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Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. – Mark Twain |
Summer Abroad Student Handbook (SASH){Chapter Six: Health & Insurance} |
Travel Accident Insurance (ACE)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / World Health Organization (WHO)
Immunizations and Vaccinations
Summer Abroad will purchase two mandatory insurance policies for participants in most programs. One is Foreign Travel Insurance (HTH) and the second is Travel Accident Insurance (AIG). In general, HTH will cover things like a trip to the doctor, emergency room visits and prescriptions. AIG coverage supplements HTH coverage for catastrophic medical expenses.
Travel Health Insurance (HTH)
Summer Abroad will purchase a travel health policy for participants in most programs. Participants in our London programs housed at FIE, Foundation for International Education, receive a policy arranged through FIE which includes on-site doctor visits.
If you have additional health insurance, it is a good idea to contact your provider to check to see whether you are covered overseas. Bring copies of any additional insurance cards you have with you on your trip.
At the on-site orientation, the instructor will distribute a hardcopy of each student’s insurance card with a policy number and phone number for service. Students should carry this card with them at all times during travel!
Your instructor will be given a list of approved HTH providers (doctors) in the town nearest to your program site. If you need to be seen by a doctor and you go to an approved provider you will only have to pay the deductible/co-pay. The rest of your visit will be charged directly to HTH. If you see a non-approved provider you will have to pay for your visit and any related expenses out-of-pocket. Upon return to the United States you will be able to submit your original receipts for reimbursement. Claim forms can be obtained through the HTH website, http://www.hthstudents.com/.
Health Coverage
Covered Medical Expenses |
In PPO |
Outside PPO |
Physician Office Visits |
No Deductible. 100% of Reasonable Expenses after $20 Co-payment per visit |
75% of Reasonable Expenses |
Inpatient Hospital Services |
100% of Reasonable Expenses after $50 Co-payment per Injury or Sickness |
75% of Reasonable Expenses |
Hospital and Physician Outpatient Services |
100% of Reasonable Expenses after $50 Co-payment per Injury or Sickness |
75% of Reasonable Expenses |
Therapeutic termination of pregnancy |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $500 Policy Year maximum |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $400 Policy Year maximum |
Elective termination of pregnancy |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $500 Policy Year maximum |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $400 Policy Year maximum |
Repairs to sound, natural teeth required due to an injury |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $500 Policy Year maximum/$100 per tooth |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $500 Policy Year maximum/$100 per tooth |
Treatment of Mental and Nervous Disorders |
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combined shall not exceed 30 days per Policy Year) |
100% of Reasonable Expenses for 30 days |
75% of Reasonable Expenses for 30 days |
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100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Abuse |
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100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
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100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum |
Outpatient Back and Spine Treatment (including Modalities) |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum/$50 per visit/maximum of three visits per week |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 Policy Year maximum/$50 per visit/maximum of three visits per week |
Outpatient Prescription Drugs (including oral contraceptives) |
50% of actual charges |
50% of actual charges |
Annual cervical cytology (Pap Smear Screening) |
100% of Reasonable Expenses |
75% of Reasonable Expenses |
Low-dose Mammography Screening |
100% of Reasonable Expenses |
75% of Reasonable Expenses |
Medical Treatment Received in Home Country, if Not Covered by Other Plan |
Not applicable |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $1,000 lifetime maximum |
Medical Treatment Arising from participation in Inter-collegiate or Inter-scholastic sports |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $10,000 Policy Year maximum (see exclusions) |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $10,000 Policy Year maximum (see exclusions) |
Routine nursery care of a newborn child of a covered pregnancy |
100% of Reasonable Expenses up to $750 Policy Year maximum |
75% of Reasonable Expenses up to $500 Policy Year maximum |
Filing a Claim
Although most claims take 4 -- 6 weeks to process, claims are often delayed if you forget to send all required documents, send in the wrong form, or fill out the right form incorrectly. To speed the processing of your claim, please make sure you follow these directions.
