TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Future of US travel to SXM

OK, let's start over here and we'll see what happens.

As of now, all US flights into SXM are halted until at least July 15.
At a minimum, there will be a negative Covid 19 test required, presumably within the previously announced NO MORE THAN 72 hours before arrival
Perhaps also a requirement for insurance, with unknown parameters.

Go

My resort at Oyster Bay actually emailed me to see if I was still coming in August. I told them I hope so, but it doesn't sound like it is up to me. Getting the test in the time frame is already a bit of a challenge, the insurance might prove to costly. If they don't allow you in all the other stuff doesn't even matter.

Hoping the US can get things under control quickly and stay there.

Yes this insurance requirement needs further clarification. When I was injured on island my regular insurance at home covered it all. All I had to do was pay on island and got full reimbursement when I returned home. Wondering if this requirement is only to show that you have a current up to date insurance policy in effect like medicare plus plan or anther form of medical insurance for people not on medicare.

Really hope they make an announcement about US citizens entry before the 14 days are up so we know what to expect after the 14th. We are scheduled to arrive on July 17th and although I doubt it will happen we have to prepare and plan for it to happen until we know different. I don't want to get the test and then find out we can't go, but if we don't have a definitive answer by the 10th we will have to get the test just in case.

Regular insurance will not cover costs for quarantine, generally won't cover cost for medical evac, etc., so there is insurance and there is insurance. Hopefully there will be more information released soon, although it's dizzying how many changes there have been to 'official' policy so far.

Some Caribbean islands that have opened so far have experienced trouble already.

Link

Yes. Quarantine cost would be the responsibility of the individual. I was referring to medical cost if hospitalization or medical care was needed due to covid. I do have insurance that would cover evacuation through my Dive insurance coverage if needed. At this point it is a moot point for me since my trips are cancelled but for others planning trips in the near future the government needs to clarify this.

Although I'm not sure, I believe the insurance that the Aruba government was touting included the cost for QUARANTINE and medical. I have no idea whether it covered traditional trip insurance costs, like trip cancellation, interruption, etc. From her discussion with Dr. Soc a few days ago, the tourism minister said that traditional insurance will NOT!!!! cover medical evac for Covid 19. It was my understanding that the SXM tourism minister was looking into creating something similar in insurance for SXM, but no idea whether it would be required or even available.

We have carried evacuation insurance for years, but it does not cover COVID 19.

Is it even possible to get medevaced if you test positive for COVID?

Thanks for the link to the Antigua nightmare with tourist testing positive in Antigua... My biggest fear is going back to SXM with some false positive test and put in a quarantine tent in the hospital parking lot. It is hurricane season for goodness sake! No one should be traveling to the caribbean till November 2020.

My medevaced ins. states that you be admitted to a hospital and that hospital can not treat you for your illness.

Bahston--Apparently there are some real issues with medevac with Covid 19, and that's why regular insurance does not cover it. According to the tourism minister, it involves the US State Department.

Yes. My policy, which I've had for over ten years, states explicitly on their website that they cannot evacuate a covid patient because of US state department regulations and also possibly those of the host country.

I honestly don't think I'll be traveling to SXM until there's a vaccine. If I can't be medevac'd out if necessary, I certainly don't want to take medical resources away from the islanders. That's what it all boils down to for me. We've been going once or twice a year since 2002 and very much miss going.

As updated and confirmed with Ministry of Tourism...
We recommend Travel Insurance that covers medical and trip cancellation, although it is NOT currently required.

I agree. Why would anyone want to deal with the hazards of Covid AND hurricane season? Just imagine catching the virus and then dealing with an Irma situation. Unlikely yes, but possible.

In the current Daily Herald story about the strike of workers at the airport, the CEO Mingo stated "Mingo also pointed out the curveball of the last-minute change to being able to accept American travellers. “They say 15 days, but I can bet you the delay will be more than two months,” he said"

I would think that, if that's his impression, that gives me a hint that it could well be that long..

I asked this on another thread but I'll ask it here too. When Canadians fly are there flights to and from SXM that don't have a connection though US airports?

Depending upon the time of year, Westjet flies direct from Toronto

WestJet, Air Canada , Air Transat and Sunwing all fly direct to SXM from Toronto.

Well, again, even if you have medical trip cancellation, you wont be able to just hop on a plane in SXM and return to the US. So I'm not sure how requiring this type of insurance helps the island unless it specifically covers covid 19 treatment and evacuation.

I thought there were only nonstop flights from Canada in the winter?

Nope, all year,

All of this is getting too complicated for me. We have just cancelled our January trip, will wait for vaccine

OK

American connects via USA hubs when they are flying to Canada in normal times.