Dominican Republic Travel Insurance: Plans & Prices
Written By 
Reviewed By Last updated: 08/20/2025
Key Takeaways
- Based on our analysis, the best travel insurance for the Dominican Republic is offered by Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, and IMG
- U.S. health insurance is not widely accepted in the Dominican Republic, so we recommend opting for travel insurance that covers unexpected medical and evacuation expenses
- The Dominican Republic poses a wide range of travel risks to tourists, such as seasonal hurricanes, violent crime, and petty theft in popular tourist destinations
- Travel medical insurance is an affordable type of coverage for Americans visiting the Dominican Republic, costing less than $6 per day on average
- Try our online travel insurance comparison tool to get quotes from multiple providers at once. For personal assistance, call our award-winning agents at 1-800-240-0369
Our Top Recommended Dominican Republic Travel Insurance Plans
- Tin Leg – Gold: With high medical coverage limits and generous adventure sports coverage, Tin Leg Gold is perfect for travelers exploring the Dominican Republic’s beaches, rainforests, and resort activities.
- Travel Insured International – FlexiPAX: This unique plan offers cruise-specific benefits and a wide range of policy add-ons, making it a top choice for travelers visiting the DR who want complete control over their coverage.
- IMG – iTravelInsured Choice: Ideal for travelers who want solid emergency medical and evacuation coverage at an affordable price.
Do I need travel insurance for the Dominican Republic?
Travel insurance is not required for U.S. citizens visiting the Dominican Republic, but it is strongly recommended due to regional health risks, natural disasters, and safety hazards.
The U.S. Department of State recommends recommends that travelers obtain travel insurance before departing for the Dominican Republic since U.S. health insurance is not accepted overseas. Purchasing a travel insurance policy with medical benefits can cover the cost of unexpected medical and evacuation expenses incurred while you’re away from home.
Most Dominican Republic travel insurance plans are comprehensive and include financial protection against common disruptions like trip cancellations, flight delays, missed connections, and baggage loss.
Reasons You May Need Travel Insurance for the Dominican Republic
Medical Emergencies & Limited Healthcare Access
While the Dominican Republic has private hospitals in popular tourist cities like Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, these facilities often require upfront payment before treatment and rarely accept international insurance. In more remote areas, medical facilities may be limited or unable to treat severe medical emergencies.
✅ Travel medical insurance covers hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance services, and emergency prescriptions, ensuring necessary care without unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
Water Sports, Excursions & Adventure Activity Risks
From snorkeling in Sosúa to ziplining through rainforest canopies, the Dominican Republic is a hub for adrenaline-packed experiences. However, injuries from these excursions are often excluded from standard travel insurance policies due to their high-risk nature.
✅ Plans with Sports & Activities coverage benefit can cover medical expenses in the event you get injured while participating in a covered adventure sport or activity, such as scuba diving, jet skiing, or hiking in Jarabacoa.
Cruise Disruptions or Missed Port Stops
The Dominican Republic is a common stop on Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries, with major ports in Amber Cove and La Romana. However, port calls can be missed due to severe weather, mechanical issues, or previous travel delays, which can often result in additional, unexpected expenses.
✅ Cruise-specific travel insurance policies include a wide range of benefits that cater to cruisers, including missed cruise departures, evacuations at sea, on-board medical treatment, and coverage for off-shore excursions.
Severe Weather & Hurricane Season Disruptions
The Dominican Republic is in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane zone, and storms frequently affect travel between June and November. Tropical weather can cause flight cancellations, delays, hotel evacuations, and other costly trip disruptions.
✅ Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage can reimburse non-refundable expenses if your trip is delayed or canceled due to severe weather events like a hurricane or named tropical storm. To be eligible for hurricane-related claims, purchase your policy before a storm is forecasted.
Petty Theft and Lost Items
While the Dominican Republic is generally safe for tourists, petty theft does occur in busy areas like beach resorts and historic city centers. Items like phones, passports, and wallets are common targets.
✅ Baggage Loss coverage reimburses for stolen or lost personal belongings. All providers on Squaremouth offer 24-hour Emergency Assistance services, which can help you replace stolen or lost travel documents like passports or driver’s licenses.
Illness, Foodborne Issues & Unexpected Cancellations
Travelers visiting the Dominican Republic sometimes face foodborne illnesses or stomach bugs, which can quickly sideline their plans. If you or a travel companion becomes ill before or during your trip, you could lose thousands in prepaid trip expenses.
✅ Comprehensive travel insurance can reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you’re forced to cancel or interrupt your trip due to illness. These plans also feature strong medical coverage if food poisoning sends you to the local hospital or doctor’s office.
More Details on the Best Travel Insurance for the Dominican Republic
Best Luxury Travel Insurance
Recommended Plan: Gold
Emergency Medical: $500,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Covers a wide range of adventure sports & activities
Best Cruise Insurance
Recommended Plan: FlexiPAX
Emergency Medical: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade available
Best Travel Insurance for Seniors
Recommended Plan: iTravelInsured Choice
Emergency Medical: $100,000
Medical Evacuation: $500,000
- Trip Cancellation: 100% of trip costs
Offers Non-Medical Emergency Evacuation
How Much Does Dominican Republic Travel Insurance Cost?
