What do I do if I need to see a doctor on vacation? 5 steps to get travel health care abroad

04.11.24 by Travelex Insurance
Image credit: Getty Images
From ear infections to colds, unexpected minor illnesses can come up at any time — including while you’re traveling. If you’re a Travelex policyholder, here are the steps you should take if you need to go to the doctor overseas.

When planning a trip — whether it’s a sunny cruise through the Bahamas or a getaway to see cherry blossoms in Japan — we don’t often think about what we’ll do if we get sick while we’re away. But illnesses can happen even while we’re on vacation — and sometimes we can’t wait until we get home to go to the doctor.

Here’s the good news: if you’re traveling with a Travelex travel insurance policy and need access to travel health care, we’re here for you 24/7.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to see an international doctor while you’re on vacation — from speaking with us to filing a claim — so you can feel more confident about getting medical care abroad when you need it most.

“Navigating travel health care can be daunting, especially when you're already feeling under the weather. This is where our expertise shines — our caring team of specialists is available 24/7 to help you get the medical care you need. Plus, you can reach our travel assistance team easily with the tap of a button in our Travel On app. Having our award-winning customer service and technology on hand means you always have us by your side, so you can focus on what truly matters — your health and enjoying your travels.”

Dr. Joel Lockwood MD, FRCPC, Regional Chief Medical Officer at World Travel Protection, our 24/7 assistance provider.

So, let’s walk you through some useful information to help you navigate the process of getting medical care abroad. This way, we can help you get well sooner, and you can get back to enjoying your vacation.

Do you need travel assistance right now?

Our 24/7 travel assistance team is here to help. Here’s how you can reach us:

  • Tap the assistance button in our Travel On app.
  • Call us at 1-844-215-1672 if you’re inside of the U.S. or Canada.
  • Call us at 1-647-775-8042 if you’re outside of the U.S. or Canada.
  • Email us at [email protected].

Contact emergency assistance →

5 steps to take if you need to go to the doctor overseas:

1. Contact our 24/7 travel assistance team.

2. Use our telehealth network to get access to travel health care.

3. Schedule your medical appointment.

4. Keep all medical records, reports, and receipts.

5. Submit a travel insurance claim for your travel health care.

Step 1: Contact our 24/7 travel assistance team

Feeling under the weather on your trip and want to get treatment right away? The first thing to do is call our emergency assistance team, World Travel Protection — even if it’s not an emergency. This way, you can discuss your symptoms with trained nurses and paramedics to ensure you get the right travel health care based on how you’re feeling.

You can reach our 24/7 travel assistance anytime and anywhere. Here’s how:

  • Tap the assistance button in our Travel On app.
  • Call us at 1-844-215-1672 if you’re inside of the U.S. or Canada.
  • Call us at 1-647-775-8042 if you’re outside of the U.S. or Canada.
  • Email us at [email protected].

Step 2: Use our telehealth network to get access to travel health care

When you call our 24/7 travel assistance, we can provide you with access to telehealth care or help you find the closest international doctor who can see you in person.

Our assistance team, World Travel Protection, has its own up-to-date network of go-to care facilities around the world. This means no matter where you are in the world, our assistance team can help you find the most reliable nearby medical facilities that are equipped to provide you with the care you need when you need it.

Step 3: Schedule your medical appointment

It’s always best to make an appointment when you need to go to the doctor at home, and the medical facility we find for you may require it, whether it’s a video appointment or an in-person one.

Not sure how to make an appointment? Worried you don’t speak the native language in your destination and want a doctor who speaks your language? Don’t stress — our emergency assistance team can schedule your appointment for you with a doctor who speaks your chosen language so you can get access to travel health care easier and faster.

Did you know?

We can also help while you’re getting medical care abroad. Our emergency assistance team can arrange hospital transfers, emergency medical evacuations, prescription assistance, transfer of medical records, and more.

Step 4: Keep all medical records, reports, and receipts

One of our most important travel health care tips for when you’re sick on vacation is to save all the documents you receive from the international doctor.

Why? When you file a claim, you’ll need to submit as much documentation as you can to support your claim. We’ll need evidence of your treatment, its cost, and more.

If you have questions about this, you can ask our friendly assistance team when booking your doctor’s appointment. If our emergency assistance team arranges a telehealth appointment for you, you should receive your booking confirmation and any receipts via your chosen email.

Step 5: Submit a travel insurance claim for your travel health care

If you need to — and whenever you’re feeling better — you can submit a Travelex claim for your doctor’s visit. Just don’t forget to submit it within one year of arriving home!

As a Travelex customer, you’ll usually be eligible for coverage for the cost of your medically necessary doctor’s visit. If the doctor must write you a prescription or says you must purchase medication to treat your unforeseen illness, it would be beneficial for you to submit a claim — so we can potentially cover your expenses.

When you have all your documentation together, you can file a claim online or call our claims team at 1-855-205-6054.

Important: Your U.S. health insurance likely won’t cover you for costs you incur in another country. This means our travel insurance with emergency medical and dental coverage can help keep you from worrying about unforeseen expenses. Yes, at Travelex, our claims team can reimburse you for unexpected doctor and hospital visits, x-rays, and more.

Our travel assistance team can help with more than visits to the doctor

You can get our expert help 24/7 for a variety of both emergency and non-emergency issues.

Register your trip in our Travel On app now!

Get 24/7 access to travel advice, real-time safety alerts, and worldwide emergency assistance when you travel with our helpful Travel On app.

Travel insurance helps with more than medical coverage

Our plans are here for you with a variety of benefits to help safeguard your vacation.

Ready to travel with our team by your side?

Get a quote quickly and easily now.

 

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