Saint Kitts and Nevis Expat Health Insurance
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, is a two island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. The two islands are separated by only 3 kilometres of water called “the Narrows”, and take up 261 square kizlometres in total. The country is part of the Leeward Islands. The capital city of Basseterre is located on the larger island of Saint Kitts. The country is the smallest sovereign state, by way of land area and population, in both North and South America. The official language is English and the population is estimated to be approximately 50,300.
The territory of Saint Kitts and Nevis previously included the British island of Anguilla. The islands were home to the first French and British colonies in the Caribbean, and were the first islands to be settled by Europeans. Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence from Britain in 1983. The country is still a member of the Commonwealth, with the Queen as its head of state. The relationship between the two islands is strained as Nevis often accuses Saint Kitts of neglecting its needs. In 1998, a referendum took place to separate the islands but it did not reach the required two-thirds majority vote. The two islands are divided into 14 parishes, nine on Saint Kitts and five on Nevis.
The two volcanic islands have rich volcanic soil with high productivity. This led to it being named “Liamuiga”, which translates to “fertile land”, by the Kalinago Indians who inhabited Saint Kitts and Nevis before the arrival of the Europeans. The island of Nevis is Spanish for “our lady of the snows” which comes from a Catholic story when it miraculously snowed in a hot climate. It is presumed that the island of Nevis earned this name from the white clouds that encase the top of Nevis Peak. The island of Saint Kitts was named by Christopher Columbus after Saint Christopher. In the 17th century, Kitt was a common nick name for Christopher and so the name Saint Kitt was adopted.
Both islands have large central peaks covered in tropical rain forests, stunning beaches and sugar fields, some of which have been turned into plantation estates that are great spots for lunch. The terrain of the islands flattens out closer to the sea, which is where the majority of the country’s population resides. Rivers flow down from the mountains providing fresh water. There is also a small lake on the island of Saint Kitts.
Saint Kitts and Nevis have warm tropical Caribbean weather with very little seasonal change in the temperature. This makes it pleasant to visit all year around. The tourist high season runs from mid December to mid April. Hurricane season occurs from July to October and rainy season from May to November.
The country’s economy is based on tourism, agriculture (mainly the production of sugar), off shore banking, apparel and electronics assembly. The island of St Kitts depends largely on tourism; the number of visitors grew by 40 per cent from 2007 to 2009. The island has many beaches, bars and water activities. The island of Nevis is also home to many beaches and great hiking. A regular ferry service transports people between the two islands.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Health Care and Insurance
Medical facilities on Saint Kitts and Nevis are limited. The island of St Kitts has three hospitals, the main one being Joseph N. France General Hospital (telephone: 869 465 2551). The hospital on the island of Nevis is Alexandria Hospital (telephone: 869 469 5473). The two islands have a total of 17 health care clinics which have been recently refurbished. However, neither island has a hyperbaric chamber for drivers. Divers requiring a hyperbaric chamber must be transported to neighbouring Saba.
The pharmacies in Saint Kitts and Nevis are well supplied but generally do not stay open late; there are no 24 hour pharmacies. Travellers with serious medical conditions may need to be medically evacuated to a country with adequate medical facilities. The cost of medical evacuation is expensive. Visitors to Saint Kitts and Nevis should ensure that they have travel insurance that covers the cost of medical evacuation.
There are no private hospitals on the islands but several doctors and dentists are in private practise. Typically, payment is required at all medical faculties before treatment is given. Therefore, medical insurance is a must for visitors.
The medical facilities on the islands are run by Ministries of Health (MoH). Each island has a separate ministry and a separate annual budget which has almost doubled in recent years. The MoH implements the Governments policies and programmes. It is divided into 3 programmes:
- Policy development and information management
- Community based health services
- Institution based health services.
In recent years, the MoH have taken steps to improve the medical facilities in Saint Kitts and Nevis. MRI services, a cardiac clinic, a dialysis unit and an expansion of cancer screening facilities have all recently been introduced.
Saint Kitts and Nevis does not have a national health insurance scheme however the Government and some large employers provide health insurance to their employees as part of their remuneration. The country does have a Social Security Scheme for those who suffer injuries. Workers are required to contribute to the scheme.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel Advice
The level of violent crime in Saint Kitts and Nevis has recently increased. Petty street crime and burglaries do occur. Visitors should safe guard their possessions, ensure that valuables are not left unattended on beaches or in vehicles and use hotel safety deposit boxes. Visitors should avoid walking alone in Saint Kitts and Nevis at night. The number of violent crimes has been increasing in recent years; however, these typically occur within the local community. The emergency telephone number in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 911.
Travellers should ensure that their childhood vaccinations are up to date before travelling abroad, including, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus and polio. Visitors should also ensure that they are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid.
Dengue fever is prevalent in the Caribbean islands and some cases were reported in the country in December 2008. Travellers should ensure that they are protected from mosquito bites by wearing long pants and tops, socks, sleeping with nets over their beds and using an insect repellent that contains DEET.
Travellers wanting to drive when visiting Saint Kitts and Nevis will need to purchase a visitor’s drivers license. These can be purchased for a small fee from the car rental company, Traffic Department or Fire Station at a cost of EC $100 (US$37). Visitors just need to show their overseas driver’s license. Mini buses and taxis are available for those travellers who do not wish to rent a vehicle. Tap water is generally safe to drink on Saint Kitts and Nevis as it’s collected from rain, wells and mountain springs and is purified. Bottled water is also readily available.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Expat Health Insurance
We recommend that if you choose to travel to Saint Kitts and Nevis that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. The medical facilities in Saint Kitts and Nevis are limited and patients requiring more complex treatments need to be medically evacuated to a nearby country with more adequate medical facilities than are available in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Expat health insurance policies that we work with can provide a high level of coverage, including covering services such as emergency medical evacuation. At Global Health Insurance we specialise is finding health insurance policies that meet our client’s specific needs in their search for the right insurance product in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Expat health insurance can offer additional policy benefits including coverage of maternity care, dental work, specialist treatments and more. . We work with many of the world’s top international medical insurers and can help you select a policy that meets your needs. Please contact us today to discuss your requirements and obtain a free quotation.
Recent Questions / Comments:
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| do you have any insurance plan for Ivf treatment? Like if the first attempt is not successful then is there any plan to cover the next attempt? | |