HTH Worldwide Insurance Services
Attn: International Claims Department
One Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087 USA
610-293-3529 (Local Fax)
If you have any questions about the status of your claim, please contact the HTH Worldwide Customer Service department at (800) 394-2500. If you have trouble getting in touch with HTH, please contact Summer Abroad.
Dates of Coverage
Coverage begins one or two days before the program start date and continues one or two days beyond the listed end date. Consult STA Travel or your travel agent for travel health coverage beyond these dates.
Travel Accident Insurance (ACE)
University of California will also provide catastrophic insurance for each student who enrolls online. The UC sponsored ACE coverage is to be used for catastrophic events such as, but not limited to loss associated with death, dismemberment, paralysis and total disability. You must enroll online not less than 30 days prior to your departure. Students should print this card and carry it with them at all times during travel. Instruction on how to enroll will be included in your Program Specific Guide.
Insurer
ACE Group of Companies®
Rating: A (as of 09/07)
Coverage
The UC sponsored ACE will cover catastrophic events such as, but not limited to loss associated with death, dismemberment, paralysis and total disability. Essentially, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (ADD), and Major Medical Expenses. Additional benefits include Lost Baggage
Covered Persons
Members of any group traveling abroad and organized by the University of California at Davis, for whom a declaration is made by authorized representatives of the University.
Coverage Limits (as of 09/07)
Effective October 1, 2007*
Accidental Death & Dismemberment |
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Benefit Amount |
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$25,000 |
Aggregate Limit/Accident |
$2,500,000 |
Covered Losses (% of benefit amount) |
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100% |
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75% |
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50% |
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25% |
Other Provisions |
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10% of benefit amount |
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$5,000 |
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100% of usual and customary charges |
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100% of usual and customary charges |
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100% of usual and customary charges |
(When student traveler 100+ miles from home; security extraction not subject to mileage limitation) |
Services include pre-trip assistance, arrangements for emergency medical care and emergency message assistance as well as emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains and security extraction |
Covered Activities |
UC-sponsored and supervised off-campus |
Accident/Sickness Medical Expense Benefit |
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$10,000/occurrence |
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$0 |
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100% of usual and customary charges |
Additional Benefits |
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$500 subject to a max of 2 bags |
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$2,000 max per trip subject to $500 per item |
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$1,000 max benefit |
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THE BENEFITS SUMMARY INCLUDES CERTAIN INSURANCE PROVISIONS; INSURANCE CONTRACTS GOVERN.
*INSURED BY ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) / World Health Organization (WHO)
Summer Abroad endeavors to provide correct information regarding health conditions and recommended vaccinations and immunizations; however, information may frequently change. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of new health information regarding the locations to which they plan to travel. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide a wealth of information for the traveler. Please review the pertinent information on their websites prior to your departure.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
• World Health Organizations www.who.int/en/
Immunizations and Vaccinations
Check the chart and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) site www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm or https://tripprep.com for recommended and required vaccinations. The vaccinations are listed here to give you plenty of time to make an appointment with a doctor or travel nurse, who will recommend when you should get your shots. DO NOT put this off; certain vaccinations, such as Hepatitis B, require that you start months before you travel.
All shots should be recorded on the International Certificate of Vaccination card that is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccination card is often available from your Student Health Center or County Health Department. Students should take the vaccination card abroad with them. Even though the host government may not require inoculation records for entry purposes, the card may be useful while traveling outside the host country, particularly in Asia and Africa.
Recommended Immunizations and Vaccinations
This chart is adapted from the travel pages of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Discuss the shots recommended below with your doctor or travel nurse. We are not doctors and, therefore, cannot advise students specifically about each of these shots. Be sure to inform your physician of any plans to travel to destinations outside of your program itinerary, so that all necessary immunizations can be received prior to departure.
