We planned our trip to Turks & Caicos pretty last minute, just a couple of days before departure. I wanted to share my experience with the entry requirements, since they’re kind of simple, but also kind of complicated. I didn’t see a whole lot about this online before our visit, so hopefully my experience can help others.
In this post:
Turks & Caicos entry requirements
At the time we planned our trip, there were four main entry requirements for Turks & Caicos (let me emphasize that travel restrictions are constantly changing, so check the Turks & Caicos’ official page for current restrictions):
- All visitors 16 years of age and older need to be fully vaccinated (though there’s no requirement to be boosted)
- A negative COVID-19 test result is required within three days of travel; either a PCR or rapid antigen test is sufficient, and children under two years old are exempt from this requirement
- Special COVID-19 medical insurance that covers any expenses you may incur as a result of getting coronavirus
- A completed travel authorization form, submitted at least 24 hours before your trip
The requirement to be fully vaccinated is pretty straightforward, and needing a test pre-travel was also straightforward, given that a rapid antigen does the trick (and those are easy to get with fast results). So let me talk a bit about the pre-travel Turks & Caicos travel authorization, the insurance requirement, and my experience on arrival.
Turks & Caicos travel insurance
Turks & Caicos requires travel insurance that covers coronavirus medical costs and full hospitalization, doctors visits, prescriptions, and air ambulance. The following are the recommended insurance providers:
- Travelex
- Seven Corners
- TripMate
- Aura
- HTH World Wide
- Allianz Global Assistance
- Generali Insurance
- Global Rescue
- HDI Global
- Travel Guard
- Travel Insured International
- Trawick
- Arch RoamRight
- Apex Travel Limited
After doing some Googling, I decided to go with Aura insurance, and the process of getting insurance was simple. The company charges $9.80 per person per day, but the minimum cost is $69 per person per trip.
On the plus side, getting insurance was easy — it took only a few minutes, and I was issued a policy immediately.
Unfortunately credit card insurance won’t qualify for this requirement, so this does add to the cost of a trip to Turks & Caicos. Then again, other countries charge higher entry fees.
Turks & Caicos travel authorization
Turks & Caicos requires all visitors to complete a travel authorization prior to travel. It’s recommended that you submit this at least 24 hours prior to travel, though it’s noted that “shorter times can be accommodated.”
The actual information requested with the travel authorization was roughly what you’d expect. I first had to register and then receive a one time password.
I then had to provide personal information, including my name, date of birth, address, occupation, and more.
Oddly you’re asked if you have any family members traveling with you, but then you need to fill out a separate form for them anyway, so I just had to provide the same information twice.
Then I had to fill out a health questionnaire, and was asked to upload pictures of my vaccine card, negative coronavirus test, and travel insurance.
Lastly, I was asked about how long and where I was planning on staying in Turks & Caicos.
I submitted the forms around 26 hours prior to our flight from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales.
Just about an hour after submitting these documents, I received an email confirming that everything had been approved. Despite this authorization, I still had to provide all of these documents while checking in for my flight.
Turks & Caicos arrivals experience
Fortunately when we arrive in Turks & Caicos there were no other planes that landed around the same time, so there was virtually no wait there.
Before getting to the actual immigration officer, we had to once again show our vaccine cards, proof of negative tests, and our travel authorizations. This was all easy enough.
One quick thing to note — we really lucked out that there was no wait at immigration, though I’ve also heard of many people having to wait an hour or more after immigration, depending on how many other flights arrive around the same time.
That’s why I think it’s at least worth being aware that Turks & Caicos has a VIP arrivals service. For $75 per person you can get a fast track through immigration. That would have been a complete waste of money in our case, but if you arrive at a popular time and would otherwise have to wait an hour, I’m sure that’s a cost many people would be willing to pay.
