International Travel - Health Matters

Seasonal influenza vaccinations are recommended forarticle was written) to put your medicine in your
all travelers. International travelers are also urged tocarry on bag.
seek advice from their primary care physician toBefore you travel outside the US, it is strongly
identify any specific vaccination or health precautionsrecommended that you review your health insurance.
required for each country you will visit.Many policies including Medicare WILL NOT pay for
You can also reference the World Health organizationservices outside of the US. So it may be a good idea
(WHO) or the United States Centers for Diseaseto shop for travel insurance before you travel to be
Control and Prevention (CDC) cdc.gov/travelsure you are covered when traveling outside of the
If travelers are cruising, the local authorities in eachUS.
port of call, may prevent passengers from goingIf your health insurance policy provides coverage
ashore if certain health precautions have not beenoutside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both
meet. Be sure to check with the cruise line to beyour insurance policy identity card as proof of such
sure that all medical requirements have been meetinsurance and a claim form. Although many health
for each port of call.insurance companies will pay "customary and
If you take regular medications, it is best that youreasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay
contact the airlines and ask them where is the bestfor your medical evacuation back to the United
place for you to carry your medicine? It may also beStates. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000
a good idea to carry an extra supply of medicine inand up, depending on your location and medical
the bottle or container provided by the pharmacy. Ifcondition. So again, shop for travel insurance that will
you are cruising, it is acceptable (at the time thiscover all the loopholes in your own insurance.