Getting ill in a foreign country is not something most people want to happen. However, thousands of people suffer injuries or contract illnesses abroad every single year. Knowing how to deal with the issue in advance should help individuals to avoid panic and deal with the events in the best way possible. The advice below will highlight all the assistance that’s often available, and how to get access to it. With a bit of luck, anyone who finds themselves in that situation will make better decisions after reading this article.
Dealing with foreign hospitals
There is no getting away from the fact that some people will have to contact hospitals if they become ill or injured abroad. The issue is that in some countries, the staff members won’t speak English. That can cause many problems, and things can get lost in translation. So, anyone who finds themselves in that situation will need to use an interpreter service to ensure they get the best care possible. Thankfully, some specialists work over the telephone these days. So, it’s just a case of calling the relevant number and passing the phone between the doctor and the patient. Just be sure never to:
- Sign any paperwork without understanding the content
- Become frustrated with doctors who don’t speak the language
Paying for treatment
Most people will purchase travel insurance before flying to a different country. That policy should help to cover the costs of any treatment received for that location. Still, lots of folks forget to do that and end up in a mess where it’s difficult to think clearly. People without insurance will often have to apply for emergency cover before a foreign hospital offers assistance. Those policies tend to cost a lot more than the individual would have paid initially. However, the only other option is to pay for the treatment outright. For most people, that is not an option. Anyone who wants to make life easier should:
- Get travel insurance before leaving home
- Read the small print on the policy documents.
Getting home
Depending on where people find themselves in the world, many different emergency services could help them to get home for treatment. That is an especially wise move if the nation in question has a dubious medical record. Medevac services have assisted thousands of people to get back to the US from disaster zones like Honduras during the last few years. There are also many other specialists that operate out of other popular holiday destinations. So, it’s just a case of conducting some research and getting the contact details ahead of time.
Whatever might happen abroad, there is always a way to get medical treatment when it’s required. Sometimes the process might involve flying home as quickly as possible, but at least the individual won’t suffer for too long. Just don’t make the mistake of accepting care in a foreign hospital if there is no way the person can pay for their bed. At the very least, everyone will require insurance.
Looking for Travel insurance?
In the event that you do need treatment abroad, it is always best that you have insurance. I believe that if you can not afford to get travel insurance then you can not afford to travel. I highly recommend Go Walkabout travel insurance. They can personalise your policy for your needs adding extreme sports and other additional items that some policies will not cover you for.
Have you ever fallen ill abroad? What was your experience? Comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog (It’s Free) for fortnightly updates about my travels, travel tips and great travel stories.
Insurance is 100% essential. I’m glad more and more people are becoming aware of this through articles such as this one. Thanks for sharing.
Great post! People tend to forget to be prepared for unfortunate cases when on a trip, I agree travel insurance is very important when traveling to a new country. Glad to have learned about the interpreter services as language barrier is a major problem when visiting countries in Europe.
Fantastic article. Something we all want to forget but that is so important. We never think it will happen to us but if we are not prepared the costs can be outstanding. Great advise.
The only place I’ve needed to go to the doctor was in Japan. However, that was when I was working rather than traveling in Japan so I had the relevant health insurance. It wasn’t a huge deal and the language barrier was surmountable. I don’t know how travelers would fare though.
Totally agreed!! Leaving without a travel insurance is like a big risk. I try to eat best whenever I’m abroad and try not to get ill, but sometimes things just go out from our hand. We usually never read special T&C in our travel insurance, I think we should start paying attention to that. I remember when I was in Paris, I got a angle sprain and all I wanted was a pain killer tube from a medical store. Gosh it was a nightmare explaining them what I needed and finally I used Google translator to tell them. I can’t even imagine going to hospital where I might have to explain why was I in pain and with no/little knowledge of local language. Thanks for sharing such a much needed post.
I never go anywhere without buying travel insurance, it’s not worth it! When in Mexico, my friend had an accident, and had to go a back street clinic because the hospitals were too expensive, and he didn’t buy insurance! Good tips about not signing anything you don’t understand – it could end up much worse!
I totally agree with you that if you feel you can’t afford travel insurance that includes full medical, then you really can’t afford to travel. This is particularly true if you have no understanding or faith in the medical system where you are headed and there are also language and cultural issues as well. Never take the chance believing ‘it will never happen to me’ – that’s exactly what many people before have said and lived to regret it. When things go wrong, you will realize just how inexpensive travel/medical insurance is, when you need help the most. Great post.
Sound advice. Insurance is essential for any kind of travel outside of your own country even if it’s only a package tour.