Another thing to note, while we’re at it. When you land at Providenciales Airport there are no private taxis available for hire. The only options are shared vans that will potentially stop at multiple resorts. This isn’t necessarily that inefficient (it probably added 15 minutes to our driving time), but if you want a private transfer you’ll have to arrange it in advance. Our shuttle to the Ritz-Carlton cost $34 per couple.
Bottom line
Turks & Caicos is open to vaccinated visitors, though there are some hoops to jump through. You need to get tested within three days of travel (rapid antigen tests are okay), you need to buy travel insurance (which will cost around $10 per person per day), and you need to fill out a pre-travel authorization form (ideally 24 hours before departure).
None of this was a major inconvenience, and we also lucked out that we arrived at a time when the airport was empty, so there was no wait at immigration.
If you’ve traveled to Turks & Caicos, what was your experience with the entry requirements?
We are arriving by private yatch. Is there a limit on how much alcohol we have on board?
Has anyone that’s fully vaccinated traveled without their vaccination card? Lost mine and traveling tomorrow but I was able to pull my vaccination records with my state digitally.
This is helpful!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Looking for clarity on testing. I was planning on using 15toknow. They said the antigen test was just a nasal swap (not the long swap through nose to back of throat - nasopharyngeal). The TCI portal states antigen test have to nasopharyngeal. While the information provided by 15toknow over the phone confirmed the antigen test was just a regular nasal swap, the report shows Nasopharyngeal. This should be fine to clear TCI Assured for approval...
Looking for clarity on testing. I was planning on using 15toknow. They said the antigen test was just a nasal swap (not the long swap through nose to back of throat - nasopharyngeal). The TCI portal states antigen test have to nasopharyngeal. While the information provided by 15toknow over the phone confirmed the antigen test was just a regular nasal swap, the report shows Nasopharyngeal. This should be fine to clear TCI Assured for approval as long as the test states nasopharyngeal.
Can anyone confirm the type of test they got and what their reports stated and if they had any issues getting approved with their covid test report, especially if you used 15toknow Antigen test.
15toknow worked fine at a cost but our friends used CVS and it worked fine too. In all cases, it was technically nasopharyngeal swabbing it was just the inside rim of the nostril (1/2 to 3/4 inch) and you swab yourself for the antigen test. Return from TCI was even easier albeit a cost if not staying at the hotel administering tests. Cost $50/pp. Antigen test just the inside rim of the nose and you swab yourself.
Traveled recently to turks and Caicos’s with a group of 10. It was amazing the process could be handled very easily with the step-by-step procedures that are offered. No problems no troubles everything went smoothly
A little confused on the intended stay section. Town or district and state???
How do you purchase the vip entrance at the airport? If you have it do they let you off the plane ahead of everyone else?
We returned from T & C on 2/5. I totally understand how stressful the application process can be. We paid the extra $20 per person to download the Atlys app. Your vaccine card, travel insurance info, COVID results, etc can all be downloaded to this app. They will confirm the accuracy & completion of all your documents & submit to T & C. Then when you submit your TCI Assured application the process is somewhat...
We returned from T & C on 2/5. I totally understand how stressful the application process can be. We paid the extra $20 per person to download the Atlys app. Your vaccine card, travel insurance info, COVID results, etc can all be downloaded to this app. They will confirm the accuracy & completion of all your documents & submit to T & C. Then when you submit your TCI Assured application the process is somewhat expedited as most of your info is already there. It does not necessarily speed up the process but ensures that the info has been verified by Atlys to be complete & correct. Our applications took approx 12 hours to approve. We traveled American Airlines & downloaded their VeriFLY app which again saved all our info. When reporting to T & C airport for our flight home all that was required was that we pull up the VeriFLY app & the attendant merely scanned thru, checking the documents that were uploaded, looked @ passports & we were good to go!
FYI - at home Covid tests (including proctored versions like those by eMed) are not accepted for entry into TCI
We just got back from TCI on Wednesday and found the whole testing requirements, travel authorization, etc. to be really simple to complete before our trip. Also, Covid tests are provided at many of the resorts so it was easy to get one scheduled before coming back to the US. The VIP arrival and departure is well worth the cost. On arrival we were through immigration in less than 5 minutes after getting off the...
