Of course, these troubles are not limited to traveling abroad; you may be out of bounds for immediate medical care while hiking along the Appalachian Trail or Gates of the ArcticAmerica’s most remote national park.
Rate bugs, bacteria and sundry discomfort come with the hobby, since I learned that a little preparation cut down on frequent phone calls and trips to the pharmacy. It’s true whether you’re packing for a week-long cruise or heading to the desert.
Take essential medicines before leaving
When traveling where quality medical care is inaccessible, your primary care physician may be willing to prescribe medication and antibiotics for common travel sickness, such as traveler’s diarrhea. You can also order a custom, region-specific travel kit including pre-prescribed medications from Duration Healthranging from the $169 Mini Med Kit that covers the basics (infections, nausea, digestive ailments) to a $1,679 Lifesaver version with two EpiPens.
“Most of this is what I wish I had with me before I was a doctor,” said Terez Malka, one of Duration Health’s doctors, who writes pre-prescriptions and supports travelers by email. While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January, he saw the kits in action. “100 percent of the group had traveler’s diarrhea,” he said. “Everyone who had their azithromycin prescription before going on the road probably saved the trip.”
Carry regular medications and specific travel items in their original vials; those count as valid prescriptions to airport security and customs. (It’s also a good idea to email a copy of the prescriptions.) Keep in mind that although many travelers get through without a problem, some countries ban medications that are legal in the United States. Adderall, which is used to treat ADHD, is banned in Japan. Singapore requires travelers to apply for special approval when packing some anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills. tea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends contact the embassy of your destination, plus anywhere you may have a stopover, to check which medication may not be allowed.
Make a communication plan
Sometimes, keeping in touch just means getting it right SIM card for your mobile phone. But if you’re going beyond reliable cell service — on an overnight hiking trip, for example — you might want to consider one of the compact satellite messaging devices sold by companies like Garmin and SPOT.
These devices work in most parts of the world and usually come with a monthly or annual service fee. Some are set up for text, two-way messaging, while others have preset messages and emergency alerts. “When you press the SOS button … it goes to a highly trained team of dispatchers who work to find the best asset available for a rescue,” said Gabe Roura, SPOT’s regional sales manager for the eastern United States. . “It could be local law enforcement. It could be the Coast Guard. In some cases, it could be a private rescue firm.”
Information on the SOS can also go to a trusted emergency contact at home. Consider casting someone who’s good in a crisis, said Zanna Baker, who directs television and film projects for the adventure shipping company. Secret compass. Baker emphasized that while companies like Garmin offer support, a close friend or family member could help with emergencies by putting resources in your place. “You want someone who’s going to be calm enough to communicate,” he said. “With a [Garmin] inReach is just a message. So what happens next?”
Usually, the next step is to get in touch with contacts on the ground who might be able to organize a rescue. Baker suggests creating a list of area resources in case of an emergency, such as a local friend, a guide company or even a well-connected hotelier willing to make a few calls.
Understand the options on the ground
Excellent medical care is available in most of the world, the emergency physician Eugene Delaune, who also advises the insurer. Allianz Travel on critical medical decisions. Teams like Delaune help determine if travelers can access the necessary assistance on site or if they need to evacuate.
“When someone moves, it’s usually not at home; it’s usually at the nearest facility,” he said. “Say you’re in Tanzania and you’re in a car accident. … I say, ‘We need to get her to Nairobi right away.'” Another option is to contact the nearest US consulate or embassy. The United States Department of State can help with locate medical services abroad. Consular affairs officers offer 24/7 emergency assistance by phone at 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
While it is better to bring medications from home – the CDC note that Counterfeit pills are common in some countries – you can usually get one emergency recharge with a copy of your prescription. This documentation is also essential if you need medical assistance and do not know the local names of your prescribed drugs.
“When I work in the ER, it’s a big disadvantage if people can’t tell me what medication they’re taking,” Delaune said. He also recommends those with a history of heart problems carry recent EKGs in their wallets so local doctors can offer fully informed care.
Know what your insurance covers
Paying for treatment is another story. US consulates do not help with unexpected bills, and Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover medical expenses outside the US. Private insurance will often pay for some international medical expenses, Delaune said, but usually only after a claim is filed. Travelers who rely on private health insurance may have to shell out, and then sort out. Health care in the United States is among the most expensive in the world, which partly explains the growing trend of Americans. seeking treatment abroad; still, emergency procedures can be expensive anywhere.
Travel insurance that covers medical care, Delaune said, is more likely to front the money for immediate expenses. In some cases, you will be on the hook later; read the fine print. While some travel insurance offers primary insurance coverage for emergency medical and dental care – which means that the travel insurer is the first to pay – others only offer secondary coverage, because first you have to submit any claim to your health insurance.
And always beware of the exception: During a 2017 trip to Vietnam, Jeannie Walla, 73, of Los Angeles, was on a rice paddy tour in the sidecar of a self-driving motorcycle when the vehicle veered into a field flooded, trapped under. Later, Walla called his travel insurance from a nearby hospital and asked what to do if his back was broken or his condition deteriorated. “He said, ‘I don’t know where we’re going to send you, but I know we’re not going to pay for it,'” he recalled. “It was ridiculously useless.” The motorcycle trip had voided his coverage; many travel insurance policies list adventurous activities as exclusions.
For safe access to a US hospital, consider emergency medical evacuation insurance. Sobried by his close call in Vietnam, Walla signed up for annual medical transport coverage from Mediumwhose plans start at $99. It paid for itself sooner than she expected.
In 2019, Walla fell from the stone base of a pyramid in Giza, Egypt, dislocating a finger and breaking his hip and wrist. The nearest hospital was full of feral cats. She needed surgery, and a surgeon in Cairo suggested she receive higher quality care at home. Her upgraded coverage secured her an ambulance escort to a private flight bound for California. “Metjet showed up and said, ‘We’re getting you out of here,'” he said. “It was music to my ears.”
