for any non-refundable costs. |
Disruption | Cuba’s hurricane season is between June and November5. Extreme weather can sometimes disrupt flights, particularly during this period. If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you can receive a set amount of money to pay extra costs such as food or accommodation, if your provider refuses to cover this. |
Theft/loss | Covers you if your belongings are stolen or lost during your trip to Cuba. Theft in some crowded tourist areas is a problem. |
Why is travel insurance for Cuba important?
Travel insurance for Cuba is important because:
- High medical costs – It can cost around £370 a night4 to be hospitalised in dedicated international clinics. This is on top of costs for tests and medication. More serious injuries can quickly run into thousands of pounds of extra costs.
- Limited facilities – Tourist hotspots like Havana have relatively modern medical centres like the Cira García Central Clinic. But facilities in more rural areas or remote keys (Cayos) are often basic and lack essential supplies or specialised staff. Travel insurance can help with 24/7 assistance to fly in medical supplies if needed.
- Medical evacuation – If you’re severely injured or ill, you may need to be evacuated to Mexico or the United States to be treated. These flights are extremely costly, often exceeding £15,0003.
- No reciprocal healthcare agreement – The UK doesn’t have a reciprocal agreement with Cuba. This means that you will be 100% responsible for paying for any medical care. Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC is valid in Cuba, as it’s not part of the EU.
- Extreme weather – Hurricanes and tropical storms are common in Cuba. These can cause severe disruption to your trip. Your policy could cover the cost of moving to a different accommodation if yours is unsafe.
How much medical cover do I need for Cuba?
Cuba has hospitals and clinics that are specifically for tourists. These facilities are similar in quality to what you’d expect here in the UK, particularly when it comes to their doctors. But you'd have to pay quite a lot to use them. For example, it can cost more than £200/night to stay in a hospital, or over £80,000 to be medically repatriated back to the UK5, and over £15,0003 to be flown to either Mexico or the USA for specialist treatment.
This is why it can be a good idea to check the medical limit on any policy you’re considering. It can then be easier to consider if it’s right for you.
Cuba travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions
It’s important to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, during your medical screening. Even if you feel that it’s a minor illness and that you have it under control, it’s still important that you disclose it.
This will help avoid invalidating your policy, as any undisclosed conditions can lead to your claim being rejected, which can add thousands of pounds to the cost of your holiday.
Using a comparison site such as PayingTooMuch can help to find policies that are tailored for people with pre-existing conditions. If you find that the cost of these is still too high, you can use the MoneyHelper Travel Insurance Directory which offers a list of specialist firms that provide cover for more serious or complex medical histories.
What's not covered by Cuba travel insurance?
Standard travel insurance policies for Cuba won’t cover everything. Some of the most common exclusions include:
Undisclosed pre-existing conditions | If you don’t disclose a pre-existing medical condition and you have to make a claim, it will be rejected. |
Alcohol and drug-related incidents | Most insurers will not pay out for accidents, injuries, or illnesses that happened if you’re under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs. |
Unlicensed activities | When looking for taxis or tour guides, it’s important only to use reputable and authorised ones. If you use any "unofficial" or unlicensed operators, it can invalidate your cover, particularly if safety standards are not met. |
High-risk activities | Most standard policies won’t include activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, or paragliding unless you have purchased a specific adventure sports add-on. |
Non-emergency care | Any sort of treatment that isn’t medically necessary, e.g., plastic surgery, isn’t covered by insurers. |
Hurricane season and travel insurance
Cuba’s hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The last one to hit was Hurricane Melissa in October 20254. So it may be a good idea to check that your policy has comprehensive natural disaster and travel disruption cover, particularly if you’re travelling during this period. If it does, you’re likely to be able to cancel your trip before you leave or be able to secure evacuation or alternative accommodation if you’re caught in the hurricane.
For your claim to be accepted, you would have had to have bought your insurance before the storm was announced and became a known event.
Single-trip or Multi-trip cover for Cuba?
Choosing between single-trip cover and annual multi-trip cover for your Cuban adventure depends on how many trips you're planning to take in a year. For example, if Cuba is the only holiday you’re taking this year, a single-trip policy may be a better option for you. But, if you have other adventures planned, an annual multi-trip policy may work out as better value for money. You won’t have to buy an individual policy each time you travel, which can save you time as well as money. Just make sure you’re considering where your other trips will be, as it could still work out cheaper to have a single trip to Cuba and then an annual Europe policy.
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Compare Cuba travel insurance with PayingTooMuch
As you can’t enter Cuba without travel insurance, having it is crucial, but finding the right policy for your specific adventure is even more so. Using PayingTooMuch to compare travel insurance can make the process simple. You can quickly compare all the policies that could be suited to you in just a few clicks.