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Gettng sick while traveling?  Need a doctor?

 

Not me! I'm healthy, and traveling for fun is energizing.

 

But lately, I'm re-thinking the possiblilties.  Recently, my friend  , Enid fell down a flight a stairs in Berlin and needed  two emergency surgeries., Another friend; was returning to NY  from Ireland,  on a plane which  made a stop in  in Maine,  to take off  a passenger who  was ill on board.

 

Could I be next? Not probably, but possibly.

 

I push  away  negative thoughts, but still, they linger. After all, I never thought I would be a cancer survivor, but here I am, 13 years later , beating the odds.

 

I never thought I would be widowed, but  one day, my  perfectly, healthy husband,  rolled off the couch and died. Just like that.

 

Stuff happens.

 

 

I rarely go to third world countries, in this chapter of my life, and feel safe  in cities with high quality medical care. Medicare covers me only in the US, and I could ,though never do, buy short term health insurance when traveling abroad. . As needed,  I can charge  emergency  medical service on  credit cards  and also access cash..

 

My doctor, after an annual checkup supplies me with a laminated card that fits in my wallet, which gives vital medical and contact  data  on one side and an  EKG graph on the reverse.

 

The  Amex card provides  evacuation coverage ( flying me on a medical aircraft home  and/ or to an accredited medical facility). They will also supply a lists of doctors.

The hotel staff will also  provide  names of doctors and clinics. and hopefully be knowledgeable and helpful. 

 

What else should I do? Anything?

I am neither a hypochondric nor one  seeks solutions for  problems that haven't  happened.

 

Your input is valuable.  HELP!

547 Views Tags: health, sickness, insurance, medicare
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Oct 23, 2009 10:01 AM Ronald Chadwick Ronald Chadwick    says:

Like you We have Amex cover. We only have had to use it once, In Austria when my wife fell skiing. It was only a part torn medial collateral knee ligament but needed recovery of the mountain ($125) medical exam, and X-rays. Diagnosis treatment etc. I informed Amex and was ask to keep all bills and forward them on our return Amex then re arranged the flights to give her three seats across and had a taxi to the Airport. Not one item was questioned so I recommend Amex on that basis.

If you are taken Ill in the UK you are given emegency treatment by right. There are many reciprical country agreements for this.

However do check on your governments foriegn office travel advice sites that have been posted in previous blogs.