Turks and Caicos Update

[Redfoot]

We are supposed to honeymoon in T & C in late August.

As of right now, the islands (airport, hotels, tourism industry) is set to reopen July 22.

I just saw this on the visitci.com website.

Visiting Requirements: TCI Assured Online Certification
The Government will shortly be launching TCI Assured, an online portal where international travelers to the Turks and Caicos will be required to provide the following prior to travel:

• A negative COVID-19 test from place of origin, maximum of 72 hours before travel. This must be a PCR test (not an antibody test).
• Travel medical insurance will be required, which includes emergency assistance and COVID-19 medical repatriation. Further details are being finalized.
• Completion of an online health questionnaire

Further information will be published shortly and a link to TCI Assured will be provided once it is launched.

Will be interesting to see the whole platform when it is launched. I also wonder what "travel medical insurance" they are referencing? Does anyone know of current providers who offer the coverage detailed?

Will wait and see what they say. Everything we have booked is 100% refundable until shortly before arrival.

 

[tkaelin]

I will be looking at geoblue for health care coverage for any trips this year. Will have to confirm covid coverage.

 

[JulieM]

When I checked with geoblue, they did cover treatment for COVID-19 out of the country. Since we are on Medicare, it is essential to have a policy in case of illness outside of the US.

 

[tkaelin]

When I checked with geoblue, they did cover treatment for COVID-19 out of the country. Since we are on Medicare, it is essential to have a policy in case of illness outside of the US.

Its also essential for those of who have health plans such as my Anthem BC/BS that essentially became a catastrophic plan with a high deductible and nothing out of network counts towards the deductible and out of network is anything out of state (except in the case of life saving emergency medical care). We will use Geoblue on all of our week long or longer vacation trips out of state such as our camping, skiing, hiking and diving trips.

The last geo policy single trip policy for two of us for 10 days in europe cost under $100. It seemed well worth it.

 

[Kyle0692]

My girlfriend and I are supposed to fly out to T&C on the 8th for an Aggressor LOB.

I don’t see us being able to do the trip because of the 72 HR Covid PCR test/results prior to leaving.

I have been researching down in Florida how fast I can get results for this test and the fastest it looks like is 5-7 days which blows our trip out of the water.

Anyone have thoughts on how to get the PCR test in that window? Pretty tight!!

Kyle

 

[chillyinCanada]

I wonder if Medassist is offering Covid repatriation.

 

[ThatDogDontHunt]

I wonder if Medassist is offering Covid repatriation.

Lots of challenges here. Insurance companies are in business to make money. Covid is now a known reality, so Insurance companies need to figure out how to make money from it.

Repatriation is expensive (if you are not already dead and cremated). Isolation is cheaper, but maybe not allowed by your vacation destination.

It will be interesting to see what insurance companies come up with. I would not want to be an early contestant.

 

[Redfoot]

My girlfriend and I are supposed to fly out to T&C on the 8th for an Aggressor LOB.

I don’t see us being able to do the trip because of the 72 HR Covid PCR test/results prior to leaving.

I have been researching down in Florida how fast I can get results for this test and the fastest it looks like is 5-7 days which blows our trip out of the water.

Anyone have thoughts on how to get the PCR test in that window? Pretty tight!!

Kyle

We were just talking about this tonight- We would have the same problem in Michigan getting the test results within 72 hours of the trip, not to mention the insurance portion.

T & C also just locked down again until July 20. Their cases are on the rise. Not sure how realistic our trip is at this point, but we are not going to cancel until after they "reopen" or delay the reopening again.

 

[Kyle0692]

I am wondering if the insurance portion of their requirements is covered by my existing DAN Guardian policy? I am guessing probably not because of the possibility of getting the virus before getting on the boat as they cover just about anything while diving and diving illnesses. May call DAN tomorrow for giggles.

Getting insurance is a hurdle for sure, but from what I am gathering the real show-stopper is the 72 HR test and results prior to flying. T&C government with their population of 500 make the rules here, though.

We booked through Liveaboard.com and have reached out for a possible cancellation/refund OR a re-schedule for next year. But at this point, I’d rather have the money in hand. I think travel next year will have the same difficulties or worse.

If our trip gets canned, maybe we can get down to Key Largo for a week. The metal underwater down there makes me happy

 

[O-ring]

Kyle - let us know what happens. I was booked on T&C Aggressor for a trip last month that they ended up cancelling and received a non-transferable voucher good for one year. An actual refund was never on the table (not from Aggressor, the two airlines I booked with or the two dive ops I booked boat diving with before my Aggressor sailing). In fact, the only entity out of the whole bunch that offered a refund was the condo I booked, but I figured with all the other vouchers/credits floating around out there I went with a credit since I'll have to go back to T&C to use all these other credits anyhow..