Do you have the right insurance for your trip to Costa Rica?

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 18:25 - 
Iris

Travel insurance is not the most exiting part of any journey but since Covid19 it is an essential part. At least, if you do not want to get stranded at the border and miss out on your holiday. Does your current travel insurance cover the extra, minimum requirements which the Costa Rican government imposes due to covid19?  Make sure to review the latest regulations and consider your options before traveling. 

The rules

The rules can change every day. Before departure, it is best to regularly check the rules and regulations imposed by your own government, as well as by the Costa Rican government and that of any other country you may travel through or make a stopover in. Therefor, make sure to check with the airline and on the following websites:

 

An official certificate from your insurer in Spanish or English language

You are required to provide proof of your valid insurance, covering all travelers. This proof needs to be delivered in the form of a certificate, issued by your insurer in Spanish or English and it needs to be uploaded in your Pase de Salud (https://salud.go.cr/), which you can fill out online as of 48 hours before departure. The insurance needs to be approved by the Costa Rican authorities before your arrival at their border.  Without approved insurance policy which meets all requirements, you will not be allowed to enter the country. 

The certificate needs to contain following information in Spanish or English:

  • your name/name of all persons insured by the policy
  • from/to dates you will be in Costa Rica and the fact that the insurance coverages are actually valid during this time,
  • clear confirmation of the fact that medical costs are covered for a minimum of 50 000 USD per person and extra costs for accommodations, including quarantine, are covered for at least 2000 USD(for all non-Costa Rican insurance policies, otherwise 20 000 USD medical per person in case of a Costa Rican insurance). And, stating that these costs, when caused by covid19, are also included in the coverage.

A non-Costa Rican insurance

If you have a (non-Costa Rican) travel insurance, please check if it meets these requirements at all times. It is important to verify if certain decisions of your government have any influence on the coverages. For example, the Belgian government works with a map of colors, depending on how many active COVID19 cases there are in a certain country. Some insurance policies state that when you travel to a country which is a red zone according to your government, your insurer will automatically revoke certain coverages of your insurance policy until the country is no longer attributed the color red. Therefor it is very important to check with your insurer if they meet the Costa Rican requirements at all times. And if they can provide you the necessary certificate. If not, you need to look for another insurer. 

TRAWICK is an example of an international insurance option which currently seems to have a certain travel insurance available which enables you to enter Costa Rica:  https://www.trawickinternational.com/. Of course, you can also opt for a Costa Rican insurer.

A Costa Rican insurer

Though the coverage required for medical expenses is lower for a Costa Rican insurance than for the non-Costa Rican insurance, this will not necessary mean that the Costa Rican one is cheaper. On the contrary. But of course things may be arranged more rapidly when you do get ill and you have a local, Costa Rican insurance. There are as always, pro’s and cons to consider. 

Examples of Costa Rican insurers you could consult about price and details of the policy which is suitable for your specific trip are INS, which is the national insurance company of Costa Rica, and SAGICOR, a private Costa Rican insurance company.

INS: https://www.ins-cr.com/seguros-para-viajero/traveler-insurance-entry-to-...

SAGICOR: https://tiendasagicor.com/en/

These are just a few examples of insurance companies, selling travel insurance. The policies may also include other coverages. Make sure to choose a travel insurance which is most suitable for you and which meets the entry requirements, set by Costa Rica.

 

What in case of questions or doubts?

In case of questions or concerns about your travel insurance and the Costa Rican requirements, you can contact the the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT)  by mail on this address: seguros@ict.go.cr. They tend to reply within 48 hours.

Other requirements to travel to Costa Rica

At this time, Costa Rica does not require a negative test result nor a proof of vaccine. However, this may change of the next days or months. Make sure to always check the most recent information. Note that acquiring a test result is normally not covered by these insurance policies. The insurer will also not intervene in quarantine costs if they are caused by the fact that you were not able to show a negative test result when you could have known before departure that this was required by any of the authorities which you may encounter on your way or during your holiday. Even if you do not get off the plane during a stopover, the government or the airline may require a negative PCR-test, even before boarding in the country of departure, and even if that is not the country of the airline or of the stopover.

There are also the generally imposed requirements such as not traveling when you have symptoms, wearing a mask in public spaces, including at the airport, keeping a social distance and so on. Consult the information, provided by each government of every country which is part of your itinerary.

Important note

YŪGEN tours is not an insurance company and does not sell insurance policies. We only want to provide information and options which may be worth considering. It is your responsibility to comply with all regulations and acquire all necessary, valid documents. Please also check the validity of your passport and the required validity (often 6 months after date of entry). YŪGEN tours has no financial interest in any of the mentioned companies, nor any professional knowledge about their policies. If you like to learn more or if you are interested in any specific insurance policy, we advise you to consult the insurance professionals of your choice who are best placed to assist and advice you.

Do you already have a suitable insurance for your upcoming trip to Costa Rica or a great experience with a certain insurance company on your recent holiday in Costa Rica?  Please let us know in the comment section below this blog article.

Share your smile, go yugenstyle,

Iris

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