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Border open #234789
09/17/2020 08:58 AM
09/17/2020 08:58 AM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,157
Cobourg Ontario Canada
J
jeepers Offline OP
Traveler
jeepers  Offline OP
Traveler
J
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,157
Cobourg Ontario Canada
Border open and it appears to be without violence. Great work people! Hoping for January!!

SXM Sponsors
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234791
09/17/2020 09:10 AM
09/17/2020 09:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!

Link

Very good news! There is hope!

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 09/17/2020 09:12 AM.

Carol Hill
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234798
09/17/2020 11:57 AM
09/17/2020 11:57 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 58
C
CaribEagle Offline
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CaribEagle  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 58
So excited to get there end of October.

Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234807
09/17/2020 01:08 PM
09/17/2020 01:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Fingers crossed that it doesn't change.

Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234816
09/17/2020 01:39 PM
09/17/2020 01:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,359
Cincinnati area
Cincinnati_Kid Offline
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Cincinnati_Kid  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,359
Cincinnati area
So happy. The closed borders policy made little sense.


Paradise is an island in the Caribbean!
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234826
09/17/2020 02:44 PM
09/17/2020 02:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
D
dvesc Offline
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dvesc  Offline
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D
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
I've been trying to keep up with all of the changes, so I apologize if I have this wrong.

For now, the French side is open and there are no additional requirements to cross from the Dutch side and stay on the French side of the island. Also, to make it into SXM and onto the island initially, a negative PCR test within five days of arrival is required. Does that sound correct?

Other than the possibility this may all change in the future, is there anything else right now that might impact our ability to travel in December and stay in Orient?

Last edited by dvesc; 09/17/2020 02:45 PM.
Re: Border open [Re: dvesc] #234827
09/17/2020 02:54 PM
09/17/2020 02:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Here
is a link to the current requirements. You should read them and check back on them periodically to make sure nothing has changed. In general, the 120 hour PCR test (look specifically at the requirements for it!!), and you are required to have health insurance, and COVID insurance is highly recommended, although not currently required. You are supposed to check in by email every day, and take your temperature and send it to Dutch authorities, although it's unclear what happens if you don't do that. There has been TALK of requiring a second test on island, after 7 days, although that is not required as of yet.

CAUTION----- 1) the Dutch side PM is supposed to meet with French counterparts TODAY, so some change could come out of that and 2) Most anything can change at any time with the requirements, it seems, based on past experience.

As of NOW, no additional requirements to pass to the French side, no.

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 09/17/2020 03:58 PM.

Carol Hill
Re: Border open [Re: Carol_Hill] #234831
09/17/2020 03:33 PM
09/17/2020 03:33 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Carol the PCR test is 120 hours prior to your last departure flight to SXM. Not 72hrs.

Re: Border open [Re: dvesc] #234832
09/17/2020 03:35 PM
09/17/2020 03:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
"a negative PCR test within five days of arrival is required. Does that sound correct?"
No. It's 120 hours prior to your last departure flight into PJIA. Not arrival.

Re: Border open [Re: SXMScubaman] #234837
09/17/2020 03:58 PM
09/17/2020 03:58 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Duh, fixed it..


Carol Hill
Re: Border open [Re: SXMScubaman] #234846
09/17/2020 07:14 PM
09/17/2020 07:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 383
U
Uksimonusa Offline
Traveler
Uksimonusa  Offline
Traveler
U
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 383
Yeah they swapped back again, it was 72 hours before the day of arrival, then it went to 72 hours prior to arrival, now it's 120 hours from your last departure time, they will make their minds up how they want to calculate it one day!

Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234886
09/18/2020 01:31 PM
09/18/2020 01:31 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 44
Westchester County, NY
oceanview17 Offline
Traveler
oceanview17  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 44
Westchester County, NY
Carol, You mention Health Insurance. We have Sky Med - Does that qualify and if not do you have any suggestions where the required Health Insurance for
St. Maarten is available? We are in the New York metropolitan area.

