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Are you prepared for a medical emergency while traveling?
As an expat living in the Land of Smiles, chances are you’ve got insatiable wanderlust. Thailand’s alluringly close proximity to exotic and culturally fascinating locales like Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam means that paradise is merely a short journey away. Top on the packing lists of most global nomads include clothing, toiletries, travel documentation, and international health insurance or travel insurance; but how prepared are you for a medical emergency while traveling?
In today’s blog article, our team of experts at Pacific Prime Thailand divulges several top tips to help our readers prepare for medical emergencies while abroad.
What is a travel medical emergency?
Before we uncover our key tips for ensuring medical emergency preparedness, it would be prudent to first define what exactly medical emergencies are. In a nutshell, a medical emergency refers to unforeseen illness or injury that is acute (of abrupt onset) in nature and requires immediate medical attention to alleviate the threat to the patient’s life or health.
What are the most common medical emergencies overseas?
A smorgasbord of mishaps can occur while traveling, e.g. contracting a mosquito-borne illness, food poisoning, a severe allergic reaction, etc. According to Allianz, the most common medical emergencies that occur while traveling include:
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- Fractures from falls: Fractures to the hip, ankle, tibia, and fibia are most common.
- Cardiovascular problems: Heart attacks and strokes are serious medical conditions that require urgent care.
- Trauma: Injuries (e.g. trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents) are the leading preventable cause of death in healthy travelers.
- Pulmonary/respiratory problems: An example of a severe pulmonary medical emergency is pneuomothorax, which essentially means a collapsed lung.
Now that you’re acquainted with the most common medical emergencies while traveling, read on to learn how to ensure you’re adequately prepared for unforeseen mishaps.
How to prepare for a medical emergency while traveling
Traveling to an exotic locale is no doubt a thrilling experience, but even well-planned vacations can turn into a living nightmare should an unforeseen medical emergency occur. If you find yourself encountering a broken limb or becoming severely ill while traveling, then your best protection against disaster starts before your holiday with some proper planning. Prior to traveling overseas, make sure to adhere to the advice below:
Stay up-to-date on all essential inoculations
Before embarking on your overseas trip, make sure to research any health problems and endemics that may be prevalent in your destination. The Philippines, for example, has declared an outbreak of measles recently, so those traveling to the country should ensure they’re vaccinated against this particular disease. If you’re unsure about whether the measles vaccine is covered by health insurance, check out our article on the topic here.
The vaccinations you’ll need will depend on your destination. For example, those traveling to South America will likely need to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever. Other common vaccines recommended for frequent travelers include the Hepatitis B, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
Familiarize yourself with essential phrases in your destination’s local language
Not all medical staff and residents of foreign countries will speak your language, so it helps to familiarize yourself with at least the most essential phrases as it pertains to medical emergencies. Examples of important phrases/questions to familiarize yourself with include: “Where is the nearest hospital?”, and “I need medical help!”. Downloading a translator app, like Google Translate, can also prove useful should emergency situations arise.
Research reputable healthcare facilities before you embark on your travels
During a medical emergency, choosing a facility might not be an option for you. Should you be able to choose a facility, however, knowing the closest reputable facilities can literally be a lifesaver, especially in countries where the quality of treatment varies significantly. Another point worth considering here is that it would be wise to check whether the hospital is covered under your health insurance plan’s “in-network”. In emergency situations, however, your health should, of course, be of utmost priority.
Ensure you have the right travel/health insurance coverage
Out of pocket expenses can be substantial, especially for medical emergencies that require extensive care or medical evacuation/repatriation. If you already have an international health insurance plan, or plan to buy a short term health insurance plan for your trip, here are a few things you should double check in your policy T&Cs, or with your provider:
- Does your health insurance plan cover treatment overseas?
- Does your plan cover emergency medical evacuation (the cost of being transferred to the nearest location for treatment)?
- Does your policy cover medical repatriation (the cost of flying back home after your condition has stabilized)?
- Is pre-authorization or a second opinion needed before emergency care can commence?
- Are emergencies resulting from participation in adventure sports (e.g. parachuting, skiing) covered by your single trip travel insurance or health insurance policy?
- Do you need to cover the costs up front first before receiving reimbursement? (This is almost always the case with travel insurance policies. International health insurance plans, on the other hand, often offer direct billing.)
Does your insurance provider offer emergency assistance services?
Every travel/health insurance policy and provider is different, which is why it pays to compare plans in detail, or get impartial advice from an established broker (like Pacific Prime Thailand) before buying. When purchasing a plan, it’s worth considering the provider’s value-added services, i.e. auxiliary benefits like nurse hotlines, or 24/7 emergency assistance services. These services can be especially beneficial in times of dire need, and can help with things like getting you to the nearest appropriate medical facility and monitoring your treatment.
Contact Pacific Prime Thailand for health insurance advice
To find the right health insurance or travel insurance plan, or get answers to all your healthcare and insurance-related questions, contact our expert team today. As Thailand’s leading insurance broker, our team of veteran insurance specialists are on hand to match you with the best plan for your needs and budget, give you impartial advice, and help you compare the most suitable plans.
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