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St Maarten’s $30 Visitor Covid Protector Praised By International Media and visitors alike. The Washington Post certainly approves, here is a sampler:
As the summer travel outlook improves, added fees are making a comeback.
Ready or not, travel fees are poised to make a comeback this summer.
Some of them were inevitable. For example, last month most major airlines began reinstating penalty charges for some ticket changes. Yeah, I know — what took them so long.
Other fees may come as a surprise. If you’re visiting the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, for example, you will have to pay a $30 fee for its Visitors Protection Plan. It covers medical expenses and a medical evacuation — whether you need them or not.
VPP
Airlines, hotels and travel agencies, mindful that customers hated extra charges, wisely suspended many of them because of the pandemic. But they never stopped thinking about them or the much-needed revenue they provided. Now that people are starting to travel again, the industry is ready to bring back the fees — and then some.
The fees fall into two broad categories: the new ones imposed by countries on international visitors and the fees (new or reinstated) charged by companies such as airlines, travel agencies and vacation rental firms.
SXM
Government fees such as the one charged by St. Maarten for visitor protection are relatively new and not covered by insurance.
Sanne Wesselman, a marketing consultant who lives on a catamaran in the Caribbean, stumbled upon the St. Maarten fee on a recent visit to the island. Wesselman, who wrote about the experience in her travel blog, says the more she thought about the fee, the more sense it made.
“It keeps me from having to pay high medical bills in case I do contract covid here,” she says. “And it helps St. Maarten in its fight against the coronavirus.”
ST. MAARTEN VISITORS PROTECTION PLAN:
Advanced protection in case you test positive
for COVID-19 during your stay in St. Maarten.
WHAT DOES IT COVER? HOSPITAL COSTS
Hospitalization expenses to treat severe COVID-19 symptoms, including specialist fees, diagnostic x-rays, lab expenses and nursing costs.
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT COSTS
Intensive Care Unit charges for treatment of a critical ailment caused by COVID-19.
TRANSPORTATION
Costs of specialized transportation of a Covid-19 infected person up to an aggregate sublimit of $350.
DOCTOR CONSULTS
Costs of doctor consults up to an aggregate sublimit of $500.
ISOLATION EXPENSES
Maximum sublimit of $125 per day, max. 14 days, in case of a positive Covid-19 test result. Preventive government mandated quarantines for fellow travelers and those who tested negative are
NOT COVERED.
COVID-19 TEST
M
ax. 4 medically necessary Covid-19 tests as out-patient with a sublimit of $75 per test. Tests are only covered with referral from the St. Maarten Government Health Department. Mandatory tests required by other countries prior to leaving St. Maarten are not covered.
MAXIMUM LIMIT
The overall maximum limit for all benefits together, except Medical Evacuation, is $50,000.
MEDICAL EVACUATION
Emergency medical evacuation to the nearest qualified hospital to prevent loss of life, up to a maximum limit of $20,000, provided the patient cannot be treated locally in St. Maarten.
Effective 11 January 2021, The St. Maarten Visitors Protection Plan is sold
only via the mandatory health form on www.stmaartenentry.com
IS THE PROTECTION PLAN REQUIRED?
The insurance is required for all foreign nationals with the exception of visitors who arrive and leave the same day, crew members and transit/transfer passengers who don’t need to recheck their luggage.
WHY IS IT NECESSARY?
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the island of St. Maarten must ensure that all visitors are properly protected. Subject to some sublimits and overall limit of US$50,000, a visitor who tests positive for COVID-19 in St. Maarten, will have very few, if any, out-of-pocket expenses.
The local providers are paid directly by the locally licensed insurers, giving you a peace of mind if you test positive for COVID-19 in St. Maarten. In case you cannot be assisted in St. Maarten, the insurance covers Medical Evacuation costs as described above.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Ages 15 – 75
Effective 11 January 2021, a flat premium of $30 is charged for stays not exceeding 180 days.
The premium is non-refundable, unless you’ve made a duplicate purchase or if you cancelled your trip to St. Maarten.
The premium must be paid every time you re-enter St. Maarten.
Ages 0 -14
Effective 11 January 2021, children up to & including age 14 are charged a flat premium of $10 for stays not exceeding 180 days.
The premium is non-refundable, unless you’ve made a duplicate purchase or if you cancelled your
trip to St. Maarten
The premium must be paid every time you re-enter St. Maarten.
Ages 76+
Effective 11 January 2021, a flat premium of $30 is charged for
stays not exceeding 180 days.
The premium is non-refundable, unless you’ve made a duplicate purchase or if you cancelled your
trip to St. Maarten.
The premium must be paid every time you re-enter St. Maarten.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Where and when can I purchase the insurance?
I already have an insurance. Why is it still mandatory?
How do I pay for the insurance?
What will appear on my Statement?
Can I still use my own travel or health insurance?
What is the maximum period of insurance?
Where can I seek help?
Do I have to make the claim?
How do I receive my policy?
Does the St. Maarten Visitors Protection Plan cover other ailments?
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