Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance

Saskatoon, Canada
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Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Purchased hubby's insurance in Varadero upon arrival Sun., 24 Nov. 2013.

We had occasion to visit the International Clinic on Thurs., 28 Nov where hubby was diagnosed with pneumonia. Other than a small charge for delivery of antibiotics and cost of cough medicine, there were NO additional out of pocket charges. Hubby has interstitial lung disease and is on oxygen 24/7 and was using his portable oxygen concentrator when we visited the International Clinic.

At no point did the clinic staff question his insurance coverage. The doctor who saw him after his chest xray, gave us her recommendations (2 days of antibiotic injections, followed by 5 days of antibiotic tablets).

We provided the Assistur insurance form that we had received when insurance was purchased at the airport. The doctor wrote down the insurance number and advised us that she had to email Assistur's office in Havana but that Guy's medication would be delivered later that day to our room on our resort.

Guy received his first injection and we were advised that a clinic RN would come every 8 hours to administer the next injection. Later that evening, the clinic RN came directly to our room, I paid the driver the 5 CUC for delivery and Guy's recovery commenced.

I saw the bill that the doctor wrote up at the clinic. We would have had to have paid almost $400 out of pocket (and non-refundable) if we had had insurance from home.

Assistur, from what I could see on the form, for Option A coverage, provides $10,000 for hospital stay, $10,000 for repatriation and some other things (one being dental, I think).

This insurance cost us 40CUC; my insurance was $40 purhased before departure here in Saskatoon BUT because I have pre-existing conditions, there are things (chest/ear issues) that would not be covered.

SOOO - when I head back to Varadero on 22 Mar 2014, I will be purchasing MY insurance upon arrival in Varadero...

Denise

Calgary, Canada
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19,743 posts
2 reviews
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1. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Thanks for reconfirming what I've been preaching for years, Denise. Assistur delivers great bang-for-the-buck for some (not all) traveller's health insurance requirements for Cuba.

So happy it all went smoothly. Welcome back.

Cheers,

Terry

Edited: 7 years ago
Nova Scotia, Canada
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16,066 posts
2. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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So glad to hear that it worked out so well (although it would have been better had you husband not needed to check out the coverage). Hopefully your experience will give some reassurance to others with pre-existing conditions who are (financially) uninsurable on their own plan.

Newton Aycliffe...
Destination Expert
for Cuba, Rafael Freyre, Guardalavaca, Holguin
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117,924 posts
59 reviews
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3. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Denise:

Thanks for posting that. I'm really pleased that everything ran like clockwork. It's reassuring to know that the insurance purchased in Cuba worked so well.

How long were you at the airport for when you applied? By that I mean filling out the necessary paper work and paying.

Edited: 7 years ago
Toronto, Canada
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1,366 posts
1 review
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4. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Interesting - thanks for posting.

Wainfleet, Canada
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3,676 posts
19 reviews
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5. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Denise thank you for posting this. Where in varadero airport did you apply for this? .. I want to send my mom to Cuba for a break from this weather. That would be the insurance i would want her to get as the insurance we would have to get for her her would break the bank due to her health .

Calgary, Canada
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19,743 posts
2 reviews
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6. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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You can buy it just outside of Arrivals. If the office closed (which it is many times because not that many illegal American tourists enter via Varadero) then you can go to their office here:

http://www.asistur.cu/mapa.html

All the best.

Cheers,

Terry

Ontario Canada
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1,647 posts
100 reviews
126 helpful votes
7. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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I was asking a year ago about this and it's good to know. I have no pre-existing conditions but there have been so many cases of Canadian insurers denying coverage for 'any reason', I was thinking it might be better to buy it in Cuba. Great that you reported back.

Bolton, United...
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6,482 posts
60 reviews
74 helpful votes
8. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Just wondering if it can be bought before you fly. Maybe by a Cuban travel agent etc.?

Newton Aycliffe...
Destination Expert
for Cuba, Rafael Freyre, Guardalavaca, Holguin
Level Contributor
117,924 posts
59 reviews
102 helpful votes
9. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Pat:

Why don't you email one of the links in Terry's post to enquire?

Bolton, United...
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6,482 posts
60 reviews
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10. Re: Pre-existing Medical Conditions and Assistur Insurance
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Never thought of that Ken,thanks I will do just that.

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