The New Information is OUT

[Andrea J.]

https://www.aruba.com/us/traveler-health-requirements


please read it and if you have questions, please put your question in a complete sentence/question.
please no name calling or impatience.

Please do not expect an immediate answer...I will if I can.

There is another ZOOM meeting on Monday and I can bring those questions to the meeting.

Please no speculation.

Please remember that Aruba is doing this NOT TO MAKE $$.

Aruba wants to protect its citizens and its tourists.
They want to open SLOWLY and carefully.

[brady bear]

Andrea
I sent you a in box about insurance.

[Andrea J.]

What is the Aruba Visitors Insurance?
The Aruba Visitors Insurance is a mandatory insurance that helps protect you against incurred medical- and non-medical expenses if you test positive for COVID-19 during your stay in Aruba.

Why is it necessary?
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a possible large outbreak, the island of Aruba must ensure that all visitors are properly insured. The costs for treating COVID-19 in Aruba can amount to more than USD$50,000 per person. Subject to an overall limit of US$75,000, a visitor who tests positive for COVID-19 in Aruba, will have very few, if any, out-of-pocket expenses with the Aruba Visitors Insurance. The medical- and non-medical providers are paid directly by the locally licensed insurers, giving you a peace of mind in case you test positive for COVID-19 in Aruba.

Can I use my own travel or health insurance?
You can buy or use your own travel- or health insurance to supplement the Aruba Visitors Insurance but it cannot replace it. Other insurances may cover you for some of the COVID-19 related expenses but few plans offer comprehensive COVID-19 coverage in Aruba that also cover isolation costs outside of a Hospital. In addition, the foreign insurers don’t have a direct billing agreement with all the providers in Aruba, causing unnecessary delays and out-of-pocket expenses.

Who does it cover?
The Aruba Visitors Insurance covers all eligible foreign nationals from pre-approved regions or countries.

Is the Aruba Visitors Insurance required?
The following list is subject to change but at present, this insurance is required for all foreign nationals with the exception of:

1. Visitors who arrive and leave the same day
2. Residents of Curaçao and Bonaire
3. Crew Members
4. Aruban Students who return home

How much does it cost?
• The costs start at $15 per day and decrease depending on the length of your stay. The cost decreases to $10 p/day after 7 days, $5 p/day after 14 days and $0p/day after 49 days.
• Children up to and including age 14 are insured for free but a flat administration fee of $10 is applicable.
• For visitors older than age 75, the coverage starts at $21 per day and also decreases depending on the length of stay. decreases to $14 p/day after 7 days,$7 p/day after 14 days and $2.80p/day after 49 days.


What does it cover?
• Hospital Cost: 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 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.
• Covid-19 Test: Max. 4 medically necessary Covid-19 tests as out-patient with a sublimit of $75 per test. The mandatory first test upon arrival in Aruba is excluded.

Where can I purchase the insurance?
Starting on June 29th, the insurance can only be purchased via the ED online form available on www.edaruba.com

Do I have to pay taxes on this insurance?
The insurance premium is tax-free.

Does the Aruba Visitors Insurance cover other ailments?
The first version of the Aruba Visitors Insurance only covers COVID-19 related expenses.

When does the Aruba Visitors Insurance start and end?
The coverage provided under this insurance starts the moment you arrive in Aruba and expires at 11:59 pm Atlantic Standard Time on the end date of the policy or the moment you embark a plane to leave Aruba, whichever occurs first.

What is the maximum insurance period?
The maximum possible period of coverage allowed under this insurance is 90 successive days.

Where can I seek help?
If you’re in Aruba and you have a fever, dry cough or any other known COVID-19 symptom, please call the COVID-19 helpline shown on your policy right away. Based on your symptoms you’ll receive professional guidance and medical advice. Do not go to the ER or a general practitioner if you have these symptoms. Call before you act.

Do I have to make the claim?
Once you’ve called the helpline, the Assistance Center will notify the insurer directly to ensure that your case is handled accordingly. You may later be asked to complete a short online form to confirm your health status but you don’t have to go through the hassle of making a claim or asking for reimbursements.

Do I get a refund if I don’t go to Aruba?
If the trip to Aruba did not take place, you may request a full refund via email. Please note that a refund is subject to confirmation of you not having arrived in Aruba.


