Annually updated guide to vaccinations and medical health around the world

Emergency/Rescue
If you become seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can provide assistance in finding medical services and informing your next-of-kin, family or friends. A consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States, but payment of hospital and other expenses is your responsibility.

It is wise to learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas before you leave on your trip. If you do have applicable insurance, don't forget to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance, and a claim form. Many health insurance companies will pay customary and reasonable hospital costs abroad, but most require a rider for a Medivac flight back to the States. This is usually done via private plane or by removing airline seats. A nurse or medical assistant will accompany you on your flight back to the country of origin. Medivacs can burn money as fast the Lear Jet you charter, so plan on spending a minimum of five grand and up to $30,000. If you are really banged up, you may need more medical technicians, special equipment and a higher level of care during your flight. The Social Security Medicare program does not provide for payment of hospital or medical services outside the U.S.A.

If you're getting toward the back end of your adventuring career, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers foreign medical care coverage at no extra charge with its Medicare supplement plans. This coverage is restricted to treatments considered eligible under Medicare. In general, it covers 80 percent of the customary and reasonable charges, subject to a $50 deductible for the covered care during the first 60 days. There is a ceiling of $25,000 per trip. This is a reimbursement plan so you must pay the bills first and obtain receipts for submission to the plan. Keep in mind that many insurance policies may not cover you if you were injured in a war zone.

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. The name given should not be the same as your traveling companions, in case the entire party is involved in the same accident. Travelers going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from their attending physician. The letter should describe their condition and cover information on any prescription medications, including the generic name of any prescribed drugs that they need to take.

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.

Access America, Inc.
Post Office Box 90310
Richmond, Virginia 23230
(800) 284-8300

Air Ambulance Services

Air Ambulance Inc.
Hayward, California, (800) 982-5806, (510) 786-1592

Aero Ambulance International
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, (800) 443-8042, (305) 776-6800

Air Ambulance Network
Miami, Florida, (300) 327-1966, (305) 387-1708

Air-Evac International
8665 Gibbs Drive, Suite 202
San Diego, California 92123
(800) 854-2569

Air Medic - Air Ambulance of America
Washington, Pennsylvania, (800) 321-4444, (412) 228-8000

Care Flight - Air Critical Care Intl.
Clearwater, Florida, (800) 282-6878, (813) 530-7972

National Air Ambulance
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, (800) 327-3710, (305) 525-5538

International Medivac Transport
Phoenix, Arizona, (800) 468-1911, (602) 678-4444

International SOS Assistance
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (800) 523-8930, (215) 244-1500

Mercy Medical Airlift
Manassas, Virginia, (800) 296-1217, (703) 361-1191
(Service area: Caribbean and Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.)

AIRescue
7435 Valjean Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(800) 922-4911, (818) 994-0911, FAX: (818) 994-0180
(This number can be called collect by patients and customers from anywhere in the world.)

AIRescue is a company whose services you hope you never need. AIRescue was started in 1991 by former UCLA MEDSTAR physician Francine Vogler, with the primary goal of providing emergency aero-medically trained physician/nurse teams along with chartered aircraft to get your butt back in the U.S.A. Naturally, they assume you're sick and that your insurance company won't faint when they see the bill. The cost for getting you home can run up to $100,000. In some cases, a small commercial jet can be chartered or normal airliners can be used. In the case of using regularly scheduled airlines, you will be dinned for four to 12 seats to accommodate the stretcher, equipment and staff required. The majority of emergency flights are national, but they can come and get you just about anywhere you can call them.

Keep in mind that many insurance policies do not cover repatriation costs, yet the extra coverage is minimal. (Don't tell them you're off to liberate Angola under "Reason for travel.") You can and should buy this coverage if you know you are heading out of town. The older you get and the farther you travel should make the coverage that much more compelling. Don't think the coverage is only for the wild and dangerous. You'll be surprised to see what a rancid taco in Mexico or a burst appendix in Aruba can do to your body.

American Red Cross
National Headquarters
17th and D Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 737-8300

For 115 years, whenever there has been a disaster or war, these folks have been on the scene knee-deep in bandages, blood and cots, helping the injured and consoling those who have just lost everything in a disaster. They always have a need for volunteers, particularly people with medical and technical skills. If you can't volunteer your time or skills, blood donors are always needed.

Anca De Jica
Worldwide Operations Manager
International SOS Assistance
15 Rue Lombard,
1205 Geneva, Switzerland
[22] 347-6161
FAX: [22] 347-6172

MÈdecin Sans FrontiËre
Amsterdam
FAX: [20] 205-170
Equilibre Association L01 1901
France
[72] (73) 04-14

This medical-aid assistance organization goes into countries where no one else will dare. They provide essential medical services to war victims and countries in transition for whom medical care would be nonexistent without their services. Emergency kits are provided in large part through donations from large corporations. Doctors and medical technicians are recruited from all over the world.
Medico International
Frankfurt, Germany
[49] (69) 94-43-80

Healthcare Abroad
243 Church Street, N.W., Suite 100-D
Vienna, Virginia 22180
(800) 237-6615, (703) 281-9500

Adventure Link, Inc.
Post Office Box 510434
Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951
(407) 724-5368

Waterproof reference cards provide medical information on how to treat injuries from marine animals. They also have illustrations of animals for easy identification and avoidance. The information is sparse but could save your life. There is one card for the Atlantic and another for the Pacific; they run $4.95 each.

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
6436 31st St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20015-2342
(301) 496-6721
Ask for Health Hints for the Tropics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
(404) 639-3311
The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta maintains the international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559.

Citizens Emergency Center
(202) 647-5225

U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings may be heard anytime by dialing the Citizens Emergency Center using a touch tone phone, or by contacting any of the 13 regional passport agencies, field offices of the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or by writing and sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The Citizens Emergency Center maintains a travel notice on HIV/AIDS entry requirements. Call to obtain these requirements. A number of countries require foreign visitors to be tested for the AIDS virus as a requirement for entry. This applies mostly to those planning to reside overseas. Before traveling, check the latest entry requirements with the foreign embassy of the country to be visited.

Directory of Medical Specialists
The authoritative reference is published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its 22 certifying member boards; it contains detailed information on physicians abroad. This publication should be available in your local library. A list of hospitals and physicians can be obtained from the nearest American embassy or consulate.

Emergency Medical Payment Information Services
Available through American Express:
1) A directory of U.S. Certified Doctors Abroad (price: $3.00).
2) A health insurance plan is available through the Firemen Fund Life Insurance Company, 1600 Los Gamos Road, San Raphael, California 94911. Attention: American Express Card Service.

Health Information for International Travelers
Written by The Centers for Disease Control; (404) 639-3311.
Publication No. HHS-CDC 90-8280 ($6.00 each) is an annual global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries; may also be obtained from the Government Printing Office.

IAMAT International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers
736 Center Street
Lewiston, New York 14092
(716) 754-4883
A medical directory, clinical record and a malaria-risk chart are sent without charge; however, a contribution is requested for World Climate Charts.

Immunization Alert
P.O. Box 406
Storrs, Connecticut 06268
(203) 487-0611
For $25, a traveler is provided with an up-to-date, detailed and personalized health report on up to six countries to be visited. It will tell you what diseases are prevalent and what precautions are recommended or advisable.

Books
There are thousands of books on health safety and travel. Here are three.

Pocket Doctor by Dr. S. Bezruchka
(Mountaineers)

Staying Healthy in Asia etc.
(Moon)

International Health and Travel
(World Health Organization)

Insurance
The following companies provide international travel insurance to travelers who live in the U.S. (Because of varying insurance regulations, Canadian policies differ.)