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Healthcare Issues
Health Insurance
ISEP students must purchase ISEP insurance. Details will be in
your ISEP materials. Students participating in all programs must fill
out the
Health
Insurance Certificate and attach a copy of
the part of your own insurance policy which explains your
coverage outside the US. We must have this on file at the OIRED
Education Abroad Office before you will be allowed to participate in
any program. If your policy does not cover you internationally,
you must buy an additional one. Our office can give you advice
on inexpensive ones. For students participating in non-Virginia
Tech programs, be sure to check with your program sponsor on
health insurance requirements. It is very important that you
have adequate health coverage while abroad!
Students who are traveling abroad should have their health
insurance card with them at all times. Students should also keep
copies of the insurance card and other important documents
(passport, visa, etc.) both at home and with them as they
travel.
Medex evacuation assistance is included in the Virginia Tech
Student Insurance. More information about VT student insurance
is available from the Virginia
Tech Student Medical Insurance Office. They are located at 110
Student Services Building (0361); phone: (540) 231-6266; e-mail:
athackera@vt.edu or
smi@vt.edu.
Students who are not enrolled in VT student insurance may purchase Medex Plus
evacuation assistance through Risk Management, phone: (540)
231-7439; e-mail:
alene@vt.edu. Students
should purchase this optional Medex coverage prior to
leaving the U.S.A. An application
form for Medex Plus is available on the Risk Management website,
http://www.controller.vt.edu/forms/MEDEX_App.pdf. More
information about purchasing Medex evacuation coverage is
available at
http://www.controller.vt.edu/risk/risk2.html#overseas.
Medical Evacuation
Consider another option to cover evacuation back home in case
of medical emergency. The following companies offer such
coverage:
International Group Services - MEDEX Plus Program;
http://www.controller.vt.edu/risk/risk2.html#overseas;
phone: (703)
591-9800 or 1-800-394-2500
International SOS Assistance, Inc.; phone: (215) 244-1500 or
1-800-523-8930
Prescriptions
Ask your doctor whether any prescription drugs you take might be
available abroad. If you take a large amount of prescription
drugs, obtain a statement from your doctor explaining why they
are needed as well as a copy of the prescription with the
scientific name. Make sure all medications, including
over-the-counter products, are carried in their original
containers. For prescription drugs, make sure your name appears
clearly on the label to avoid any difficulties when going
through customs.
Allergy Shots
If you receive allergy injections,
communicate with the health center at the host institution
before you go abroad. If there isn't a campus health center that
will give the injections, find a local hospital that will. You
may find it easiest to ship the vials through the mail with cold
packs. This will avoid problems with airport customs.
Country-Specific Information
Students can get health information about the specific area that
they will be traveling to from the
Center for Disease Control. Self-care guideline
are also available from Schiffert Health Center and the
US
Department of State.
Additional Resources
Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin
America. Moon Publications, Chico, CA, 1995. 1-800-345-5473
Health Check: For Study, Work, and Travel Abroad.
By Joan Elias Gore and Judith A. Green. NAFSA: Association of
International Educators and CIEE: Council on International
Educational Exchange. (212) 661-1414
Health Information for International Travel.
Available from the Superintendent of Documents, US Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. (202) 512-1800
International Travel Health Guide. Stuart R.
Rose, MD; updated annually. Travel Medicine Inc., 351 Pleasant
St., Ste. 312, Northampton, MA 01060. (413) 584-0381 |
