What is so dangerous about Cuba?
Discussion
I'm say on a train at the moment, and there is a travel insurance advert opposite me. In the small print it says "our policies do not cover travel to or through Afghanistan, Cuba, Liberia and Sudan".
So, that's three countries particularly well known for terrorism, civil war and piracy, plus a popular Caribbean holiday destination well known for its cigars! Ok, fair enough, Cuba isn't a democracy, and it might not have the world's most advanced healthcare system, but even sticking to the letter "C" I'd expect to see Columbia and Chechnya ahead of Cuba on this sort of list.
is there something I don't know about Cuba?
So, that's three countries particularly well known for terrorism, civil war and piracy, plus a popular Caribbean holiday destination well known for its cigars! Ok, fair enough, Cuba isn't a democracy, and it might not have the world's most advanced healthcare system, but even sticking to the letter "C" I'd expect to see Columbia and Chechnya ahead of Cuba on this sort of list.
is there something I don't know about Cuba?Nothing dangerous about Cuba at all. It is in fact incredibly safe. The policy with regards Cuba may simply be because it is an American company backed insurance policy in which case it will be invalid for Cuba.
The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
Edited by DJRC on Wednesday 5th June 08:53
DJRC said:
Nothing dangerous about Cuba at all. It is in fact incredibly safe. The policy with regards Cuba may simply be because it is an American company backed insurance policy in which case it will be invalid for Cuba.
The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
A great summary. However, the doctors may be well trained but they are extremely under-resourced in terms of drugs and equipment!The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
Also consider what happens if you need to be evacuated from Cuba for a serious illness/injury. You almost definitely won't fly directly to the US.
Always amazes me that insurance companies cover the Maldives without extra cost. Any emergency needs to be evacuated.
Edited by Puggit on Wednesday 5th June 09:06
Puggit said:
DJRC said:
Nothing dangerous about Cuba at all. It is in fact incredibly safe. The policy with regards Cuba may simply be because it is an American company backed insurance policy in which case it will be invalid for Cuba.
The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
A great summary. However, the doctors may be well trained but they are extremely under-resourced in terms of drugs and equipment!The Cuban healthcare system is also very very good. Their Doctors are some of the best trained in the world, it is a source of national pride far beyond anything with Britain and the NHS.
Also consider what happens if you need to be evacuated from Cuba for a serious illness/injury. You almost definitely won't fly directly to the US.
Medical supplies are, indeed, a bit limited these days, you can thank the 'democracy' loving US (check out the pre-Castro regime's take on Democracy) for that. I suspect, as an earlier poster said, that the ad was for a US company who aren't allowed to piss on Cubans if they're on fire on pain of being shipped to Guantanamo.
M
There was an issue in 2010 when I went to Cuba, and the Cuban government were threatening to force everyone to take a local travel insurance policy out when you arrived in the country.
Due to effectively being insured twice - some travel insurance could have been invalidated. I was with AXA at the time, and they were not sure they could cover me due to this. However it all worked out before I went.
As above Cuba is the safest place I have ever travelled to, and it is mostly down to American sanctions, that American companies cannot insure you in these countries.
Interestingly only issue I had there was credit cards being accepted. I have AMEX and knew that would not be taken, but I also took out a Santander card, but forgot it was through Capital One (another US company) so card was also declined. We got lucky that the wifes RBS card worked, or we would have been stuffed with no access to funds.
Lots of others travelling had similar situations to us, and Western Union was having to be resorted to for lots of people. So if you go - ensure you have a card that will be accepted out there.
Due to effectively being insured twice - some travel insurance could have been invalidated. I was with AXA at the time, and they were not sure they could cover me due to this. However it all worked out before I went.
As above Cuba is the safest place I have ever travelled to, and it is mostly down to American sanctions, that American companies cannot insure you in these countries.
Interestingly only issue I had there was credit cards being accepted. I have AMEX and knew that would not be taken, but I also took out a Santander card, but forgot it was through Capital One (another US company) so card was also declined. We got lucky that the wifes RBS card worked, or we would have been stuffed with no access to funds.
Lots of others travelling had similar situations to us, and Western Union was having to be resorted to for lots of people. So if you go - ensure you have a card that will be accepted out there.
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