Health Insurance for Cruisers Mid-Repair
The yard period coincides with the medical things cruisers put off when at anchor. Dental work, eye exams, routine physicals — all easier with shore access. Then there's the unexpected: a slip on a ladder, a hand caught in a winch, the appendicitis that doesn't wait. Coverage matters.
The insurance landscape
- Cruiser-specific plans: Cigna Global, Allianz Worldwide, IMG Global, GeoBlue. Designed for expats and long-term travellers. USD 1,500–6,000/year depending on coverage and age.
- Travel insurance with extended limits: Some specialty providers offer 365-day coverage. Generally cheaper than expat health plans but less comprehensive.
- Country-specific: Some countries (Mexico INM, Spain) offer reasonable health systems even for tourists. Costs out of pocket can be lower than insurance premiums.
- US Medicare: Doesn't cover outside the US. Critical limitation for older US cruisers.
- EU EHIC/GHIC: European citizens have reciprocal coverage in most EU countries.
Evacuation coverage
Medical evacuation can cost USD 50,000–250,000. Evacuation insurance (Medjet, SkyMed, DAN) is cheap relative to the risk. Most cruisers carry some form of evacuation coverage even if their main health plan also covers it (different policies handle the logistics differently).
What cruisers report
- Mexico healthcare quality is excellent and reasonably priced; many cruisers go out of pocket
- Caribbean countries vary wildly; Trinidad and Martinique generally adequate
- Turkey and Greece both have private hospital systems serving cruisers well
- French Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji — adequate for basic care; serious cases fly to NZ or AU
- South Africa, NZ, AU — first-world systems, sometimes faster than US private care
Pre-trip planning
- Current physical and dental before departure
- Refill prescriptions; carry 6+ months supply if possible
- Vaccinations current
- Medical records on cloud (HIPAA-aware service)
- Insurance card screenshots on phone
- Telemedicine subscription for routine consults
Frequently asked questions
Best for US cruisers?
Cigna Global, IMG, GeoBlue commonly used.
EU cruisers?
EHIC/GHIC for EU travel; supplemental for elsewhere.
Evacuation coverage?
Strongly recommended. Medjet, SkyMed, DAN.
Out of pocket affordable?
Mexico, SE Asia, parts of EU — yes. Caribbean variable. USA — no.
Telemedicine?
Useful for routine. Some plans include.