First day of travel insurance sees delays at PGIA

On Tuesday, February 15th, the Belize Travel Health Insurance (BTHI) for international visitors came into effect. The mandate implemented by the Ministry of Tourism saw some inconveniences on its first day at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), when a number of passengers arrived without insurance. This caused delays and even frustration among some travelers who needed to purchase the insurance at the airport. The process, since then, has reportedly improved, and most visitors seem to support the new policy.

The insurance is not required for people in the Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program, Belizeans, permanent residents, foreign homeowners, long-stay non-nationals, military personnel, members of the Peace Corps, airline crew, and persons staying in Belize less than 24 hours. The BTHI costs US$18/ BZ$36 and provides coverage up to US$50,000/ BZ$100,000 in medical and related expenses for 21 days. The insurance plan is available for pre-purchase online at www.belizetravelinsurance.com. It can also be purchased at the entry points to Belize, such as the PGIA and land borders. The policy also provides coverage for lodging expenses for quarantine up to US$2,000/ BZ$4,000 or around US$300/BZ$600 a day. Other insurance benefits include the coverage of emergency services such as air evacuation and emergency expenses related to a pre-existing condition. In addition, the policy will also cover trip cancellations and costs incurred by COVID-19 positive travellers for extended stays.

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