Healthcare Issues
Before you travel abroad, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the many factors that contribute to your physical and emotional well being. A trip abroad will almost certainly affect your health, because so many factors of your daily health have to do with lifestyle and environment. Conversely, the state of your health will have a significant impact on the success and enjoyment of your trip.
Assess your health & health-related practices Going abroad is not a magic "geographic cure" for concerns and problems at home. Both physical and emotional health issues will follow you wherever you go. In particular, if you are concerned about your use of alcohol and other controlled drugs or if you have an emotional health concern, you should address it honestly before making plans to travel. Contrary to many people's expectations, travel does not minimize these problems; in fact, it often exacerbates them to a crisis stage while you are away from home.
Identify your health needs Be clear about your health needs to the program sponsor. You should thoroughly describe allergies, disabilities, psychological treatments, dietary requirements, and medical needs that you feel we should be aware of. This information could prove helpful in case of a medical situation
See your health practitioners A visit to your family physician, gynecologist, and dentist will ensure that you are in good health before you leave and might prevent emergencies abroad. Update your health records, including eyeglass prescriptions and regular medications. If you are on prescription medication, try to carry a sufficient supply with you to last you through the length of your program. If you self-inject prescribed medication, you may need to carry needles and syringes with you. You will need a physician's prescription for medication and medical supplies you carry with you in order to pass through foreign customs.
Take copies of all medical records, prescriptions in generic form, and pertinent information and carry them with you in a safe place. If you expect to need regular medical care abroad, take a letter of introduction from your physician at home, providing details of your medical conditions, care, and specific needs. Try to identify medical resources before you leave home.
Immunizations The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has detailed information about health and travel. Their Internet address is www.cdc.gov/travel/
If your program requires immunizations, you will receive supplemental information. In all cases, it is best to visit with your physician and review your immunizations in the context of your planned study abroad experience.
Pack a Medical Kit Traveling with a medical kit may be a helpful tool. Useful items to pack include: band-aids, sunscreen, anti-diarrhea medication, Pepto-Bismol tablets, antibacterial ointment, and pain reliever. Also be sure to pack regular medications, contraceptives if you may need them, and any other routine health and medical products you think you may need or brands that you like. Check the expiration dates of all medications before you leave. Make sure to bring all prescription medicine with you as you may encounter trouble with customs if you try to have medicines sent once you are abroad.
Medical Insurance Most study abroad programs include insurance as a mandatory item and arrange it for study abroad students. If the study abroad program does not include medical insurance, it is highly recommended that you enroll in a study abroad insurance program.
If you will be traveling independently before and/or after the program, be sure to understand your insurance coverage options.