CDC Recommendations—See Vaccines and Immunizations @ http://www.cdc.gov/
Recommended |
Program Location |
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Argentina |
Australia |
Brazil |
Chile |
China |
Costa Rica |
Europe |
India |
Japan |
Mexico |
Russia |
South Africa |
Trinidad-Tobago |
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Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Hepatitis B |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Malaria |
Yes* |
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* |
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Yes |
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Yes |
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Typhoid |
Yes* |
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Yes* |
Yes* |
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Yes* |
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Yes* |
Yes* |
Yes |
Yes |
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate |
Yes* |
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*** |
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Yes** |
Tetanus booster, Diphtheria booster – as needed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Measles booster, as needed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Polio Vaccine for adults – one time dose |
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Yes |
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Yes |
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* See CDC website for endemic areas.
** Trinidad and Tobago requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination.
*** CDC yellow fever vaccination recommendation for travelers to Brazil: For all travelers >9 months of age going to the endemic zone in Brazil, which includes the states of Acre, Amapa, Amazones, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, and Tocantins, and areas in the endemic zone of the states of Bahia, Parana, Piaui, Rio Grande do Sul, and Sao Paulo (see Map 4-16). Vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting Iguaçu Falls. Coastal cities, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife, and Fortaleza, are NOT within the endemic zone. Brazil requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is increasing worldwide, and doctors are reporting cases that are not related to unprotected sex and/or drug use. Students should consider getting a Hepatitis B vaccination before going abroad. The vaccination must be started a minimum of six months prior to departure to complete the series.
Travel Clinics
The UC Davis Cowell Student Health Center requires that you attend a Travel Clinic if you are traveling to Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, or Trinidad & Tobago.
The Travel Clinic nurse will review with you the recommended precautions for travel within your program’s country. UC Davis students should follow these steps if you require a Travel Clinic –
*It may take up to 4-6 weeks to get your Travel Clinic appointment. Summer Abroad will accept an appointment card from the Cowell Student Health Center as proof of appointment. Summer Abroad will process enrollment packets with missing health forms ONLY for these students with an appointment card.
Non-UC Davis students should consult with their student health center or primary care physician about the country to which you will be traveling as soon as possible.
Health Advisories
When traveling, you are advised to keep current on possible health problems in each country you plan to visit. This is especially important for travel in developing countries. Gastrointestinal disorders, sore throats, and colds often occur more frequently in a foreign country than at home, particularly soon after arrival. This is a result of the change in climate, environment, diet, water, and personal habits. Students may wish to obtain professional advice before departure and take along familiar medications. The Program Specific Guide and orientation session will advise students about specific local conditions, and let students know whether they should avoid tap water, uncooked greens, or other foods.
Prescription Medications
If you regularly take prescription medication, be sure to:
The letter should include a description of the problem, the dosage of medication (to assist medical personnel during an emergency), and the generic name(s) of medicine listed. You may also want consult the embassy pages of the countries you will visit before departing the U.S. to see which medications you can bring into the country.
Please check with your doctor for any advice or recommendations concerning your health while abroad. If your prescribing doctor advises against taking along a large supply of medication, he or she should provide a diagnosis/prescription describing the medication so that an overseas physician may fill the prescription properly. In some cases a physician may not fill a prescription provided by a U.S. doctor without doing an examination and confirming the diagnosis.
While many prescription medicines that require a prescription in the U.S. can be purchased over the counter in other countries, please be cautious. It cannot be guaranteed that the same pharmaceutical standards have been used in preparation and/or storage of the prescription, and the medicine may not be up to the standards of the highly regulated U.S. pharmaceutical industry. Poor storage in high heat and/or humidity, for example, could alter the effectiveness of some drugs.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, take an extra pair and the written prescription abroad. Take sufficient quantities of contact lens solution since it is not always readily available overseas.
Contraception is usually more difficult to obtain abroad than in the U.S. Plan accordingly.
If you regularly take insulin, allergy or other shots, pack a good supply of syringes; not all sizes are available abroad.
