www.WorldTravelersOnline.com
Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular AffairsIf an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.
Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A.
Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
To facilitate identification in case of an accident, complete the information page on the inside of your passport providing the name, address and telephone number of someone to be contacted in an emergency.
A traveler going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.
A listing of addresses and telephone numbers of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is contained in Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts. This publication may be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Also available from the Government Printing Office is Health Information for International Travelers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This contains a global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries. For additional health information, the CDC maintains the international travelers hotline at 1-888-232-3228, an automated faxback service at 1-888-232-3299 and a home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov.
For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its certifying member boards. This publication should be available in your local library. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians. Major credit card companies also can provide the names of local doctors and hospitals abroad.
Some countries require foreign visitors to have inoculations or medical tests before entering. Before traveling, check the latest entry requirements with the foreign embassy of the country to be visited.
Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State.
AIR AMBULANCE / MED-EVAC
U.S.-based Companies
ACADIAN AMBULANCE & AIR MED SERVICE, INC.
Lafayette, LA
800-259-1111 / 318-267-1111 / 504-267-1111ADVANCED AIR AMBULANCE
Miami, FL
800-633-3590 / 305-599-1100AIR AMBULANCE, INC.
Hayward, CA
800-982-5806 / 510-786-1592AAA - AIR AMBULANCE AMERICA
Austin, TX
800-222-3564 / 512-479-8000AIR AMBULANCE NETWORK
Sarasota, FL
800-327-1966 / 813-934-3999
http://www.airambulancenetwork.comAirEvac
Phoenix, AZ
800-421-6111AIR MEDIC - AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA
Washington, PA
800-321-4444 / 412-228-8000AIRescue INTERNATIONAL
Van Nuys, CA
800-922-4911 / 818-994-0911AIR RESPONSE
Orlando, FL
800-631-6565 / 518-993-4153 / 407-384-6100AIR SERVICE INTERNATIONAL
Thermal, CA
800-991-2869 / 877-570-0911
http://www.airserviceintl.comAMERICAN CARE, INC.
San Diego, CA
800-941-2582 / 619-486-8844CARE FLIGHT - AIR CRITICAL CARE INTL.
Clearwater, FL
800-282-6878 / 813-530-7972CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE
San Diego, CA
800-247-8326 / 619-571-0482CRITICAL CARE MEDFLIGHT
Lawrenceville, GA
800-426-6557 / 770-513-9148INFLIGHT MEDICAL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL INC.
Naples, FL
800-432-4177 / 941-594-0800INTENSIVE AIR AMBULANCE
Morganville, NJ
800-543-3759 / 908-946-1200INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE
Philadelphia, PA
800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500
Also provides travel insurance services.LIFE JET
Baltimore, MD
877-LIFEJET / 877-543-3538
http://www.lifejetusa.comMED ESCORT INTERNATIONAL INC.
Allentown, PA
800-255-7182 / 610-791-3111MEDEX ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
Timonium, MD
800-537-2029 / 410-453-6300 (call collect)
http://www.medexassist.comMEDJET INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Birmingham, AL
800-356-2161 / 205-592-4460
http://www.medjet.comMEDPASS
Alpharetta, GA
800-860-1111
http://www.globalems.comMERCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT
Manassas, VA
800-296-1217 / 703-361-1191
(Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.)NATIONAL AIR AMBULANCE
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
800-327-3710 / 305-525-5538NORTHWEST JET
Whittier, CA
800-228-2468 / 909-597-9999SMARTRAVEL
Alexandria, VA
800-730-3170 / 703-379-8645
http://www.smartravel.org
Provides a range of travel medicine services.TRAVEL CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Eagle River, WI
800-524-7633 / 715-479-8881
http://www.travel-care.comTRAVELERS EMERGENCY NETWORK
Durham, NC
800-275-4836 / 800-ASK-4-TEN
http://www.tenweb.com
e-mail: ten@intrex.netForeign-based Companies
AEA INTERNATIONAL
Singapore
U.S. Phone: 800-468-5232
Service worldwide, also provides travel insurance servicesAUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE
Vienna, Austria
43-1-40-1-44EURO-FLITE LTD.
Helsinki International Airport
Vantaa, Finland
358-0-870-25-44EUROPASSISTANCE
Johannesburg, South Africa
27-11-315-3999JET FLITE
Vantaa, Finland
358-0-822-766 / 358-0-6996 (after hours)MEDIC'AIR
Paris, France
33-1-43-63-04-04MEDICAL RESCUE INTERNATIONAL
Auckland Park, South Africa
27-11-403-7080OY KONE-AIR LTD.
Vantaa, Finland
358-0-174-655TYROLIAN AIR AMBULANCE
Innsbruck, Austria
43-512-22-4-22
TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES
ACCESS AMERICA, INC.
Richmond, VA
800-284-8300AIGAssist
American International Group, Inc.
New York, NY
800-382-6986
http://www.aigtravel.comASA, INC.
International Health Insurance
Phoenix, AZ
888-ASA-8288
http://www.asaincor.comAXA ASSISTANCE
Bethesda, MD
301-214-8200GATEWAY
Seabury & Smith
Washington, DC
800-282-4495 / 202-457-7707
e-mail: gateway.dc@seabury.comHEALTH CARE GLOBAL
(also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY or HEALTHCARE ABROAD)
Middleburg, VA
800-237-6615 / 540-687-3166 / 540-281-9500MEDEX INTERNATIONAL
Timonium, MD
800-732-5309
http://www.medexassist.comPETERSEN INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE BROKERS
Valencia, CA
800-345-8816
http://www.piu.orgTRAVELEX
Omaha, NE
800-228-9792TRAVEL GUARD
Stevens Point, WI
800-826-1300
http://www.noelgroup.comTRAVEL INSURED INTERNATIONAL
E. Hartford, CT
800-243-3174TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES
InterMedical Division
Walnut Creek, CA
800-937-1387/925-932-1387
http://www.travelinsure.comUNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE
Alexandria, VA
800-770-9111 / 703-370-7800WORLDWIDE ASSISTANCE
Washington, DC
800-821-2828 / 202-331-1609
http://www.worldwideassistance.comEXECUTIVE MEDICAL SERVICES
PERSONAL PHYSICIANS WORLDWIDE (PPW)
Washington, DC
888-657-8114 / 301-657-8114
http://www.personalphysicians.com
