Of course, these woes are not limited to foreign travel; you may be outside the limits of immediate medical care while hiking along the Appalachian Trail or Arctic Gatesthe most isolated national park in America.
If insects, bacteria and various discomforts accompany this hobby, I have since learned that a little preparation reduces frantic phone calls and trips to the pharmacy. That's true whether you're packing your bags for a week-long cruise or heading deep into the wilderness.
Get essential medications before you leave
When you go where quality medical care is inaccessible, your primary care provider might be willing to prescribe medications and antibiotics in advance to treat common travel-related illnesses, such as traveler's diarrhea. You can also order a personalized, region-specific travel kit including pre-prescribed medications from Duration Healthwhich range from the $169 Mini Med Kit covering the basics (infections, nausea, digestive illnesses) to a $1,679 Lifesaver version with two EpiPens.
“This is a lot of what I wish I had with me before I became a doctor,” said Terez Malka, one of the doctors at Duration Health, who writes pre-prescriptions and supports travelers via email. While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January, she saw the kits in action. “100 percent of the group had traveler’s diarrhea,” she said. “Anyone who had their azithromycin prescription before heading out on the trail probably saved the trip.”
Bring regular medications and travel-specific items in their original bottles; these count as valid prescriptions airport security and customs. (It's also a good idea to email yourself a copy of prescriptions.) Keep in mind that while many travelers get off without problems, 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 request special authorization when packing anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills. THE The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends contact the embassy at your destination, as well as anywhere else you may have a layover, to check what medications may not be permitted.
Make a communications plan
Sometimes staying in touch just means getting the right SIM card for your cell phone. But if you're going beyond reliable cell service — on an overnight hike, for example — you may want to consider one of the compact satellite messaging devices now sold by companies like Garmin And PLACE.
These devices work in most countries around the world and usually come with a monthly or annual service fee. Some are set up for two-way text-style messaging, while others have predefined messages and emergency alerts. “When you press the SOS button…the information is sent to a team of highly trained dispatchers who work to find you the best available means for a rescue,” said Gabe Roura, SPOT regional sales manager for l is from the United States. “It could be local law enforcement. It could be the Coast Guard. In some cases this could be a private salvage company.
SOS information can also be relayed to a trusted emergency contact at home. Consider choosing someone who is good in a crisis, said Zanna Baker, who directs TV and film projects for an adventure expedition company. Secret compass. Baker pointed out that while companies like Garmin offer assistance, a reasonable friend or family member can help in an emergency by marshaling resources in your area. “You want someone who is calm in their communication,” she said. “With a (Garmin) inReach, it’s just a message. So what happens next?
Usually the next step is to make contact with contacts on the ground who might be able to organize a rescue. Baker suggests creating a list of local resources in case of emergency, such as a local friend, a guide company or even a well-connected hotelier willing to make a few calls.
Understanding options on the ground
Excellent medical care is available in much of the world, says emergency physician Eugène Delaune, who also advises the insurer. Allianz Travel on critical medical decisions. Teams like Delaune's help determine if travelers can access necessary care on site or if they need to be evacuated.
“When you move someone, it’s usually not their home; it’s usually the closest facility,” he said. “Let’s say you’re in Tanzania and you get into a car accident. …I said, “We need to take him to Nairobi immediately.” » » Another option is to contact the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. The US Department of State can help with locate medical services abroad. Consulate Affairs Officers offer emergency assistance 24/7 by telephone at 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
Although it's best 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 attention and do not know the local names of the medications you are prescribed.
“When I work in the emergency room, it’s a huge disadvantage if people can’t tell me what medications they’re taking,” Delaune said. He also recommends that people with a history of heart problems have recent EKGs in their portfolio so that local doctors can offer fully informed care.
Know what your insurance covers
Paying for treatment is another story. U.S. consulates do not respond to unexpected bills, and Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover medical costs outside the United States. Private insurance often covers some international medical expenses, Delaune said, but usually only after you file a claim. Travelers who rely on private health insurance may have to pay out of pocket and then deal with the problem later. Health care in the United States is among the most expensive in the world, part of the reason for the growing trend among Americans seek treatment abroad; Yet emergency procedures can be costly anywhere.
Travel insurance that covers medical care, Delaune noted, is more likely to provide you with money for immediate expenses. In some cases, you will be responsible later; read the fine print. While travel insurance offers primary insurance coverage for emergency medical and dental care — meaning the travel insurer is the first to pay — others only offer secondary coverage, so you'll need to submit any claims to your health insurance first.
And always be wary of exceptions: During a trip to Vietnam in 2017, Jeannie Walla, 73, of Los Angeles, was riding through the rice fields in the sidecar of a chauffeur-driven motorcycle when the vehicle overturned in a flooded field, trapping her below. 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 would send you, but I know we wouldn't pay for it,'” she recalled. “It was ridiculously unnecessary.” The motorcycle trip had voided his coverage; Many travel insurance policies list adventure activities as exclusions.
For safe access to a U.S. hospital, consider emergency medical evacuation insurance. Sober after his stay in Vietnam, Walla signed up for annual medical transportation coverage starting at Medjet, whose plans start from $99. This was paid for earlier than expected.
In 2019, Walla fell from the stone base of a pyramid in Giza, Egypt, dislocating a finger and breaking her hip and wrist. The nearest hospital was full of feral cats. She needed surgery and a surgeon in Cairo suggested she would receive better care at home. His enhanced coverage secured him an ambulance escort to a private flight to California. “Metjet showed up and said, ‘We’re going to get you out of here,’” she said. “It was music to my ears.”