Comprehensive Dominican Republic travel insurance costs $28 per day on average.
This figure is based on internal Squaremouth data, which takes into account thousands of travel insurance policy sales for Dominican Republic trips over the past year. This data reveals that travelers spend $330 on their policies with an average trip length of 12 days.
If you’re not concerned about protecting your travel expenses, you can save money by opting for a travel medical insurance plan that focuses on medical coverage while you’re away from home. These plans are less expensive, costing just $5 per day.
The pricing examples below are based on a solo 35-year-old traveler who is insuring a $3,000, 10-day vacation to the Dominican Republic.
Medical-Only Travel Insurance Cost Example
| Provider | Plan Name | Plan Cost | Cancellation / Interruption Limits | Medical/Medevac Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Leg | Gold | $28 | $0 / $0 | $500,000 / $500,000 |
| Travel Insured International | FlexiPAX | $27 | $0 / $0 | $100,000 / $500,000 |
| Seven Corners | Trip Protection Choice | $57 | $0 / $1,000 | $500,000 / $1,000,000 |
Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cost Example
| Provider | Plan Name | Plan Cost | Cancellation / Interruption Limits | Medical/Medevac Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin Leg | Gold | $160 | $3,000 / $4,500 | $500,000 / $500,000 |
| Travel Insured International | FlexiPAX | $113 | $3,000 / $4,500 | $100,000 / $500,000 |
| IMG | iTravelInsured Choice | $88.20 | $3,000 / $3,750 | $100,000 / $500,000 |
Quote Domincan Republic Travel Insurance
What Travel Coverage Do You Need for the Dominican Republic?
Whether you’re lounging at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, exploring the cobblestone streets of Santo Domingo, or docking at Amber Cove on a cruise, having the right travel insurance can protect you from costly surprises. Here’s what to look for when choosing coverage:
Travel Medical Coverage
The Dominican Republic does not accept U.S. health insurance, including Medicare. Many private clinics in the area may require upfront payment before providing care. Medical costs can rise quickly in an emergency, especially if hospitalization or surgery is needed.
Look for a policy that offers at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage. If your trip involves a cruise or if you’re traveling later in life, additional coverage may be needed. Some plans cover pre-existing condition flare-ups, which is particularly useful for retirees and travelers managing chronic health issues.
Medical Evacuation Coverage
While there are hospitals in larger cities, high-level care may not be available in more rural or beach resort areas. If you’re seriously injured or ill, you may need to be airlifted to a hospital in the U.S. or another nearby country.
Choose a plan with at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, especially if your trip includes remote excursions, cruises, or areas outside major cities. Without insurance, emergency evacuation flights from the Caribbean can cost upwards of $50,000.
Sports and Activities coverage
The Dominican Republic is a hotspot for adventure—snorkeling, parasailing, horseback riding, ziplining, and diving. However, many basic policies exclude injuries sustained during these excursions unless you upgrade your plan.
Opt for a policy with Adventure Sports coverage if your itinerary includes guided excursions or outdoor activities. Plans like Tin Leg Gold or IMG iTravelInsured Choice allow you to add this protection for peace of mind while exploring.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
From hurricane season delays to last-minute illnesses, there are many reasons your trip might not go as planned. Flights to the Dominican Republic are often non-refundable, and all-inclusive resorts or cruise excursions may have strict cancellation policies. So when you’re spending a 12-day trip to the Dominican Republic and approximately $4,684.73 in trip costs, Trip Cancellation can help save you a lot.
Look for plans that offer 100% reimbursement for trip cancellations and at least 125–150% for trip interruption, since these benefits protect prepaid hotel nights, flights, resort packages, and tours. Our recommended plans provide these amounts.
Insurance for baggage and personal items
Popular resort towns can be hotspots for petty theft, and busy airports can often misplace or delay you. Replacing essentials like medications, swimwear, or electronics while traveling can be expensive and inconvenient.
Most travel insurance plans include Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay coverage, which can reimburse you if your personal items are lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced during your trip.
Cruise-Specific Coverage
If you’re visiting the Dominican Republic as part of a cruise, your coverage needs are slightly different. Missed port stops, itinerary changes, or onboard medical care can lead to unexpected costs that are not typically covered by standard policies.
If your trip involves time on a cruise ship, consider plans that offer cruise-specific travel insurance benefits. Common examples include coverage for missed cruise departures, evacuations at sea, and onboard medical treatment.
What Isn’t Covered by Dominican Republic Travel Insurance Plans?
Even the most comprehensive travel insurance plans have exclusions. If you’re planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, ignoring these exclusions can be costly and leave you with a policy that doesn’t cover your entire itinerary.