We just got back from TCI on Wednesday and found the whole testing requirements, travel authorization, etc. to be really simple to complete before our trip. Also, Covid tests are provided at many of the resorts so it was easy to get one scheduled before coming back to the US. The VIP arrival and departure is well worth the cost. On arrival we were through immigration in less than 5 minutes after getting off the plane. When departing TCI, the VIP representative was great in walking us through the entire process, getting through security and bringing us to the lounge. Also, for car rentals, I would recommend going through Grace Bay Car Rentals. The standard US brands such as Hertz, Avis, etc. are all local companies operating under those names and I heard some horror stories about bad cars and other issues. Grace Bay Car Rentals was right at the airport, friendly and well priced.
This is not entirely accurate . You do not need to buy travel insurance to go. Get an explanation of benefits from your health insurance company stating your Covid related travel coverage. TCI will make you sign an attestation that you are responsible for all quarantine costs should you get Covid there. I have been to Turks 5 times in the last year and never once paid for travel insurance. I provided a summary of...
This is not entirely accurate . You do not need to buy travel insurance to go. Get an explanation of benefits from your health insurance company stating your Covid related travel coverage. TCI will make you sign an attestation that you are responsible for all quarantine costs should you get Covid there. I have been to Turks 5 times in the last year and never once paid for travel insurance. I provided a summary of benefits . Takes a little longer to get approved, but I was approved every time.
Came here to Turks and Caicos in Feb 2022. Unfortunately, at least 6 + planes came in at the same time which left us going threw the cattle lines to immigration for about 21/2 hours. If you have small children or babies they could get priority to move ahead of the lines. The problem was that as grandparents we could NOT get moved ahead with my grandchildren or other family members. Luckily we filled a...
Came here to Turks and Caicos in Feb 2022. Unfortunately, at least 6 + planes came in at the same time which left us going threw the cattle lines to immigration for about 21/2 hours. If you have small children or babies they could get priority to move ahead of the lines. The problem was that as grandparents we could NOT get moved ahead with my grandchildren or other family members. Luckily we filled a separate customs form out on the plane ahead of time. The health people at the airport only glanced at out authorization forms.
Immigration when I arrived was horrific. There were 6 planes on the ground. We had to wait over an hour on the plane. they let 15 people off at a time. Once inside waiting 4 hours to get through only 2 open windows. It was hot and smelled of sweaty people. Officers yelling at people to get off their phones and put them away. Great Welcome. I was a returning resident but my husband had the original PRC document. Made me wait with tourists!!!
Our experience was similar except it took us 2 hours to get through immigration! It was so backed up that they were only letting people off the plane a few at a time.
I submitted all my accurate information to the portal as required. A processor left the last digit of my passport number off my form. An American Airlines employee noticed it and I was refused admission to board the plane. All my other paperwork was in order. I couldn't get reentrance into the portal because I was already approved. I'll spare you the details but it took four more days, thousands of dollars in lodging (I...
I submitted all my accurate information to the portal as required. A processor left the last digit of my passport number off my form. An American Airlines employee noticed it and I was refused admission to board the plane. All my other paperwork was in order. I couldn't get reentrance into the portal because I was already approved. I'll spare you the details but it took four more days, thousands of dollars in lodging (I was traveling from Arizona not the midwest where I residea) and new airplane ticket, and another negative test because I timed out. It was brutal. I understand this problem of access to portal to fix mistakes has been resolved.
You missed a critical item - how was the ability (and cost) to get a COVID test in Turks to return to the USA? How much time did you have to waste doing such?
@ Wayne -- The Ritz-Carlton offered on-site testing daily from 9:30AM until 11:30AM. Rapid antigen tests were $35, and results were available within 30 minutes. So that was totally painless.
