Health Tip: Preparing for a Health Emergency

Take precautions before you hit the road

September 14, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- If you're planning an international trip, don't forget to make preparations for possible illness or injury.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions:

Find out your destination's requirements for insurance and payment for medical expenses.
Call your health insurance company to verify if it will cover any medical expenses incurred in another country.
If your insurer won't cover you, consider purchasing extra health insurance just for your trip.
Do some homework on medical evacuation insurance, which can cover the expenses of moving you to another country or city for better care.
Understand that you may have to initially pay some of your medical expenses out-of-pocket, even if you expect to be reimbursed by your insurance carrier.