If you are planning a trip overseas, you may want to check with your health insurance provider first! Some health insurance carriers in the United States may cover emergencies that happen while traveling; most do not cover general medical expenses relating to pre-existing conditions. You should know what your insurance company will and will not cover before you actually need medical attention.
Chances are, if you need medical attention outside the country, it will be considered “out of network” by your health insurance company. Will you need authorization for treatment? Will you need a second opinion before obtaining treatment overseas? You should know the answers to these questions before you ever leave home; hopefully you won’t need the information, but you will have it in case you do need it.
Things to bring with you:
- Insurance cards
- Insurance claim forms
- Enough of your current medications for the length of your trip, stored in their original containers
- A list of all your current medications plus generic equivalents
You may want to consider a supplemental traveler’s insurance policy that will help you deal with and pay for any health emergencies while you are abroad. Start your search for supplemental insurance with these websites, recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
- U.S. Department of State travel website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/index.html
- International SOS: www.internationalsos.com
- MEDEX: www.medexassist.com
- International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: www.iamat.org
If you become ill or injured while traveling abroad, you need to find appropriate medical services quickly. Check with the U.S. consular office, or check these websites for recommended clinics:
- Travel Health Online: www.tripprep.com/scripts
- International Society of Travel Medicine: www.istm.org
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: www.astmh.org
The quality of health care overseas may vary greatly from the care you are used to at home. You will often find that physicians in other countries require immediate payment; be sure to keep copies of your bills and receipts in order to submit claims at a future date.