Seven Stars does it for $50 if you are not a guest at the property. Results in less than 5 mins
I wish I'd known about the "VIP" arrival lane before I went a couplie weeks ago! On all my previous trips I had been one of the earliest AA flights into PLS so always just breezed right through the passport/document control area. This past trip several aircraft had landed just before us and we had to wait onboard the aircraft for about 25 minutes, then once inside the airport it was another nearly two hours...
I wish I'd known about the "VIP" arrival lane before I went a couplie weeks ago! On all my previous trips I had been one of the earliest AA flights into PLS so always just breezed right through the passport/document control area. This past trip several aircraft had landed just before us and we had to wait onboard the aircraft for about 25 minutes, then once inside the airport it was another nearly two hours of zig-zagging in the queue. It was only a two night trip so every minute spent in that line felt like an eternity!
So if you are not fully vaccinated you can not travel to turks & caicos?
From what I’ve read, you need to have both vaccines, and I believe the second vaccine needs to be administered at least 2 weeks prior to travel. You don’t need the booster. One of my friend can’t get the booster and from what we’ve all read, that’s what they require.
@ Mary -- Correct, you need to be fully vaccinated (but not boosted) to be a tourist.
Congrats to T&C for banning the anti-vaxxers!
To those of you writing about your international health coverage, do any of you have a reasonably-priced policy that would cover “day-to-day” medical needs (as opposed to emergencies) that one might encounter when staying in one country for some months? I’m referring to such things as seeing a doctor or dentist for basic medical needs like a torn toenail, a sick child, a bad cold, a toothache or even just getting a flu shot? Most...
To those of you writing about your international health coverage, do any of you have a reasonably-priced policy that would cover “day-to-day” medical needs (as opposed to emergencies) that one might encounter when staying in one country for some months? I’m referring to such things as seeing a doctor or dentist for basic medical needs like a torn toenail, a sick child, a bad cold, a toothache or even just getting a flu shot? Most policies I’ve seen only cover emergency care.
Just got back last week. Very straightforward. Used VeriFLY, so that made check-in simple entering and exiting the country. Used travelex for insurance, received my approval from TCI minutes after I submitted, partner received theirs roughly 45 minutes after. Binax proctored tests for $35 were what I used for return COVID tests.
Have your documents printed upon arrival to not hold up the line, but very straightforward.
Hi,
Since you just returned maybe you can help answer some questions for me. We all know turks is considered a hotspot right now as far as Covid. But I was surprised to read that crime Is really high. I’ve always heard it was a safe island, when I went there maybe five years ago I felt very safe. I have a trip booked with five of my girlfriends coming up in May but...
Hi,
Since you just returned maybe you can help answer some questions for me. We all know turks is considered a hotspot right now as far as Covid. But I was surprised to read that crime Is really high. I’ve always heard it was a safe island, when I went there maybe five years ago I felt very safe. I have a trip booked with five of my girlfriends coming up in May but we’re actually thinking of canceling. We are staying on grace bay at a hotel.
Also, were there a lot of potcakes running around? Turks has done a great job of trying to take care of the dogs. I like going to Bermuda because they don’t have that situation. But I didn’t feel it was too bad on turks. Any feedback you can provide would be helpful. Thank you for the information about getting through the testing etc.
@ Susu -- I can of course only share my experience, but I personally felt totally safe off property, and we walked around a fair bit. Don't remember seeing too many stray dogs.
Thank you. Were you on grace bay? I stayed at the Palms a few years ago and felt totally safe but when I read that on the CDC website it concerned me. It’s a group of six women going on Grace Bay we are staying at a resort. Just didn’t know if anybody heard anything about increased crime
We went for Christmas at the Club Med. Felt very safe on the resort. We did not travel out the resort though.
Hi Susu,
I felt 100% safe during my time. I visit once a year, and I never feel unsafe, just be aware of your surroundings - which I would say goes for just about any place you visit that is unfamiliar.
