Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States. However, payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler. Before going abroad, learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. If your health insurance policy provides coverage outside the United States, REMEMBER to carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States. Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition. THE SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A. Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans. 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. A traveler going abroad with any preexisting medical problems should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs. 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. A listing of addresses and telephone numbers of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is contained in Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts. This publication may be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Also available from the Government Printing Office is Health Information for International Travelers by the Centers for Disease Control. This contains a global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries. For additional health information, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta maintains the international travelers hotline at 404-332-4559. For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is the Directory of Medical Specialists published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its 22 certifying member boards. This publication should be available in your local library. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians. Major credit card companies also can provide the names of local doctors and hospitals abroad. Some countries require foreign visitors to have inoculations or medical tests before entering. Before traveling, check the latest entry requirements with the foreign embassy of the country to be visited. Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State. AIR AMBULANCE / MED-EVAC U.S.-based Companies ACADIAN AMBULANCE & AIR MED SERVICE, INC. Lafayette, LA 800-259-1111 / 318-267-1111 / 504-267-1111 ADVANCED AIR AMBULANCE Miami, FL 800-633-3590 / 305-599-1100 AERO AMBULANCE INTERNATIONAL Ft. Lauderdale, FL 800-443-8042 / 305-776-6800 AIR AMBULANCE, INC. Hayward, CA 800-982-5806 / 510-786-1592 AAA - AIR AMBULANCE AMERICA Austin, TX 800-222-3564 / 512-479-8000 AIR AMBULANCE NETWORK Sarasota, FL 800-327-1966 / 813-934-3999 AIR MEDIC - AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA Washington, PA 800-321-4444 / 412-228-8000 AIR MEDICAL SERVICES, INC. Fort Lauderdale, FL 800-458-6434 / 305-359-4730 AIR RESPONSE Orlando, FL 800-631-6565 / 518-993-4153 / 407-384-6100 CARE FLIGHT - AIR CRITICAL CARE INTL. Clearwater, FL 800-282-6878 / 813-530-7972 CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE San Diego, CA 800-247-8326 / 619-571-0482 INFLIGHT MEDICAL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL INC. Naples, FL 800-432-4177 / 941-594-0800 INTENSIVE AIR AMBULANCE Morganville, NJ 800-543-3759 / 908-946-1200 INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE Philadelphia, PA 800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500 MED ESCORT INTERNATIONAL INC. Allentown, PA 800-255-7182 / 610-791-3111 MEDEX ASSISTANCE CORPORATION Timonium, MD 800-537-2029 / 410-453-6300 MEDJET INTERNATIONAL, INC. Birmingham, AL 800-356-2161 / 205-592-4460 MERCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT Manassas, VA 800-296-1217 / 703-361-1191 (Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.) NATIONAL AIR AMBULANCE Ft. Lauderdale, FL 800-327-3710 / 305-525-5538 NORTHWEST AEROMEDICAL Whittier, CA 800-228-2468 / 909-597-9999 TRAVEL CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC. Eagle River, WI 800-524-7633 / 715-479-8881 Foreign-based Companies ASIA EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COMPANY Jakarta, Indonesia; Beijing, China; Singapore 800-548-7762 AUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE Vienna, Austria 43-1-40-1-44 EUROPASSISTANCE Johannesburg, South Africa 27-11-315-3999 MEDIC'AIR Paris, France 33-1-43-63-04-04 MEDICAL RESCUE INTERNATIONAL Auckland Park, South Africa 27-11-403-7080 TYROLIAN AIR AMBULANCE Innsbruck, Austria 43-512-22-4-22 TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCESS AMERICA, INC. Richmond, VA 800-284-8300 GATEWAY Seabury & Smith Washington, DC 800-282-4495 / 202-457-7707 HEALTHCARE ABROAD Vienna, VA 800-237-6615 / 703-281-9500 HEALTH CARE GLOBAL (also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY) Middleburg, VA 800-237-6615 / 703-687-3166 INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE Trevose, PA 800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION Phoenix, AZ 602-678-4444 MEDEX ASSISTANCE Los Angeles, CA 800-253-1877 NEAR, INC. Calumet City, IL 800-654-6700 PETERSEN INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE BROKERS Valencia, CA 800-345-8816 TRAVEL ASSISTANCE INTERNATIONAL Washington, DC 800-821-2828 / 202-331-1609 TRAVELERS INSURANCE E. Hartford, CT 800-243-3174 TRAVELEX Omaha, NE 800-228-9792 TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES InterMedical Division Walnut Creek, CA 800-937-1387/510-932-1387 TRAVMED Baltimore, MD 800-732-5309 UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE 703-370-7800 US ASSIST Bethesda, MD 301-214-8200 WORLDWIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICES Washington, DC 202-331-1609 XONEX Longview, TX 800-532-599