We are to leave for Central America in 3 days. We have rented a house with 4 other couples.

We live in a state that has had no cases of the virus.

The other 8 live in Kirkland Washington, one of them works at Evergreen Hospital.

I am not as nervous of the virus as I am nervous of getting stuck in another country and not being able to get home. In previous travels, I have had 3 instances of being medically compromised and it was VERY difficult to get back to the US, not to mention terrifying. I cannot find a source for Repatriation insurance as we are willfully accepting this risk.

Any thoughts? My husband is adamant about going.

I can’t help, but do hope you come back to let us know what you find, and your decision. We were supposed to travel next month, but are delaying to see how things are going then. We are elderly and I have medical issues that are under control unless I get sick from something else. I would not like to be quarantined someplace with less than great care. There are companies that do medical evacuation insurance, but they wouldn’t help under those circumstances. Good luck with your decision.

No words of wisdom for you -- just good luck.

However -- Is there a possibility the other couples will not be allowed to enter the Central American country since they live/work in a well publicized 'hot zone' for the virus??

I’m not a healthcare professional, but think about it:



8 of you are coming from a “hot zone” in the US with the potential to cause an outbreak in another country.



How well equipped are hospitals in Central America to deal with an outbreak of this disease, given how quickly it has spread in countries with world class facilities.



How would you feel if you owned that house you are renting and found out your renters brought the disease to the house and country? What kind of disinfecting bill will you get?

Beyond the issues of conscience and to the question of insurance... A few things to consider: If the U.S. government decides to prohibit persons who are traveling from your destination to the U.S., the insurance company can't help you. If the destination country decides to create a quarantine zone that includes your rented house, the insurance company probably can't help you. If you have a pre-existing condition that contributed to the 3 times in the past that you were "medically compromised" while traveling, insurance companies will likely decline to offer coverage.

Since you're leaving in 2-3 days and have no time for research, I would call Insure My Trip and get some advice.

https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-...vel-insurance/

Have the people from Kirkland been tested? Because of it not I think it is totally irresponsible of them to travel. And I would certainly not join them because I would be worried about infection (I have a compromised immune system, and it sounds like you may, too).

You've already gotten some great input. I'll just add one thing: Even if your husband insists on going, remember that YOU don't have to go.
Good luck!

Your friends from Kirkland who apparently are willing to travel seem to be part of the problem that has significantly contributed to the spread of the virus. They should be tested before traveling since they are living in a hot zone. Assuming that they are free of the virus is irresponsible and dangerous. I wouldn’t travel with them.

To clarify, I do not have a pre-existing condition.
Once I got blood poisoning from a cut in Malawi; it took me nearly 30 hours to get back to the US and I was taken directly to the hospital from the airport when I landed. Another incident I was on a humanitarian trip to Algeria with a chartered flight and large number of the group were terribly ill (stretchers / IV) and the third was a bike trip in the middle east where my partner fell off her bike, got 22 stitches in her knee so that she could not bend it. Try to get on a 13 hour flight when you cant bend your knee and thus subject to DVT.
So I am a bit gun-shy.
None of us are medically compromised. None of us are over 60. None of the group is sick or has a fever.
I dont think you can be tested if you arent ill - we dont have enough test kits!

Anyway my husband is packed and I dont want to get divorced so I'm going. Ugh. We do have medical coverage, and I will contact the American Embassy today just to see if they have any guidance.

I think any airline that allows anyone from Kirkland (and especially anyone who works at the hospital) to board a flight has a screw loose (as do those travelers)


The issues isn't really whether any of YOU will get sick -- it is that if any/all of you are carriers.

If you don't already know, find out the credit limits on your various credit cards and let the card companies know you'll be traveling to xyz country. If your limits are relatively low, ask if you can increase them, even temporarily. If you get stuck in Central America, you will need to be able to charge much more than you originally planned.

My husband relented yesterday when Amazon & Microsoft announced incidents of the virus.
We cancelled and I am so relieved.
But our friends are going.

Do you know they have not been testing the workers at Evergreen?
They do not have the tests!
This is a scary time.

Good decision. I hope all goes well with your friends, but I would not want to risk infecting others or being quarantined for weeks..

queenie--I am glad you decided to cancel. We live right near Kirkland and on way home from Germany a month ago, my husband was the sickest he has ever been. When I took him to urgent care a few days after we were home, they would not test him, despite the fact that his coworker who we were with, was in ICU back east with this. That man is still there and has not made it back home here. Anyway, my best friend is a nurse at one of the big hospitals here and none of them have been tested. She did get fitted for a mask, but that is it. Our young adult kids both live in Seattle itself and our daughters company earlier this week banned all travel for employees as well as in person meetings. Then a day or so later they just outright mandated work from home. Quite a few other large companies here are doing the same thing. It is a big deal, especially since you do not want to carry this thing and infect others. There just is not enough known about it yet, so we do need to take precautions too protect those who may not be 100% healthy.

Good call!

mms that is interesting information.
When the nursing home patients came to Evergreen they did not suspect corona initially and the medical staff were not wearing the appropriate PPE.
These people Must be tested. It is incredible to me that they have not been.
These are some of the reasons we cancelled.

I watched our President get off the plane at Dobbins yesterday enroute to the CDC...and shake hands of all the folks greeting him. I just shake my head. Please, everyone must be on board with taking precautions.