Top 5 Things To Do Before Leaving on Your Next Trip

By John Gobbels, Chief Operating Officer, Medjet

 

 

So you got your vaccinations, and are finally planning a trip. Many people, who feel ready to travel, are looking for the safest way to do it ~ so here are Medjet’s Top 5 recommendations to consider doing before heading out:

 

Also keep in mind that while many may consider your destination to be a safe tourist town, the travel shutdowns have really hurt a lot of economies that are heavily reliant on tourism, and many tourist destinations around the world have seen a slight uptick in crime. Have fun, but be a little extra cautious (and I’m saying that about all places people are traveling to right now).

 

Have a plan in place if you, or a travel companion, fall ill or are injured. Know where the closest local hospital is that will treat non-residents, and how they handle admission and billing. Many out-of-country hospitals require upfront cash payment, even in the case of an ER visit, so make sure that you, or family members who may need to get involved should something happen to you, know what will need to be done should the worst happen.

 

Make copies of your passport, ID, health insurance and any travel insurance cards and leave copies w/family members or close friends whom you’d rely on in an emergency. If you have a vaccination record, include a copy of that as well. It’s always best to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

 

If you are staying at a hotel, or a defined period rental, have a plan for what happens if you do test positive for Covid-19 for your return trip and have to remain at your destination. Many hotels have created packages at a lower cost to assist with extended isolating, and some travel insurances will cover “trip interruption” due to Covid, covering the added cost of lodging and rebooking your flights home once you’re well. If you test positive, monitor for fever and other symptoms while you isolate and make note of how you feel. If you do develop symptoms, and you need to seek medical care, go to a hospital.

 

 

 

 

Most domestic health insurance does not pay for out-of-country medical. Purchasing travel insurance in addition to your Medjet membership should be considered before departing. While many locations have adequate hospitals, many have limited ICU beds, and most people do not want to be treated in a hospital far from home. Travel insurance medical evacuation coverage is primarily intended to get you to the nearest adequate treatment facility, not to a hospital at home. If you want to be able to be moved to a hospital at home, you should make sure your Medjet membership is up to date and consider upgrading your membership to MedjetHorizon for added travel security and crisis response services. You can read more on Medjet’s Covid-19 transport coverage here.

 

 

 

This is especially important until the current CDC guidelines, requiring a negative test result to return to the US, are relaxed. Many of the airports and resort properties have added on-site testing, or can facilitate finding a local option. 

 

 

 

Keep checking back at the US State Department website, both prior to and during your trip, for detailed information on testing requirements and any new, government mandated, quarantine restrictions. It’s always a good idea to register in the State Department’s S.T.E.P. program, which alerts the local consulate that you are in their area. You can also follow the Twitter accounts of the local U.S. or Canadian consulate in your destination.