If you have diabetes, are allergic to penicillin, or have any physical condition that may require emergency care, carry some kind of identification—a tag, bracelet, or card—on your person at all times indicating the specific nature of the problem and spelling out clearly what must or must not be done should you be unable to communicate this information yourself (from http://www.studyabroad.com/handbook/health.html ).
Tips for Staying Healthy
Your general health can be compromised by travel. Staying healthy while abroad requires following many of the same good habits needed for staying healthy at home—with a few additional precautions. Consult the Program Specific Guide for more recommendations on acclimating to the specific climate and/or altitude of your location.
Vitamins
Consider taking a supply of vitamins to last your entire stay abroad. If you prefer particular brands, be sure to bring them with you as the selection may be limited and the cost may be heftier at your destination.
Food and Water
Expect that your diet will change while you are visiting your host country and prepare to be flexible in this area. Be sure to eat regular, well-balanced meals. Vegetarians should be particularly aware that obtaining meals without meat or dairy products can be difficult—depending on your location. Your Program Specific Guide may have more information on what kinds of options to expect at your destination.
To ensure food is hygienic, we recommend that you only eat at established restaurants, not from street vendors, and that you purchase bottled water.
Additional Health and Safety Resources
For additional tips on staying healthy, visit the “Health and Safety” page on the Education Abroad Center’s website, http://eac.ucdavis.edu/eac/health.cfm. In addition, please follow these recommendations:
For the first few days at all locations:
• Take it easy.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks (coffee, some sodas, etc.).
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.
For the entire trip at select locations:
• Drink bottled liquids only (bottled water, sodas, bottled juices, etc.).
• Don't drink water from the faucet (or drinks made from tap water).
• Ask for drinks without ice.
• Be cautious when eating raw fruits and veggies.
For the entire trip at all locations:
• Get plenty of rest.
• Be wary of foods that look like they have been sitting out for some time (especially at buffets).
• Wash your hands before meals.
• Carry medicines to treat an upset stomach.
• Take vitamins.
Illness:
If you feel ill or need medical attention, inform the program instructor of your symptoms. If necessary, he/she will assist you in contacting the local hospital, a doctor or a pharmacist.
Jetlag
Airline travel is exhausting, especially when you compound it with a multiple-hour time difference. You are going to feel less than refreshed when you arrive in your program location. We recommend that you go to bed according to local time so you can get yourself on a normal schedule as soon as possible. Avoid coffee and alcohol on the flight, drink a lot of water, and take a multi-vitamin—doing so helps tremendously with jetlag.
Intestinal and Stomach Problems
Many travelers will get some type of stomach bug when they travel to a different country and encounter a different climate and different types of food. The best way to protect yourself is to bring along some medication (your doctor can prescribe medication for travel to your destination) and to be careful about what you eat. If you have diarrhea accompanied by severe abdominal cramps, blood in your stool, or fever, contact a doctor immediately!
Sunburn and Heat
On most programs you will be in the sun quite a bit and need to prepare by wearing a hat, using sun block and wearing UV blocking sunglasses. If you are sunburned, be sure to cover up any affected areas when you go outside.
Dehydration
Make sure you drink a lot of fluids if you are outside and walking a lot. If you feel dizzy and exhausted and/or have cramps and headaches, you may be dehydrated. Excessive sweating, extreme headaches and disorientation leading to possible convulsions and delirium are the symptoms of heat stroke, which can be fatal. If you have any of these symptoms GET TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY! While waiting for the ambulance, a heat stroke victim should be put in the shade, covered with a wet cloth, and continually fanned.
Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Many countries overseas have been unsuccessful in adequately controlling some STIs. Lack of adequate precaution in preventing contraction of a sexually transmitted infection could lead to serious complications. Remember that the risk of contracting AIDS and HIV is very real. The CDC has a very informative site regarding precautions against contraction of HIV at www.cdc.gov/travel/hivaids.htm.
For more information regarding safe sex, please visit the UC Davis Health Center webpage at http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/htstd.html.