What to do if you get sick abroad
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
When there is a vacation abroad, one does not even want to think about various troubles such as illnesses or accidents. Yes, and that, it would seem, can happen in 2 weeks ... However, tour operators are more serious about the issue and are selling medical insurance along with the tour.
Consider the likelihood of an accident even better when buying a tour. Tourists insurance will cost in the amount of $ 0.2 to $ 3 per day. Cheap insurance can not cover transportation costs, if you suddenly need to deliver you to your home by a special flight. Therefore, find a reasonable compromise between frugality and caution. It should be borne in mind that medical care abroad is very expensive, especially in the US and the Schengen countries.
Study carefully the contract with the insurance company to know what kind of trouble is considered an insurance event, and from what moment the insurance begins to operate. For example, many companies will not pay you for the treatment of a disease that you could have vaccinated from at home. The insurance does not cover insurance for sexually transmitted diseases.
If abroad you feel bad, find in the insurance policy phone call center of the service company. She deals with organizational issues of medical care and payment of medical services. Tell the operator the policy number, your name, the place where you are, the phone number where you can be contacted, and explain the problem.
In case of mild indisposition, you may be advised to consult your doctor yourself. Be sure to keep paid invoices for treatment, prescriptions for medicines and checks from the pharmacy. After returning home, contact these documents with the insurance company and you will be reimbursed.
If the problem is more serious, and you need hospitalization, the company contacts the nearest clinic with which it has a contract, or with a hotel doctor. All expenses in this case are borne by the insurance company. Contact with the call center is necessary in any case. You may, by ignorance, violate any insurance terms and lose the right to reimbursement of expenses