• 03
  Dec
  2009

• Staying Cool when Sick Abroad-VI: If Illness Strikes

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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In this series, Staying Cool when Sick Abroad, we have been discussing how to take care of yourself when abroad, when you have international travel medical insurance. In this post, we will look at what you need to do in case you fall ill.

If you are running a temperature, or have symptoms of feeling ill, write down the symptoms as soon as able. If you are traveling in a group, check whether others in the group have similar symptoms. If the symptoms are familiar, use medication that you know works for you, preferably something you have brought with you.

When symptoms persist, get medical help as soon as possible. Pre-notify the insurance assistance company before getting any medical treatment. If it is an emergency, you need not inform the insurance company right away, but if you are able, do it immediately. It may slip your mind later. Failure to pre-notify the insurance company may result in a reduction in your claim amount.

When seeking medical treatment of any sort, inform someone in your group or a close relative in your home country (if you are traveling alone). If your situation warrants your immediate return home, call your insurance company to check the best way to organize it. Usually, insurance companies only honor claims for trip interruption organized through the insurance assistance company.