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Gennady Podolsky, an experienced travel concierge with decades of experience, highlights the importance of taking medical precautions throughout international travel.
Embarking on an international vacation is an exciting experience. Visiting cultural and historic sites, and savoring a region’s cuisine, are among travelers’ favorite activities. An overseas business trip doesn’t have the same cachet but offers opportunities to enjoy striking sights and engage with international colleagues.
Most overseas trip preparations focus on flights, lodgings, entertainment, and logistical concerns. Global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky emphasizes that travelers should also be proactive about addressing health and medical issues.
Pre-Trip Preparation and Protection
Each traveler’s pre-trip “To Do” list should include health- and medical-related tasks. Global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky details nine key components that deserve thorough preparation.
Obtain a Health Checkup
Four to six weeks before the trip, the traveler should visit their primary care provider for a well-rounded health checkup. The appointment should include a risk assessment based on the traveler’s medical history and relevant concerns.
Next, the primary care provider should consider the patient’s previous travel history along with their planned itinerary and accommodations. The traveler’s financial resources and risk tolerance are also important considerations. Finally, the provider should recommend one or more targeted interventions.
Recommended Vaccinations
During the health checkup, the primary care provider should review the traveler’s previous vaccinations and travel destination. Global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky notes that some overseas destinations have a known prevalence of certain diseases (including malaria).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC) offers a database of destination-specific vaccination recommendations. The CDC also lists travel advisories for travelers who visit that country.
Illness Prevention Tactics
At the health checkup, the primary care provider should discuss potential travel hazards and offer tips to avoid or minimize these risks. Topics should include high altitude sickness, travelers’ thrombosis (or leg vein clots), respiratory infections, and tuberculosis.
The provider should discuss skin wounds and conditions, blood-borne infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Bite- and sting-related illnesses, rabies, and other animal-linked maladies are risks. If the traveler plans to swim in a lake, river, or ocean, they should be informed about potential water exposure and marine-related hazards.
Refill Prescription Medications
Travelers should ensure they have a sufficient supply of over-the-counter (or OTC) and prescription medications. It’s advisable to pack a reserve supply in case of unexpected travel delays. All medications should be kept in carry-on luggage, as checked bags are sometimes lost in transit. Each medication should be in its original container, and the traveler should pack a copy of the drug’s prescription.
Compliance with Overseas Drug Restrictions
Perhaps most importantly, global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky recommends that travelers check the CDC’s drug restrictions database. This platform can help travelers understand each country’s medication restrictions and compliance criteria.
Medications available over-the-counter in the United States could be controlled substances overseas. Certain prescription medications can also fall into this category. Travelers who attempt to bring restricted (or prohibited) medications into a foreign country could risk confiscation and even jail time.
Each destination’s United States embassy, along with layover countries’ embassies, can provide updated information relative to a specific prescription drug. This information can help ensure the traveler keeps their medications (and their freedom).
View the CDC’s Travel Health Kits
A well-planned first aid kit can help travelers prepare for likely medical scenarios. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have prepared an extensive guide that addresses pre-existing medical condition supplies and general health supplies. The CDC presents several sample Travel Health Kits, along with recommended pre-trip documentation.
Review Health Insurance Coverage
Global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky says most health insurance plans, along with Medicare and Medicaid, do not include overseas coverage. Therefore, travelers should consider a travel medical policy that includes in-person and virtual care. Regardless of coverage specifics, the traveler should pack a copy of their health insurance card and claim details. The traveler should also ensure their passport’s emergency contact details are complete.
Travelers with pre-existing conditions should pack an updated medication list (including the drugs’ generic names). If these medications aren’t available at the destination, the traveler should pack a list of alternative medications. The traveler’s primary care provider should draft a signed letter explaining each condition and why the respective medications are necessary.
Consider a Medical Air Evacuation Policy
Overseas destinations’ medical facilities frequently aren’t equal to United States-based services. In addition, smaller towns may have limited medical capabilities, compelling residents to travel to large cities for higher-level medical care.
For major medical events, a medical evacuation flight to a United States hospital offers the best chance for a successful outcome. The out-of-pocket cost for this service would likely be prohibitive.
Therefore, global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky strongly recommends that travelers consider enrolling in a medical air evacuation service. Conducted aboard “air ambulances” with qualified medical personnel, these membership-based offerings deliver a high-value service at a reasonable cost. Note: Some travel insurance policies cover medical air evacuations.
Contact the United States Embassy
When a United States citizen becomes ill overseas, the U.S. Department of State can help in multiple ways. First, the Department can contact the traveler’s family. The agency can also send a local healthcare providers’ list and help locate medical assistance. Finally, the U.S. Department of State can transfer funds from United States relatives to the traveler at their foreign destination.
For more information and other useful resources, global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky recommends that travelers sign up for the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (or STEP). Registering for the STEP service enables the U.S. Embassy to contact the traveler in an emergency. The Embassy can also serve as a central contact point for United States-based communications.
Obtain a Travel Insurance Policy
Travel delays, flight cancellations, and family emergencies can throw a wrench into even the best-laid trip plans. Fortunately, a well-crafted travel insurance policy can help take the financial sting out of non-refundable travel expenditures.
Travel insurance policies’ coverage and pricing depend on the trip length and destination along with the number of individuals. Ideally, the policy will cover illnesses and accidents, medical evacuations, and next-of-kin travel costs. The travel insurance agency will also provide help with navigating a destination’s healthcare systems.
Finally, some travel insurance policies pay claims upfront. Other companies require the policyholder to submit documentation for reimbursement. To help ensure the best outcome, global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky recommends that travelers keep all medical reports, expense receipts, and other relevant claim documentation.
Advance Preparation is Key
Completing pre-trip medical preparations will take time and detailed coordination. That said, global travel advisor Gennady Podolsky emphasizes that travelers who proactively address their medical issues will be better equipped to enjoy their overseas travel experiences.