There were some dogs over near Taylor Bay.. but nothing to be scared or nervous about. I rented a villa and every drive/hotel has a pretty strict enforcement of security guards that would...
Hi Susu,
I felt 100% safe during my time. I visit once a year, and I never feel unsafe, just be aware of your surroundings - which I would say goes for just about any place you visit that is unfamiliar.
There were some dogs over near Taylor Bay.. but nothing to be scared or nervous about. I rented a villa and every drive/hotel has a pretty strict enforcement of security guards that would patrol.
Definitely wouldn't let things you've heard deter you from visiting! I've been visiting for years, and like I said, have never felt unsafe. With that being said, I traveled all over the island and to many different beaches and had cocktails/dinner at a plethora of hotels and restaurants.
Enjoy your vacation.
Don’t cancel. I’ve traveled 5 times there in the last year by myself as a female ! From cabs at night to shuttles to dinners etc. very safe. Once you get a cab driver you like, ask him for his/her number. Stay on Grace Bay. I’ve stayed at Seven Stars (several times) Palms, Ritz, The Sands, Royal West Indies. If you stay at a resort , you will be totally safe . I haven’t stay...
Don’t cancel. I’ve traveled 5 times there in the last year by myself as a female ! From cabs at night to shuttles to dinners etc. very safe. Once you get a cab driver you like, ask him for his/her number. Stay on Grace Bay. I’ve stayed at Seven Stars (several times) Palms, Ritz, The Sands, Royal West Indies. If you stay at a resort , you will be totally safe . I haven’t stay anywhere else on the island that I can comment on. I don’t know what it’s like to rent a B&B. I rode a bike every day in to town etc. i felt very safe traveling solo, the people are so nice.
Besides the USofA, what countries require a negative Covid test within 24 hours of beginning your flights? More than a few countries are now dropping the negative test requirement to enter (i.e., Panamá, Argentina, Great Brittain, etc.) Why is the US holding to an opposite, more restrictive policy? It seems 100% political to me, and NOT based on "science."
@ GJ Gerard -- I agree with you, I think it's time to drop the testing requirement for travel to the United States, at least for vaccinated travelers.
Why only drop the test for vaccinated travelers? They contract and spread covid just like unvaccinated travelers.
Bingo! You answered your own statement. It’s own government
The CDC is encouraging people not to travel to Turks because Covid is level 4 and also they said crime is very high. That surprised me. I went once before and felt safe. What did you think?
Where there a lot of pot cakes (dogs) running around?
Where did you stay? Thanks
TCI is one of those places where they might have 2 new cases daily. But from the CDCs mathematical perspective when that number went to 3 it was a 50% increase. Sounds scary on paper but not in reality.
For a crime perspective it’s is just as safe as any medium sized city in the US. Don’t leave your purse visible inside of your car. Only take badged taxis, etc
Pre-departure to T&C; the requirements for testing specified Indication of laboratory credentials (CLIA, ISO 15189). We had to go through hoops to find these credentials. Most drugstores and Urgent Care facilities did not comply (or didn't know about it!). Are those credentials REALLY necessary?
There is important information that is generally hidden from tourists nowadays: If you test positive before your return home and have no symptoms, is there mandatory hospitalization? Is self-quarantine an option?
and are you allowed to retest in subsequent days to finish quarantine…
@ panda -- That's a great question. Based on doing some Googling it appears that if you test positive you first get retested with a PCR, and if that's positive you have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days, and you don't have an option to end that early. It's possible rules have changed, but that's the best information I could find.
My family and I travel to TCI a couple times of year, including the last 2.
A few things to keep in mind;
1. Submit your online documents at least 48 hours in advance. During busy times you may not receive your approval until a few hours before your flight. Do not count on anyone answering the phone or responding to emails.
2. Do not underestimate the burden of the double entry...
My family and I travel to TCI a couple times of year, including the last 2.
A few things to keep in mind;
1. Submit your online documents at least 48 hours in advance. During busy times you may not receive your approval until a few hours before your flight. Do not count on anyone answering the phone or responding to emails.
