Health & Insurance

Travel Insurance

It's wise to visit the troubled land of Jamaica with full insurance coverage, protecting you against loss of property, theft, or any medical problem that might arise. With medical insurance it's best to secure, if possible, a policy that offers immediate payment -- not one where you must shell out in Jamaica, then wait for reimbursement.

If you're an adventure tourist who likes to indulge in scuba diving, hiking in the Blue Mountains, or motorcycling along Jamaica's potholed roads, try to get a policy that does not exclude what most insurers call "hazardous activities." Some motorized watersports also fall under hazardous activities.

Before going, check your existing policies before you buy additional coverage covering trip cancellation, lost luggage, medical expenses, or car-rental insurance. You're likely to have partial coverage, though it may be inadequate. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States, unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, most U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the country.

The cost of travel insurance varies widely, depending on the cost and length of your trip, your age and health, and the type of trip you're taking, but expect to pay between 5% and 8% of the vacation itself. You can get estimates from various providers through InsureMyTrip.com. Enter your trip cost and dates, your age, and other information for prices from more than a dozen companies.

Trip-Cancellation Insurance (TCI) -- There are three major types of trip-cancellation insurance: one for when you prepay a Jamaican cruise or tour that gets canceled, and you can't get your money back; a second for when you or someone in your family gets sick or dies, and you can't travel (but beware that you may not be covered for a preexisting condition); and a third for when bad weather, such as a Jamaica hurricane, makes travel impossible. Some insurers provide coverage for events such as jury duty; natural disasters close to home, like floods or fire; even the loss of a job. A few have added provisions for cancellations because of terrorist activities. Always check the fine print before signing on, and don't buy this insurance from a tour operator that may later be responsible for cancellation; buy only from a reputable travel insurance agency. Finally, don't overbuy: You won't be reimbursed more than the cost of your trip.

Trip-cancellation insurance will help retrieve your money if you have to back out of a trip or depart early, or if your travel supplier goes bankrupt. Permissable reasons for trip cancellation can range from sickness to natural disasters to the State Department declaring a destination unsafe for travel.

For more information, contact one of the following recommended insurers: Access America (tel. 866/807-3982; www.accessamerica.com); Travel Guard International (tel. 800/826-4919; www.travelguard.com); Travel Insured International (tel. 800/243-3174; www.travelinsured.com); and Travelex Insurance Services (tel. 888/457-4602; www.travelex-insurance.com).

Medical Insurance -- With the exception of certain HMOs and Medicare/Medicaid, your medical insurance will seldom cover medical treatment -- even hospital care -- in Jamaica, so you may need to pay the bill up front, and then be reimbursed only after you return home. As a safety net, you may want to buy travel medical insurance, particularly if you're traveling to a remote or high-risk area where emergency evacuation might be necessary. If you require additional medical insurance, try MEDEX Assistance (tel. 410/453-6300; www.medexassist.com), Travel Assistance International (tel. 800/821-2828; www.travelassistance.com; for general information on services, call the company's Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc., at tel. 800/777-8710), or the Divers Alert Network (DAN) (tel. 800/446-2671 or 919/684-2948; www.diversalertnetwork.org).

Car-Rental Insurance -- If you hold a private auto insurance policy in the U.S., check to see if you are covered in Jamaica for loss or damage to the car, and liability in case a passenger is injured. The credit card you use to rent the car also may provide some coverage. Policies vary widely from holder to holder. Most American Express cardholders, for example, don't need a damage waiver option, as most Jamaican car-rental agencies recognize Amex's policy, especially if you're dealing with a U.S.-affiliated firm such as Hertz or Avis. However, many local car-rental companies in Jamaica don't recognize the policy; therefore, you may feel safer dealing with a U.S. affiliate rather than a domestic car-rental agency.

Car-rental insurance (about $20 to $25 a day) probably does not cover liability if you caused the accident. Check your own auto insurance policy, the rental company policy, and your credit card coverage for the extent of coverage: Is Jamaica covered? Are other drivers covered? How much liability is covered if a passenger is injured? (If you rely on your credit card for coverage, you may want to bring a second card with you, as damages may be charged to the card.)

Lost-Luggage Insurance -- On flights within the U.S., checked baggage is covered up to $2,500 per ticketed passenger. On international flights (including U.S. portions of international trips), baggage coverage is limited to approximately $9.07 per pound, up to approximately $635 per checked bag. If you plan to check items more valuable than what's covered by the standard liability, see if your homeowner's policy covers your valuables, get baggage insurance as part of your comprehensive travel-insurance package, or buy Travel Guard's "BagTrak" product.

If your luggage is lost, immediately file a lost-luggage claim at the airport, detailing the luggage contents. Most airlines require that you report delayed, damaged, or lost baggage within 4 hours of arrival. The airlines are required to deliver luggage, once found, directly to your house or destination free of charge.

Health & Safety

Traveling to Jamaica should not adversely affect your health. Finding a good doctor in Jamaica is no real problem, and all of them speak English, of course.

Keep the following suggestions in mind:

U.S.: www.cdc.gov/travel/

Staying Safe

Except for Haiti, Jamaica is the most potentially dangerous destination in the Caribbean. You can get into a lot of trouble in Jamaica or you can have a carefree vacation. Much depends on you, where you go, and what you do. Women traveling alone or even in pairs are especially vulnerable, as rapes are alarmingly common.

Walking alone at night, or even with a loved one, on a moonlit Jamaican beach is a romantic idea -- but not smart. You could be mugged. And hitchhiking for both women and men is never a good idea in Jamaica. There have been cases of "disappearances" in the remote hinterlands.

Petty crime also continues to be a major problem on the island, especially in the capital city of Kingston. Americans on many occasions have been robbed, the bandit turning violent if he faces resistance.

Bus travel in Jamaica is definitely not recommended. Buses are invariably overcrowded and the greatest venue for the pickpocket to practice his trade.

The good news? In major resort areas such as Montego Bay, the government is hiring more special foot police and bike patrols to enhance security. These megaresorts are virtually walled compounds with 24-hour guards. Smaller inns don't have such protection, however, so make sure that all your doors and windows are securely locked.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Jamaica, 4th Edition Author: Darwin Porter Pub Date: August 28, 2006 Price: $16.99				Related Titles: Bahamas For Dummies, 4th Edition Caribbean For Dummies, 4th Edition Frommer's Bahamas 2008