If you've searched the web for private medical insurance that covers expats in Saint Lucia then you are probably for looking for established UK based health insurance companies that can cover your medical costs in Saint Lucia.
Living as an expat in Saint Lucia you want to avoid any nasty unexpected health care costs. In some countries these can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds for serious conditions.
Our advice when shopping around for private medical cover that covers expatriates living in Saint Lucia is to speak to a health insurance broker. Health insurance is very complex and if you want absolute certainty that Saint Lucia is covered by your policy you should talk with a health insurance broker who can explain which providers will cover medical expenses for expatriates in Saint Lucia and which will exclude it.
There are many advantages to using a insurance broker but the biggest by far is that you're using their expertise at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than by you so it costs you no extra to use their services.
- Do you live in many different areas? Some will give you a cheaper policy premium than offers. A insurance broker will be able to advise whats best.
- Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance claim? A broker will know this critical information.
- If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your insurance policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different policies?
- You've developed a certain medical condition and want to know which insurer offers the largest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you huge amounts of time and effort.
You can call around every health insurance provider you can find and ask if they provider cover for expats in Saint Lucia, however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.
Its far far quicker to speak to one health insurance broker which will know which policy providers on the market offer cover for expats in Saint Lucia and under what terms they do or don't cover it.
Saint Lucia Information
Saint Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean islands, has a relatively large and lucrative tourism industry. Due to the relatively small land area of the country, most of the governmental promotion is performed by the state-operated Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, led by Executive Chairperson Agnes.
Together with other states in the island chain, Saint Lucia is part of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States, whose Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is responsible for a currency union managing the Eastern Caribbean dollar (US$1 = EC$2.7).
Saint Lucia is a popular tourism site due to its tropical weather and scenery and for its large number of beaches and resorts. The island has a rich, intriguing history dating from British and French rule, dating from the 18th century. It is also known for its unique cuisine, exciting sports and adventure activities. Saint Lucia is one of the Caribbean's most spa oriented destinations.
Ladera Resort is located on a volcano ridgeline, 1,000 feet above the Caribbean Sea, with views of the Pitons. The resort, set on the grounds on one of Soufrière's oldest cocoa plantations, has just 37 rooms and suites; all have a view of at least one Piton. Each room has its own private heated plunge pool to take in the views from. Local art can be found in the rooms and throughout the resort; this includes hand-carved works in all of the wood (from the headboards and support beams to poolside decorations). (Soufrière District, 13°50′15″N 61°03′22″W / 13.8375°N 61.056°W / 13.8375; -61.056 (Ladera Resort))
The Dasheene restaurant in the Ladera Resort is one of the top restaurants in St. Lucia. Executive Chef Nigel Mitchel and his staff use fresh, local ingredients; the chef prepares "stylish interpretations" of traditional St. Lucian dishes, such as sweet potato and coconut soup, Caribbean lamb salad, roast conch with pickled vegetables, Cajun-Creole vegetable bakes, jerk poulet sausage, plantain gratin with coconut rum sauce and more. The restaurant is split into three levels: The Bar, a lunch section (which allows children, for non-hotel guests) and a dinner section. There is also a wine cellar, where guests can book a chef for a private dinner.
Cap Maison Resort & Spa. The 50-villa resort almost better resembles a Mediterranean cliffside hotel than it does a Caribbean resort. Oceanview Villa Suite with Pool & Roof Terrace. This room has a master bedroom, a living/ dining room, a kitchen and large private verandahs, as well as rooftop space — which offers a private swimming pool, loungers and more. For a private meal, guests can have the resort prepare a barbecue dinner on their rooftop. There are two restaurants on the property led by Head Chef Craig Jones: The Cliff at Cap which offers fine dining and a contemporary French Caribbean menu and The Naked Fisherman which serves more casual eats on the beach. Spa treatments, which range from rituals and journeys to body massages, facials and exfoliations, are available in the two treatment rooms, on the villa terraces, the pool, gazebo or on the beach. Group and private yoga, Pilates and fitness classes are also available. There are also two wine tastings offered: A casual tutored tasting and a fine wine tasting. Cooking classes and more can also be booked for foodies. (in Cap Estate, Gros Islet District, 14°05′58″N 60°56′36″W / 14.09956°N 60.94346°W / 14.09956; -60.94346 (Cap Estate)
Saint Lucia is known for beaches some of which are covered in black volcanic sand. The island's temperature averages 80 °F (27 °C) all year. The island offers many water adventures, everything from snorkelling to jet skiing to parasailing.
The Caribbean islands have a distinct culture from music to food to art. The foods include exotic fruits and local meats and spices. Chefs on the island have many new flavours for tourists to try and experiment with. Music includes genres ranging from jazz to reggae. Musicians from around the world travel to the small island to attend and perform at festivals. The art encompasses everything from the craftsmanship of the furniture to the paintings and clay sculptures.
A report published by American Express Travel in 2006 revealed that St. Lucia is the world's top destination for weddings. According to the report, St. Lucia beat famous destinations like Las Vegas and the Maldives. St. Lucia, like many other Caribbean countries, has been experiencing an increase in serious crime over the past few years. There has been an increase in robberies, burglaries, harassment, and even incidents of violent crime against tourists. Some of these cases have been reported in the international media and as such, St. Lucia's destination image is at risk. In an attempt to control the crime problem, the government has implemented a number of measures, which includes tougher penalties for some crime. However, these measures have not had a great effect on the crime rate. This has caused a noticeable decline in the tourist industry on the island.