2. Do not underestimate the burden of the double entry of family members. We are a family of 6 and it takes hours. Sometimes TCI picks up on the fact that you haven’t listed each family member on each submission and it will delay your approval.
3. Double and triple check names are in the right order and birthdates are correct. I mistakenly put my wife’s DOB on my entry and was nearly denied boarding my flight from PHL.
Once you arrive though it is well worth the effort.
They insisted on travel insurance that covered the cost of quarantine. Our emergency medical coverage provided by Manulife in Canada covered absolutely everything except quarantine costs. Turks wouldn’t accept it and we had to pay $$$$ for another policy (Aura) which was well over $500 US as we were 2 people there for a month. Disappointed in that … we would rather have taken a chance and paid for our own quarantine “if” we got...
They insisted on travel insurance that covered the cost of quarantine. Our emergency medical coverage provided by Manulife in Canada covered absolutely everything except quarantine costs. Turks wouldn’t accept it and we had to pay $$$$ for another policy (Aura) which was well over $500 US as we were 2 people there for a month. Disappointed in that … we would rather have taken a chance and paid for our own quarantine “if” we got COVID. Just be aware.
Also most people on our flight we spoke to got their travel approval only 5-6 hours before their flight. Very nervous that we wouldn’t be allowed to board. Get your application in asap as soon as you have your negative test result.
I wonder how much kickbacks T&C receives from their approved insurance providers. I have have two Platinum cards with extensive travel insurance plus national health insurance with a travel addition, but since I was afraid it would not be recognised (and with a policy in a different language) I too opted for Aura.
@Lucky, random question, but was there an issue with reversing Ford's name? Some places are pretty strict about that stuff. It looks like you entered his name incorrectly on the form... "First Name: Beckett" "Last Name: John"
I believe I remember a post where Lucky said Ford’s legal first name was John and his middle name was Ford.
@Greg N, I think you misunderstood my comment. I was referring to his first and last names (John Beckett) being switched. In most cases, it's probably not a big deal, but on an immigration/travel form, I thought that it could've been an issue.
@ Tennen -- Hah, funny you mention that, because I only realized this when I arrived at the airport. I'm usually very careful with this stuff, but I guess I somehow messed it up, since the forms had to be done separately. Ended up not being an issue at all, and I didn't try to change it. No one seemed to notice.
For frequent travellers the international private medical insurance policies aimed at digital nomads are worth looking at - my annual policy worked out cheaper than getting a travel insurance policy multiple times. It only covers me outside the USA, but that’s literally every country outside the USA, so can always use it. I’ve got the entry level (cheapest) “Medical For Nomads” and it covers everything needed for Covid-related entry requirements pretty much everywhere (I think!)
For frequent travellers the international private medical insurance policies aimed at digital nomads are worth looking at - my annual policy worked out cheaper than getting a travel insurance policy multiple times. It only covers me outside the USA, but that’s literally every country outside the USA, so can always use it. I’ve got the entry level (cheapest) “Medical For Nomads” and it covers everything needed for Covid-related entry requirements pretty much everywhere (I think!)
Thanks for sharing this, Gordon - very helpful!
This is a random question for anyone to answer. What happened to Tiffany? (I think was her name....) Covid downturn. I liked her.
@ Jo -- She's still here, don't worry. Just a lot of work going on in the background. Hopefully she can do some writing again at some point, since I know people always enjoy it.
What test did you use for the negative COVID test (like did you go to a clinic, do a take home test, etc.)?
A home test isn’t enough, it must be supervised by a healthcare professional.
There are a number of chains which have the process down pat. Look for 15toknow or passport health depending on where you live.
@ Ryan -- I was in Tampa at the time, and went to a place that specifically does rapid antigen tests for travel. It was a complete ripoff at $129, but it seemed like the best option.