Re: Border open [Re: oceanview17] #234889
09/18/2020 01:36 PM
09/18/2020 01:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Any health insurance coverage you have is good enough. Medicare, private, insurance from work etc. Just have to show you are covered for medical issues.

Re: Border open [Re: oceanview17] #234890
09/18/2020 01:52 PM
09/18/2020 01:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
As Scubaman said--REGULAR health insurance. Sky Med is JUST medical evac.


Carol Hill
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234908
09/18/2020 04:10 PM
09/18/2020 04:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
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boucharda  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
Medicare does not cover out of country (USA) care...So I would not consider that as fulfilling the insurance requirement

Last edited by boucharda; 09/18/2020 04:12 PM.
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234914
09/18/2020 04:54 PM
09/18/2020 04:54 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
D
dvesc Offline
Traveler
dvesc  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 291
South Carolina
This may just be an attempt to sell more insurance, but when I search for international coverage with BlueCross BlueShield, I keep getting pointed toward an international add-on called GeoBlue. I don't know if we really need it or not, but it was about $40 total for three people for the five days we're considering. There may be something similar for other insurance providers.

Re: Border open [Re: boucharda] #234917
09/18/2020 05:05 PM
09/18/2020 05:05 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 687
Lake Texoma, Texas
C
cruzer Offline
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cruzer  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 687
Lake Texoma, Texas
Originally Posted by boucharda
Medicare does not cover out of country (USA) care...So I would not consider that as fulfilling the insurance requirement


Medicare doesn't but some Medigap plans do.

ETA: As do some Medicare Part C plans.

Last edited by cruzer; 09/18/2020 05:06 PM.
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234918
09/18/2020 05:07 PM
09/18/2020 05:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
From another website I found

www.insubuy.com

which seems like another reasonably priced insurance. And to the best of my knowledge, those of us on straight Medicare are NOT covered outside any of the fifty states and/or U.S. territories and the onus is on us to provide additional medical coverage when traveling.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Border open [Re: pat] #234934
09/18/2020 08:10 PM
09/18/2020 08:10 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Don't most of us on Medicare have a supplemental policy? I know I do.

Re: Border open [Re: GaKaye] #234938
09/18/2020 08:26 PM
09/18/2020 08:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Yes. We have supplemental policies too and have used it in SXM. You just have to pay while there and submit a claim when home.

Re: Border open [Re: GaKaye] #234940
09/18/2020 08:36 PM
09/18/2020 08:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Originally Posted by GaKaye
Don't most of us on Medicare have a supplemental policy? I know I do.

Not if you still carry regular health insurance along with Part A.


J.D.
Re: Border open [Re: ruralcarrier] #234944
09/18/2020 08:47 PM
09/18/2020 08:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Before I went on Medicare my regular private insurance covered us with a situation out of country. Same thing. Just had to pay there and submit claim back home.

Re: Border open [Re: ruralcarrier] #234945
09/18/2020 08:49 PM
09/18/2020 08:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by GaKaye
Don't most of us on Medicare have a supplemental policy? I know I do.

Not if you still carry regular health insurance along with Part A.


I'm not sure exactly what that means? We have Medicare, and then a supplemental that covers pretty much everything that Medicare doesn't cover. I believe that our supplemental would cover us outside the US.

Re: Border open [Re: GaKaye] #234946
09/18/2020 08:53 PM
09/18/2020 08:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
GaKaye you are correct. Just have to pay while there and submit claim back home.

Re: Border open [Re: GaKaye] #234951
09/18/2020 09:10 PM
09/18/2020 09:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
I know several who are on Medicare but can still carry other or previous employer health insurance at a somewhat reasonable price. In these cases, not a lot of need for Part B and/or supplements. I have no idea on the out of country coverage on Medicare supplements.


J.D.
Re: Border open [Re: jeepers] #234952
09/18/2020 09:18 PM
09/18/2020 09:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
We have Medicare plus part B along with medical though my wife's teachers retirement policy. We are in our 70's and happy with coverage.


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