Health Insurance/High Speed Internet Access

Is the High Speed Internet Access available reliable enough to work 8 hours a day from?

Doing it right now.

What are the main health insurance providers there?

Cigna

How is the range of available medical services?

More difficult to access and generally with lower expertise than you get stateside.

I've been reading through the posts and you guys give great advice. I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again soon.

Oh another question, is that Settlers Handbook worth buying? It only concerns me because it says its from 2008. Does anyone know if a 2010 version is in the works - maybe I should wait for that?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks fdr! My company offers Cigna, so that's one step closer for me! :@) I was worried about the reliability of internet access, so you have put my mind at ease about that too.

Thanks again!

The most common internet providers are innovative (dsl), choice & broadband (satellite). I've used two of the three and would kill for stateside internet. At work we're a tower for broadband and sure enough every day around noonish it slows down to a crawl. So if you really need high speed internet, its not anywhere as fast as stateside. And all of them to go out much like the power does, usually a hour or two at the most.

I've heard very good things about Hughsnet (satellite internet) but I also here its got a high set up cost like $800, but not sure about that.

There are not many providers of health insurance down here. There are two or three providers (all out of PR I believe) and about 10 different names to them. But many doctors do take stateside insurance. This is something you really need to look into on your PMV. Health care is poor down here if you get sick with anything interesting or bad you may have a hard/frustration time getting diagnosed. There fine for common illness, colds, flus etc. Most of us that have lived here a while go to puerto rico or stateside for serious checkup or to do anything more the blood work. Just getting a doc to call you back with labs can be a challenge here. After a year of being pretty sick I'm giving up and going stateside for a month to stay with sis and get the works done there. I will not every set foot in this local hospital again. Not by choice anyways.

Settler's handbook seems like a waste to me. Spend a week or two talking to people on your pmv or reading this board. People are very friendly and if you start talking to any of the locals they will usually be more then happy to talk your ear off about the island. I rarely write on this board but I read it often even as a local to get info on island happenings. Great source of gossip, whining, opinions and real info!

The most common internet providers are innovative (dsl), choice & broadband (satellite). I've used two of the three and would kill for stateside internet. At work we're a tower for broadband and sure enough every day around noonish it slows down to a crawl. So if you really need high speed internet, its not anywhere as fast as stateside. And all of them to go out much like the power does, usually a hour or two at the most.

I've heard very good things about Hughsnet (satellite internet) but I also here its got a high set up cost like $800, but not sure about that.

Just to clarify:
a) Broadband VI is not satellite, we are microwave, tied into the fiber at Global Crossing
b) Can you please tell me who your provider is at work? tower? Just want to make sure we're not having a problem.
thanks,
Mike

a)no expert at all, looks like a satellite so I just assumed, never bother to ask so that's what I get.
b) I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three choices. I do think you will get the best customer service from your company, Broadband VI. Other then that they seem similar in speed. Like I said I'm not expert, just what I experienced. I don't think what we have at work is a problem, its just a slow down, much like the internet at home seems to slow down around 6 or 7 at home and I will have to buffer like crazy if I'm foolish enough to try and watch a online tv show or movie.

a)no expert at all, looks like a satellite so I just assumed, never bother to ask so that's what I get.
b) I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three choices. I do think you will get the best customer service from your company, Broadband VI. Other then that they seem similar in speed. Like I said I'm not expert, just what I experienced. I don't think what we have at work is a problem, its just a slow down, much like the internet at home seems to slow down around 6 or 7 at home and I will have to buffer like crazy if I'm foolish enough to try and watch a online tv show or movie.

Hiya, if you work where I think you work (in Gallows Bay) there is indeed a Satellite system on the roof. I believe they are using both systems, BBVI for email, Satellite for Internet.....or something crazy like that...check with your IT people....I do know that BBVI has plenty of excess capacity so our customers should only see slowdowns when they hit their own bandwidth limits.

Gnosgirl..... Settlers Handbook is okay... But this website has 100 times more information than the book. Another suggestion is to get the local paper mailed to you . It is called the AVIS and is a great source for daily living events ,stories ads etc... They will mail it once a week and the cost is very reasonable. . one month rate is 19.00 mailing addres is The Avis ...P O BOX 750 St. Croix,USVI 008218-)

Settlers Handbook is a wonderful reference tool. It has who to call for what and all the numbers.

I looked for a telephone number for Avis and can not find one. Does anyone have contact information for them?

@ mnjj .....the classified number is 340-718-2300 .... they can probably get you to the dept you want 😎

Thanks

Settlers Handbook is well worth the price. Most of the information doesn't change from one edition to the next.

For the most recent information, stay current with these free sites:

http://stcroixsource.com/
http://stthomassource.com/
http://stjohnsource.com/

Best wishes,

Edward

GnosGirl, I recommend that you double-check to make sure your company will still offer you that Cigna insurance plan if your home address changes from stateside to USVI. Sometimes that's an issue. Good luck!