Getting Health Care During Travel | Travelers' Health (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you get sick in another country? ›

Special care if you become ill or injured while traveling

Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a list of local healthcare providers and medical facilities. If your illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance. If you want, they can inform your family and friends.

You might be able to get some emergency coverage abroad to an extent, but you won't be able to visit a doctor for a routine procedure or buy prescription medication and expect a reimbursem*nt. Private insurance might or might not offer coverage overseas, but again, it depends on the plan you have.

The U.S. government does not pay overseas medical bills. The patient must pay all hospital and other expenses. You can find lists of doctors and hospitals in the country you are visiting. Check the website of the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting.

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If you or a travel companion gets an injury or sickness that can't be helped with basic first aid or an over-the-counter medicine, seek medical attention right away. Visit Getting Health Care During Travel to learn how to connect with a doctor or medical services during your trip.

It's actually quite common and could be due to a combination of factors including exposure to more people and more illnesses, or a weakened immune system from less sleep or from increased alcohol consumption while traveling.

Health Care Resources for Travelers

The nearest US embassy or consulate can help travelers locate medical services and notify your friends, family, or employer of an emergency. They are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, overseas and in Washington, DC (888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444).

The average cost of a standard travel insurance policy is $221, according to research conducted by the MarketWatch Guides team. However, the destination, number of travelers, trip price and more can affect the exact cost of a policy.

How much does international health insurance cost? The average annual cost of an international medical insurance plan is $5,500 per year. * However, plans range from as low as $500 with limited benefits to as much as $8,000 for a comprehensive policy that includes coverage in the USA.

How Do I See a Doctor in a Foreign Country? If you have an international health insurance plan, or travel insurance, they should provide you with an emergency medical assistance number you can call to help you arrange for a doctor visit. To schedule an appointment, first contact your insurance company.

Does Medicare pay for overseas care? ›

In most situations, Medicare won't pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Travel health insurance is your sidekick, covering routine medical care if you're going to be overseas for a long time. Travel insurance with emergency medical benefits is your superhero, leaping into action when you experience a serious, even catastrophic, covered medical emergency abroad.

How Much Travel Medical Insurance Should You Buy? As a general guideline, it's wise to buy at least $100,000 in travel medical expense coverage. The most generous travel insurance plans provide $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses.

Medical Escorts and Medical Evacuation

When a U.S. citizen becomes ill in Italy and requires assistance to fly back to the US, he/she could hire a medical escort. Generally, when a medical escort is hired, a physician with basic medical equipment accompanies the patient on board a commercial airline flight.

If during your visit to Canada you get sick or injured, the Canadian government won't pay for any hospitalization or emergency medical services for visitors. Also, if you don't have proper medical insurance coverage, you will be liable to pay for any medical service out of your own pocket.

EMERGENCY: If it's an emergency, you can call 911—same as in the United States. Ambulances in Mexico are typically private companies, and you may even have several ambulances arrive to try and compete for your business. Be warned that you may have to pay for them on arrival, privately owned ambulances aren't free.