Timeline of American Travel to Cuba
In 1960, President Kennedy instituted an embargo against Cuba. For 54 years, the country of Cuba had been blocked from commercial, economic, and financial development with citizens and businesses in the United States.
In December of 2014, President Obama began the slow process of reestablishing diplomatic communications with the Cuban political sector, which has loosened the embargo on the private sector as well. While general tourism was still banned, the United States government had released 12 legal reasons for travel to Cuba.
In June of 2019, the Trump administration announced that they would be eliminating group people-to-people educational travel to Cuba, including banning cruise ship operations from the United States to Cuba. To help accommodate travelers who have already made authorized travel arrangements, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is providing a grandfathering provision. Any travelers planning on visiting Cuba who had previously booked any part of their trip prior to June 5, 2019, are still permitted to travel.
How Can I Visit Cuba?
Travel to Cuba is highly monitored and regulated by both the United States and the Cuban government. You must provide proper documentation with your application for travel to the United States government. The Cuban government must be notified of your travel plans, provided your visa information, and requires you to purchase travel insurance, with medical coverage, before visiting the nation.
Eleven categories of legal travel to Cuba remain for Americans. These include:
- Family visits
- Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
- Journalistic activities
- Professional research and meetings
- Religious activities
- Public performances, clinics, workshops, exhibitions, and competitions
- Support for the Cuban people
- Humanitarian projects
- Activities of private foundations or research and educational institutes
You can find a complete list of the 11 legal reasons for travel, and their requirements and restrictions, on the U.S. Embassy in Cuba’s website.
Cuba Travel Insurance Requirements
In May of 2010, the Cuban government announced that all travelers, including foreigners and Cubans living abroad, coming to the country would need a medical insurance policy. Consequently, all U.S. citizens planning on visiting Cuba for one of the authorized 11 reasons for travel will need a travel insurance policy that offers medical coverage.
InsureMyTrip has several travel insurance plan options for travelers going to Cuba. Sixteen of our top-rated insurance providers extend plans to the nation of Cuba, and they all include medical coverage during travel. Anyone traveling to Cuba should look specifically at the following providers:
All United States citizen travelers purchasing travel insurance with an InsureMyTrip provider must assert, whether online or on the phone, the following statement during the quoting process:
I acknowledge that I am traveling to Cuba for reasons deemed permissible by the U.S. Government and that all listed travelers have the proper documentation required by the U.S. Government to travel to Cuba.
If you are traveling to Cuba, travel insurance is a requirement. But don’t use that as an excuse to settle. Be sure to review each policy and compare them closely. The relationship with Cuba is new; we want you to be covered as completely as necessary for you to travel worry-free and to complete your business with the nation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.