You're "Lucky" on the response time you had with TCI assured. After 24 hours (and less than 36 before travel) we still didn't have approval. Multiple calls to the TCI assured office hit a busy signal, and when I finally did get through, the agent approved us over the phone.
That said, it was all worth it for a trip to a beautiful destination with protocols that made us feel comfortable enough bringing an unvaccinated 1-year old with us.
Did they check the details of your travel insurance at all? The requirements state that such insurance must cover "full" costs of hospitalization, quarantine, etc., but most travel insurance policies cover only $100-300 per day per person - soooo not enough to cover all. We decided not to visit T&C Oct 2021 and new years 2022 for this reason. Admittedly, I'm a contracts lawyer, so I read all the fine print which makes these kinds...
Did they check the details of your travel insurance at all? The requirements state that such insurance must cover "full" costs of hospitalization, quarantine, etc., but most travel insurance policies cover only $100-300 per day per person - soooo not enough to cover all. We decided not to visit T&C Oct 2021 and new years 2022 for this reason. Admittedly, I'm a contracts lawyer, so I read all the fine print which makes these kinds of requirements (and the world in general) more frightening.
When we went to T&C in september, the resort we stayed sold us travel insurance that would cover entry which they had vetted, and when we arrived, the docs themselves weren't checked - we just had to submit proof of coverage when we submitted our docs online for the visa
Yes they checked mine and said it wasn’t accept notwithstanding that it was a robust policy from a major insurer. Apparently it didn’t cover quarantine cost. I had to buy a separate policy !! Having said that, we found out later that they didn’t check our travel companions policy which also didn’t cover quarantine and they got their approval no problems. I guess it’s on who you get reviewed by.
Alliance and Travelex give you a summary statement of benefits which highlight the max coverage per person, this has been sufficient for us.
There are at least four companies providing fast track services.
Some have AC lounge access.
It is very confusing
https://www.vipflyersclub.com/rates/
https://skypasscaribbean.com/airport-fast-track-service/
https://www.fasttracktci.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g147399-d16795786-Airport_Arrival_Fast_Pass-Providenciales_Turks_and_Caicos.html#
Is it not possible to use an unlimited health insurance policy one already has, say, through one's job? I have full coverage for covid and everything else through BCBS. Would that not count?
One of the big things they are looking for in the insurance is medical evacuation
Nearly all of the health insurance policies issued by US employers do not cover you internationally. There may be individual exceptions from a company that has its employees frequently travel out of the US, or perhaps a small company may have an international policy as a benefit, but I would suspect this is greatly the exception rather than the rule.
Mine certainly covers me wherever in the world I am, and I have a letter from them stating so. I didn't realize that was rare. That's too bad.
I guess my question still stands, though: could I use that letter, or does it need to be specifically travel insurance? I ask since I would think it would work, as it meets all the requirements. But when I applied to go to Phuket it...
Mine certainly covers me wherever in the world I am, and I have a letter from them stating so. I didn't realize that was rare. That's too bad.
I guess my question still stands, though: could I use that letter, or does it need to be specifically travel insurance? I ask since I would think it would work, as it meets all the requirements. But when I applied to go to Phuket it was rejected becuase it was not a Thai travel insurance company. In other cases, I've used it successful. But I'm always in doubt about which places will take it, and which won't.
Ever heard of Blue Cross? Many of their policies offer worldwide coverage.
Only if it has out of the country medical … emergency medical … that covers everything they want. It’s a British island so it’s got to be under your travel medical option if you have that.
I don’t know about Turks & Caicos, but when I travelled to Costa Rica (while they still required it), my 1-year-insurance with Allianz Global was fine. The terms and conditions are the same as for the per day version, so I don’t think there should be an issue.
The cost is about 3.5 times what Ben paid per person, so if you travel regularly, it should amortize quickly.
Maybe I'm a cynic, but I would not be surprised (having lived in the Caribbean for a few years) if T&C has a nice scheme with the insurance providers to receive kickbacks on the insurance policies the have vetted.