Some health insurance carriers in the U.S. do provide some level of coverage for medical emergencies that occur while traveling abroad. It’s important for travelers to carefully examine their current health insurance coverage against their planned itinerary to determine which medical services, if any, will be covered if you get into an accident or become ill while traveling outside the U.S.

The following are the things to consider:

• exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions
• out-of-network policy services
• coverage for pregnancy complications
• exclusions for high-risk activities such as SCUBA diving and mountain climbing
• exclusions for injuries due to terrorist attacks or acts of war
• whether pre-authorization is necessary for treatment
• whether a second opinion is required for emergency treatment

Another consideration is whether there is a toll-free number the traveler can call 24-hours a day for plan information and/or to speak to a representative.

While Medicare and Medicaid will not cover services outside the U.S., some traveler insured by more liberal plans may find that they have some coverage available outside the country.

Typically, even if you are covered abroad, you’ll have to pay for your care out of pocket and submit a claim with the receipts and medical records for reimbursement. That being said, an injured or ill traveler should not wait to contact their health insurance provider until after they return. The sooner you can get in touch and let them know that you are in trouble, the better.

Most Americans are far more careful when they travel overseas than when they travel domestically, but there are a number of health concerns within our borders that can lead to serious illness. In addition, as the recent tragic death of freestyle skier, Sarah Burke, has made clear, accidents can happen anywhere and those accidents can be very, very expensive.

Some of the more common dangers travelers experience, however, are diseases such as the following:

1. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – most common in the Southeast and South-Central regions (particularly in Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee), this is a tick-borne illness that occurs primarily in Spring and Summer. Immediate treatment with antibiotics can prevent progression of the disease and the potentially fatal outcome, but early detection is typically hard.
2. Lyme Disease – the country’s most common tick-related illness, Lyme Disease occurs usually in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states as well as northern California. Early treatment with antibiotics can lead to full recovery, but the initial symptoms resemble the flu.
3. West Nile Virus – transmitted by mosquitoes, most cases of West Nile go undetected as there are usually no symptoms. When and if symptoms do begin, there is little to do but wait it out. Some cases get sever and require hospitalization. Outbreaks can occur anywhere mosquitoes are active.
4. Influenza – because the flu is easily transmitted in confined spaces (such as airplanes and trains), and because the strains change and adapt, this respiratory illness is a seasonal menace and sometimes kills those affected.
5. Traveler diarrhea – one of the most common travel diseases, it’s associated with severe vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Sometimes due to bacterial causes, such as Salmonella, or viral causes, such as norovirus, or parasitic causes, such as Giardia, this is a highly common problem.

Prevention for these common US-based diseases includes:

1. Wearing insect repellent
2. Examining yourself and others for ticks after outdoor activities
3. Annual flu vaccines
4. Good hygiene: washing your hands thoroughly and often, cooking food properly, and peeling or washing produce
5. Avoiding untreated or unsafe water

If you are traveling in the U.S. from another country, it’s important to have travel medical insurance in case you have to visit a medical clinic, or worse, you have to be medically evacuated to a hospital for care.

If you are a U.S. citizen, check your health insurance plan to find out whether you will be paying out-of-pocket costs if you experience a medical emergency where you are traveling.