Travel insurance for a Bahamas boat trip: what the CDC, DAN, BoatUS and Markel say

A boat trip in the Exumas raises three separate insurance questions: who pays for medical care and evacuation, who tows a broken boat, and what a policy does in a named storm. This page quotes what the CDC, Divers Alert Network, BoatUS, Markel and The Moorings each say, attributed to each. It does not recommend a product and quotes no prices. Read your own policy’s territory and named-storm terms before you leave.

Does US health insurance work in The Bahamas?

The CDC’s Bahamas health page tells travelers to review their health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during the trip¹. It also says to consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance¹.

The CDC adds that if you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards, and trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas¹. Put the question to any insurer in plain words: if I am hurt on a remote cay, who moves me, and who pays? Get the answer in writing. The Exuma safety and medical guide lists the emergency numbers and the clinics.

Do you need a passport to enter by boat?

The Ministry of Tourism’s entry page says all travelers who are not citizens or legal residents of The Bahamas must present a passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry². If you arrive by boat, see the clearing customs by boat guide and the cruising permit cost guide. Park fees are separate: see the park fees page.

Is DAN membership a boat insurance policy?

No. The Divers Alert Network page for Regular Membership describes an emergency medical transportation benefit for the member. It is not cover for a boat. What the page says:

• The benefit applies any time you travel more than 50 miles from home⁴.
• The aggregate benefit limit is up to USD 150,000 for Regular Membership and up to USD 500,000 for Enhanced Membership⁴.
• You must first contact DAN TravelAssist through the DAN Emergency Hotline. Evacuating yourself before you call can leave you responsible for the costs⁴.
• DAN must arrange the transportation for covered evacuation fees to be paid⁴.
• DAN will not pay to transport you to your place of residence after a covered emergency if there are closer suitable medical facilities⁴.
• Dive accident insurance is not automatically included with membership⁴.

Does BoatUS tow you back from the Bahamas?

The BoatUS On-The-Water Towing Service Agreement has a Bahamas clause. It says disabled vessels that cannot be serviced in the nearest Bahamas facility and require a tow back to the United States will be towed only in accordance with the routes it lists⁵. The same agreement says the maximum payment per incident for towing benefits will not exceed USD 3,000⁵.

Read the routes in the agreement against the route you plan to run.

What does a yacht policy say about named storms?

Markel’s yacht insurance page says that if there is a named storm, watch or warning, it will share the expense with you to help protect your yacht before the storm makes landfall⁶. The same page lists trip coverage and trip interruption reimbursement as options, and liability-only cover in case you damage another yacht or person⁶. It also lets owners who live in an area that is not at risk for a hurricane consider removing windstorm coverage⁶.

Territory and named-storm terms are policy wording. Ask your agent whether a Bahamas cruise is inside the territory, and what the policy requires of you when a storm is forecast. The hurricane season guide covers the weather side.

What do charter companies say about insurance?

The Moorings tells charterers that if they have their own travel insurance, they should verify that it covers the destinations and activities of the charter⁷. It also says that purchasing its Yacht Damage Waiver insurance ahead of time significantly decreases the security deposit⁷. The waiver and the deposit are the operator’s terms, so ask for them in writing. The yacht charter guide covers the rest of a charter budget.

Park fines are not an insurance matter

The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park is a no-take zone, and poaching violations bring fines and confiscation of vessels³. A policy for medical costs does not change that. Read your policy’s exclusions for fines and illegal acts, and follow the rules in the no-take zone guide and the park rules.

The park rules also set speed and anchoring limits. All vessels, dinghies and jet skis included, must run at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage³. Anchoring is not permitted in the mooring fields or on coral reefs³. The anchoring rules page has the detail.

Emergencies in the park

Channel 16 is monitored 24 hours a day for emergencies⁸. The Bahamas Defence Force has stationed three officers at Park Headquarters to assist park staff with enforcement matters⁸. The park office answers on VHF 09 as Exuma Park, but it sits on a remote small island, so contacting it can sometimes be challenging⁸. Write your insurer’s emergency number on paper and keep it aboard.

For what to carry, see the packing list for an Exumas boat trip. The plan hub lists the other planning pages.