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 Getting health care while travelling


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You may get sick or injured while travelling and need health care. Before you travel, plan how you will get health care when you travel. This plan is especially important for older people, pregnant women, people with underlying health problems and people who will be travelling for more than 6 months.


Make a plan

Before you travel, know how you will get health care.


Get travel insurance. Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travellers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical costs out of pocket in most destinations. Make sure you have a plan for getting care abroad, in case you need it. Consider taking out additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you are travelling to remote areas.

Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Check and monitor travel warnings for your destination. Registration also ensures that the U.S. Department of State knows where you are if you encounter serious legal, medical or financial difficulties while traveling. In case of an emergency at home, STEP can also help your friends and family contact you.

Take recommended medication as directed. If your doctor prescribes medication, take it as directed before, during and after your trip. Counterfeit medicines are common in some countries, so only take the medicines you bring from home and make sure you take enough for the duration of your trip, plus an extra charge if your trip is delayed. Find out more about travelling abroad with medicines.

Prepare a card that identifies your blood type, any chronic illnesses you have, any medications you are taking and any allergies. Have this information available in the local language of your destination, if possible.

Wear a MedicAlert bracelet if you have serious health problems.

Health care resources for travellers

The following list of resources can help international travelers identify health care providers and facilities around the world. The CDC does not endorse any particular provider or medical insurance company, and accreditation does not guarantee a good outcome.


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

The U.S. Department of State maintains a list of medical travel insurance and evacuation providers.

The International Society of Travel Medicine maintains a directory of health professionals with travel medicine expertise in over 80 countries.

The International Travel Medical Assistance Association maintains a network of physicians, hospitals and clinics that have agreed to provide care to its members.

Travel agencies, hotels and credit card companies can also provide information on local health care resources.

A number of countries or national travel medicine societies have travel medicine websites that provide access to clinicians, including

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