Preparations Before Travel
Preparation is crucial to ensuring that health concerns do not interfere with travel. Even people who are healthy need to plan appropriately to safeguard their health. Proper preparations are inexpensive relative to the costs of getting sick while away from home.
Travel Kits
Travel kits containing first-aid supplies; pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; decongestants; antacids; and antidiarrheal drugs, such as loperamide, are useful for minor injuries and illnesses. More significant problems can often be prevented with common-sense precautions. Detailed medical information, including written information about vaccinations and medications, may be the most valuable thing a person can have in a medical emergency.
Health and Travel Insurance
Health insurance is important for domestic and international travel. Some plans, however, limit coverage for emergency health care away from home; thus, the traveler should know the limitations of his policy.
Coverage is more often a problem for international travel. Some domestic insurance plans limit coverage for vaccinations and preventive drugs for international travel, even though some vaccinations are required for entry into certain countries. Likewise, Medicare does not cover the cost of any treatment given outside the United States. In addition, most domestic health insurance plans are not recognized in foreign countries. Instead, a cash deposit or payment in full may be required in some international hospitals before care is provided.
To avoid high costs or inability to obtain care, travelers should determine in advance what international coverage, if any, their health plan offers, how to seek prior authorization for international care, and how to make a claim after an emergency. Travel health insurance, including insurance for emergency evacuation, is available through many travel services and credit card companies. Elements of care for which travelers might want to purchase insurance include emergency care, transportation for care within foreign countries, transportation for care to the United States, medical equipment and personnel during transport, dental care, prenatal or postnatal care, lost or stolen prescription drugs, and medical translators.
Travelers can turn to other helpful resources as well. Directories listing English-speaking doctors in foreign countries are available from several organizations and Internet (Web) sites (see Appendix IV). United States consulates may help travelers identify and secure emergency medical services.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are important for travel to most developing countries and are required by some countries for entry. Common infections for which vaccines are available include hepatitis A and B, polio, and yellow fever. Some vaccines take up to 6 months to achieve their maximum effect, so early planning is necessary. An International Certificate of Vaccination is the best place to document the names and dates of all vaccinations. The certificate is easy to carry and can be obtained from many travel clinics or from the Superintendent of Documents at the U.S. Government Printing Office (see Appendix IV).
 See the table Vaccines for International Travel.
Traveling With a Medical Condition
Traveling with a medical condition requires special preparation. People with a medical condition should visit their doctor before departure to ensure that their condition is stable and to determine if any changes in drugs are needed. A letter summarizing the person's medical history, including drug names and doses and dates of treatment, is invaluable in an emergency away from home. A medical identification tag or bracelet serves a similar function. Travelers should also carry proof of medical insurance.
Necessary drugs should remain in their original bottles so that the precise names of the drugs and the instructions for taking them can be reviewed in an emergency. The generic name of a drug is more useful than its brand name, because brand names differ among countries.
Travelers should also pack an extra supply of drugs in carry-on bags in case checked bags get lost, stolen, or delayed in transit or if the return trip is delayed. Because opioids, syringes, and large amounts of any drug are likely to raise the suspicions of security or customs officers, travelers should have a doctor's note explaining the medical need for the supplies. In addition, syringes should be packed together with the drugs that are dispensed in them. Travelers should also check with airports, airlines, or embassies to determine what additional documentation is helpful in making travel with these supplies go smoothly.
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