How do I receive my policy?
As soon as you’ve completed the ED-Card form and payment, you will instantly receive an email with your policy documents attached.

Will the insurance cover if I need to be in quarantine? No, the Aruba Visitors Insurance will cover isolation expenses since quarantine is considered to be a preventive measure.


PAYMENT INSURANCE QUESTIONS

How do I pay for my application? You can pay using a credit card or debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. The card does not have to be on your name.

Can I pay for my application later? Probably not. It’s integrated with the ED Card form.

Can I pay for two or more applications with one payment?No, but you can use one card for multiple applications.

Do you only accept credit cards? Yes, with the exception of iDEAL in the Netherlands

How do I pay for my application? Subject to the answers given on the ED Card form, you’re asked to pay for the insurance and/or PCR Test at the end of the application process.

How many applications can I submit with one payment?At present, only one application and payment can be submitted at a time.

[qlaval]

So the insurance doesn't cover Quarantine...

As for Isolation, expenses up to $125 per day are covered.
What are the probable expenses? Food and drinks?
Is there a fee for the Isolation lodging as well? If so how much? Is it covered by the insurance or is it to be paid via the $125 as well? <<< My question

I'm disappointed that we will have to pay $460 (2 guest-25 days) for only an Isolation insurance, as we are already fully insured for COVID in Aruba. I hope that Aruba will revise their position and accept a proof of Covid insurance in the future, because if you read the only reason they are doing this is to avoid unpaid bills.

It would have been much much easier to simple charge a COVID tax to all travelers next year to cover for the portion of the unpaid medical bills of the previous year. If in 2020 you have $20,000,000 of unpaid bills you charge to the 1,000,000 travellers of 2021 $20 each…, same for 2021-2022 and so on…

Maybe Aruba won’t make money with this, but some like the insurers will, they are selling a product for a profit that business 101.

[schexc]

The maximum coverage is 90 days. What happens if you stay longer than 90 days, as some property owners might fall into this category?

[gaby]

If you are a villa or private home guest, then you can be isolated in your own house? I know you can do that if you take the test in Aruba but I am talking if you should be positive. Did I read that correctly?

In the basic information part, component 1, you can start the process any time you are booked and then go back to it 72 hours prior? That is confusing me. I just wouldn't want to start the component 1 and then somehow be barred 72 hours prior. Or do they just want to get an idea of how many people might be coming.

I will say, its not as bad as I thought. The only problem would be testing but the insurance, though not thrilled, is no longer a deal breaker.

[Andrea J.]

Here is a question that I am going to put forward to the communications director.........

There are single parents that travel with minor children.
What happens "IF a single parent becomes ill and goes to isolation, what happens to the manor child?"

[Andrea J.]

That too is a question that I will ask.

thanks

The maximum coverage is 90 days. What happens if you stay longer than 90 days, as some property owners might fall into this category?

[robin]

If your flight gets canceled at the last minute or within that 72 hour window after you were tested and you are rebooked on another flight in the next day or two, will you have to get tested once you arrive in Aruba and go into quarantine?

I was thinking about mechanical issues or weather related issues.

[robin]

So the insurance doesn't cover Quarantine...

As for Isolation, expenses up to $125 per day are covered.
What are the probable expenses? Food and drinks?
Is there a fee for the Isolation lodging as well? If so how much? Is it covered by the insurance or is it to be paid via the $125 as well? <<< My question

I'm disappointed that we will have to pay $460 (2 guest-25 days) for only an Isolation insurance, as we are already fully insured for COVID in Aruba. I hope that Aruba will revise their position and accept a proof of Covid insurance in the future, because if you read the only reason they are doing this is to avoid unpaid bills.

It would have been much much easier to simple charge a COVID tax to all travelers next year to cover for the portion of the unpaid medical bills of the previous year. If in 2020 you have $20,000,000 of unpaid bills you charge to the 1,000,000 travellers of 2021 $20 each…, same for 2021-2022 and so on…

Maybe Aruba won’t make money with this, but some like the insurers will, they are selling a product for a profit that business 101.

If you read the section Andrea posted FAQ, you will see that even if you have your own insurance(as we do), Aruba will not bill them, meaning you have to pay the cost of your hospital stay out of your own pocket before you leave and then get reimbursed for your expenses. Do you have $75,000 just sitting around for this purpose? Probably not and that is why Aruba is requiring the insurance.