The State Department maintains a level four alert (do not travel) for Haiti, in part due to limited access to health care. This warning is also intended to discourage U.S. citizens from traveling to Haiti.

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti reports that recent gang attacks have targeted hospitals and other health facilities, and that health care and emergency medical services are unavailable in many parts of Haiti.

"Access to adequate health care or medical evacuation is very difficult due to the deteriorating health and medical infrastructure [...] Medical facilities in Haiti, including ambulance services, are difficult to find and of poor quality, especially outside the capital. Patients must bear all costs associated with life-threatening emergencies requiring air ambulance evacuation to a location outside Haiti," the Embassy states.

The Embassy has advised Americans planning to travel to Haiti that they should always ensure their health insurance covers them abroad, as the Embassy does not cover medical expenses.

"The U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not cover medical expenses abroad. Hospitals and doctors in Haiti do not accept U.S. health insurance and generally require full payment before providing care."

"The final cost of care is often much higher than initially estimated. Medical facilities generally require full payment before patients are discharged. We strongly recommend purchasing supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation."

The Embassy urges Americans not to travel to Haiti, where criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

"The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince urges U.S. citizens in Haiti to depart the country by authorized commercial transportation as soon as they feel it is safe to do so," adding : "If you are in Haiti, plan to depart as soon as safely possible."

HL/ HaitiLibre