Here are the most common situations that might not be covered:
Adventure-Related Injuries
Snorkeling in Sosúa, ziplining in Samaná, or taking an ATV ride through jungle terrain might be the highlight of your trip, but these high–risk adventures also come with added risk. Most basic plans won’t cover injuries from hazardous adventure sports unless you purchase specialized coverage.
If your itinerary includes excursions booked through your cruise or resort, make sure your policy includes Sports & Activities coverage and offers protection for your specific itinerary items.
Alcohol or Drug Related Incidents
Sipping cocktails by the resort pool is all part of the Caribbean experience. However, if you’re injured or fall ill while under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, your claim could be denied. This includes medical costs, criminal charges, or evacuation expenses tied to intoxication.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you have a known medical condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and it flares up during your trip, it might not be covered unless your policy includes a Pre-Existing Condition Waiver. These waivers are usually only available if you purchase the plan within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Non-covered cancellation reasons
Cancelling your beach vacation because you’re nervous about the weather, concerned about political unrest, or simply changed your mind won’t be covered. For the ability to cancel your trip for any reason, you will need to purchase a plan with the optional Cancel for Any Reason upgrade.
Travel to Areas Under a Level 4 Advisory
Traveling to an area flagged as “Do Not Travel” by the U.S. State Department could void your insurance coverage.
Tips for Finding the Best Travel Insurance for the Dominican Republic
Choosing the right plan isn’t just about finding the cheapest policy; it’s about aligning your coverage with your specific travel needs and plans.
Here’s how to find a plan that keeps up with your upcoming Dominican Republic adventure:
Use a comparison Tool
Not all policies are created equal. Use Squaremouth’s quote engine to compare plans from over 20 top-rated providers in seconds, allowing you to see how different policies compete on coverage and cost. You can filter results to find specific types of coverage, too, such as plans designed for cruisers, adventurers, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Read the fine print and policy exclusions
Many travelers assume that travel insurance is all-encompassing. However, each plan will list unique exclusions that outline the specific events, expenses, and scenarios that are not covered in the event of a claim. Carefully review the Certificate of Insurance of each plan so there are no surprises down the road.
Match Your Plan to Your Itinerary
The risks of an all-inclusive resort differ from those of a cross-country eco-tour or a cruise to Amber Cove. Trips that involve remote destinations, cruises, or adventure activities often require increased medical and evacuation coverage limits. In addition, travelers visiting the Dominican Republic during hurricane season may want a plan that offers more generous coverage for weather-related delays and cancellations.
Look for Cruise-Specific Benefits
If you’re visiting the Dominican Republic as part of a cruise, special coverage may be needed for maximum peace of mind. We recommend cruise-specific plans that include benefits targeted towards at-sea disruptions and high coverage limits for medical evacuations.
Consider Weather and Seasonal Risks
If traveling from June to November, pay attention to hurricane and tropical storm coverage. Travel insurance must be purchased before a storm is named to qualify for trip cancellation benefits. Look for plans with strong interruption coverage or Cancel For Any Reason add-ons for better storm protection and flexibility.
Is Travel Insurance for the Dominican Republic Worth It?
Absolutely—especially if you’re investing in a resort stay, cruise, or outdoor excursion. For less than $30 a day, travel insurance can protect against thousands in potential medical bills or trip losses.
FAQ: Dominican Republic Travel Insurance
Is travel insurance mandatory for the Dominican Republic in 2025?
No, but it’s recommended by both the U.S. State Department and the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.
Will my U.S. Health Insurance Work in the Dominican Republic?
Typically no. Most U.S. plans, including Medicare, do not offer coverage abroad.
Should I buy cruise insurance for travel to the Dominican Republic?
Purchasing cruise-specific travel insurance is wise if your cruise itinerary includes Dominican Republic ports like Amber Cove or La Romana. Cruise travel carries unique risks, including itinerary changes, missed port calls, and onboard medical emergencies.
Comprehensive insurance covers trip cancellations, medical expenses, emergency evacuations, and missed connections due to flight delays. For example, if you fall ill at sea, onboard medical costs can be high, and standard health insurance may not apply.
What is the Tourist Entry Tax for the Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic requires most foreign visitors to pay a $10 tourist entry fee, known as the “Tourist Card.” This fee is typically included in airline tickets for air travelers, eliminating extra payment at arrival, but it’s good to know that land or sea arrivals must purchase it separately. The tourist card allows a single entry for up to 30 days, and if you extend it, there are additional fees upon departure, depending on the overstay duration. You can obtain the Tourist Card online from the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) or buy it at entry points.
What documents are required to travel to the Dominican Republic?
A valid passport. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits under 30 days.
Is the Dominican Republic safe to visit?
The country is generally safe for tourists, but petty crime in tourist hubs is common. Always stay alert and avoid isolated areas at night. Check current travel advisories before your trip.
Does the Dominican Republic require COVID insurance?
Not currently, but this is subject to change. Check GoDominicanRepublic.com for the latest updates.