Cuba Health Insurance

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Cuba

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Cuba nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Cuba national and moving to Cuba we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Cuba hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in Cuba.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Cuba we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Cuba Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Cuba dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.

Cuba Medical Insurance

The Republic of Cuba consists of one large island and several small islands situated on the northern border of the Caribbean Sea. It is located at about 160 km South of Florida, near the Bahamas. The land area of Cuba is 110,860 sq km, which makes Cuba the largest country in the Caribbean. Cuba is also the biggest island in the Antilles Archipelago. The capital city of Cuba is Havana, which is located on the Northern coast of the country. Cuba is a tropical country, with a climate that is composed of only two seasons: Wet (May to November) and Dry (December to April). It has an average relative humidity of 78% and a mean annual temperature of around 25.2°C.

Historically, Cuba used to have one of the most developed healthcare services in the world, and many people believed that healthcare in Cuba was much better back in the 1980s than it is today. For many years, the Russian authorities have joined with the Cuban authorities whereby investing a lot of time and resources into Cuba. In 1991, the Russian authorities withdrew their support and funding, and it soon became evident that the Cuban authorities were not able to continue investing into healthcare in Cuba at the same rate. Although the country still has some of the best possible medical care in the world, it no longer holds the same level of prominence that it once did.

Cuba is a Communist country, where the authorities administer everything. With the support from the Russian Authorities during the period of 1980s-1990s, the country dramatically improved the medical services, standards and availability of medicines to its citizens. The standard of the Cuban healthcare system then was more favourable for the common man when in comparison to the standard of that in the USA.

In Cuba, the Government has full responsibility for the healthcare of its citizens. All citizens of Cuba receive comprehensive healthcare free of charge whenever they need it. The country’s health system is financed out of the State budget, which accounts for about 7.6% of the country’s GDP annually. The Government pays for the majority of the medical costs; citizens are required to make a small out-of-pocket fee which includes drugs prescribed for out-patient treatment, hearing aids, dental and orthopaedic apparatuses, wheelchairs, crutches and eyeglasses. Prices for all these items are low and are subsidised by the State.

In 1983, the parliament approved the Public Health Law, which lays out the general activities to be carried out by the State to protect the health of all Cuban citizens. The health policy focuses primarily on preventive, curative and rehabilitation services in the community, and the policy also promotes the active participation of citizens. The National healthcare system of Cuba is divided into 3 levels, namely the national, provincial and municipal.

In Cuba, private healthcare is virtually non-existent, and is regulated heavily by the authorities where it does exist. Moreover, the American authorities have a long-standing trade embergo with Cuba, which also extends to medical provisions and medicines. Unless the restriction is lifted, it will be difficult to see any growth in the private healthcare sector of the country.

Doctors in Cuba are well-trained and internationally recognised for their know-how and expertise. Their education in Cuba is paid for by the Government, students receive extensive medical training without worrying about the tuition fees. As part of the training, Cuban physicians have the opportunity to periodically travel to Europe, Asia, North and South America to experience these countries’ medical systems. English speaking translators are available in all international hospitals in Cuba if required, however most doctors speak English as a second language. In the wake of many natural disasters that have plagued the region, most notably the Earthquake of Haiti in 2010, Cuban doctors have taken part in aid work and medical missions to offer their expertise and assistance

As of 1st May, 2010, the Cuban Government required all visitors entering Cuba to purchase Cuba health insurance from Government approved vendors. This requirement also applies to Cubans living abroad returning for a visit. The only exemptions from this requirement are diplomats and representatives of accredited international organisations.

Healthcare in Cuba is available to all expats, although in recent years the financial investment in this particular area is reduced but there is no doubt that the level of expertise within Cuba and the services available are good when compared to many developed and developing countries. Under the current system in Cuba, all healthcare benefits available to Cuban nationals are available to expats who are living and working in the country. Foreigners have assurance of receiving excellent healthcare. However, if you are not too comfortable with Cuba’s healthcare system, you have the option to consult a U.S. doctor at a close by vicinity like Florida.

There are a number of challenges in the Cuban healthcare system. Despite the fact that healthcare may be free and available to all Cuban citizens, unfortunately medication is not. Stock maintenance on medication is fairly poor. Medications in State hospitals are seriously under-stocked and therefore access for the poor to needed medication is minimal, despite the service being free. Cuba exports a large amount of medical aid every year to other Latin American countries to increase financial profits. Medication and equipment are available in the country, but they come at a high price in exchange for them. The poor and middle classes of Cuba are very unlikely to be able to afford these on their salaries.

Although the Cuban Government provide free education to train medical students to become doctors, however, on completion of their training, students are obligated to initially work for the Cuban Government to a country mandatory assigned either locally or abroad. Many doctors ended up withdrawing from the program due to poor conditions, bad treatment and minimum pay, especially those who are sent to developing countries. Given the outlined issues regarding the state of the healthcare system in Cuba, it is highly recommended that you purchase a medical insurance to protect yourself and your family during your stay in Cuba.

Pacific Prime is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to Cuba. We offer a wide range of policies to meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations and many others. We offer a large variety of health care plans as well as travellers insurance plans. Contact our professional advisers today to enjoy full insurance protection such as an Expat Health Insurance Plan for yourself and your family.