How does private health insurance relate to SZV in Sint Maarten?

Key facts

What is SZV?

SZV is the organisation that administers Sint Maarten’s social and health insurances. SZV describes its role as being responsible for their administrative and financial management, and one of the things it provides is access to medical insurance benefits for employees and their families. It is not an insurance company that you choose; it is a scheme with its own rules, forms and portals. This guide does not restate those rules, because they change. The SZV website is the place to read them.

Who is covered by SZV?

That depends on SZV’s rules, which can include wage limits that are published each year. SZV says that new wage-limit and premium amounts take effect on 1 January of the respective year, so a summary from an earlier year may be out of date. Your employer, SZV’s customer service and the SZV website are the sources for your own position. If you are unsure, ask SZV before you decide to buy, keep or cancel a private policy.

How do I check my SZV status?

Ask SZV directly, using the route it provides. SZV says insured people aged 18 or older can request a MySZV account to check their insurance status. When the status is valid, SZV says you will only need to show a valid Sint Maarten ID card or passport for care or medication. For a first application, or when the status is not valid, SZV directs people to a webform. Newborns are registered as dependants of the head insured, and SZV gives a deadline and the documents for that on its own pages.

What can a private health policy add?

A private policy can add whatever its wording says it covers, which may differ from what SZV provides. People often ask a private insurer about the following:

• The level of hospital and specialist cover, and the limits per year or per condition.
• Care abroad or medical evacuation, which may matter on a small island.
• Waiting periods before cover starts for certain treatments.
• How pre-existing conditions are treated.
• Whether cover continues if you move, change jobs or change status.
• What the policy does when another insurance may also pay for the same cost.

None of this is a promise that a particular policy includes these features. Compare the wording, and ask the insurer to confirm important points in writing.

Who needs what in each situation?

Can I keep a private policy if I am insured with SZV?

Often people ask this, and the honest answer is that it depends on the policy wording and your situation. A private policy is a separate contract. Some are designed to be held alongside other cover and some treat it differently. Before you cancel anything, ask the private insurer how the policy would work if SZV also pays, and ask SZV whether your status changes anything. An advisor can request quotes and compare the wording, but cannot change SZV’s rules.

Does Enterprise Insurance place health insurance?

Enterprise Insurance is a broker and can discuss private health insurance with you and request quotes from insurers. See the health insurance page for the types of cover people ask about.