What to Do If You Have a Medical Emergency While Traveling Abroad
Medical emergencies abroad work differently than they do at home, and the difference matters before you leave
If you get seriously sick or injured outside the United States, you cannot simply go to a hospital and expect your insurance to cover it the way it does at home. Your health insurance may not work at all in another country. Emergency rooms abroad can demand payment upfront, sometimes thousands of dollars, before they treat you. Ambulances are not always free. Some countries have no emergency system like 911. You may be in a place where doctors do not speak English, where the nearest hospital is hours away, or where your insurance company has no relationship with local providers.
The practical steps you take before you leave — checking your coverage, getting copies of your medical records, knowing how to call for help — determine whether an emergency becomes a financial crisis or a manageable problem you can solve on the ground.
Key Takeaways
- Most standard U.S. health insurance does not cover care outside the country, so you need to verify your specific plan's international coverage or purchase a separate travel medical policy before departure.
- Carry a written summary of your medical history, current medications, and any allergies in English and in the local language of where you are traveling.
- Know the emergency number for the country you are in — it is not 911 in most places — and have your embassy's phone number saved in your phone.
- Travel medical insurance can cover evacuation to a better-equipped hospital, which standard insurance usually will not, and costs between $50 and $300 depending on trip length and your age.
- Register with the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so the embassy can reach you if a crisis occurs in your region.
Check what your current insurance actually covers outside the U.S.
Call your health insurance company before you travel and ask directly: "Does my plan cover emergency medical care outside the United States?" Do not assume the answer is yes. Many plans cover nothing abroad. Some cover only emergency care that happens to U.S. citizens traveling in specific countries. Others cover emergency care but not routine visits, prescriptions, or follow-up treatment.
Ask your insurance company for the specific answer in writing — an email or a letter you can carry with you. Ask whether they have a network of hospitals or doctors in the country where you are going, and whether you need to call them before seeking care. Ask what you have to pay upfront and what you will be reimbursed later. Ask whether they cover medical evacuation — transport to a better hospital if the local one cannot treat you — because standard insurance almost never does, and evacuation can cost $50,000 or more.
If your plan covers nothing abroad, or covers only part of what you need, you have time to buy a separate travel medical insurance policy. These policies are designed specifically for people traveling outside their home country and typically cost $50 to $300 depending on how long you are gone and how old you are.
Gather your medical information and carry it with you
Before you leave, write down your medical history, current medications, dosages, and any allergies. Include the names and phone numbers of your doctors at home. Take a photo of this information on your phone and carry a printed copy in your wallet. If you have a chronic condition — diabetes, heart disease, asthma — wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card that says so.
If you take prescription medications, bring enough for your entire trip plus extra in case you are delayed. Carry medications in their original labeled bottles so customs and doctors can see what they are. Some medications that are legal in the U.S. are illegal in other countries, so research the laws of where you are going. If a medication is restricted, ask your doctor for a letter explaining why you need it.
If you have a serious condition or are traveling to a remote area, consider getting copies of recent test results, imaging, or medical records from your doctor. These can be crucial if you need emergency care and cannot reach your regular doctor by phone.
Know how to call for emergency help in the country where you are
Emergency numbers vary by country. In the United Kingdom it is 999. In France it is 15. In Australia it is 000. In many developing countries there is no single emergency number at all — you call the police, the hospital, or a private ambulance service directly. Before you travel, look up the emergency number for every country on your itinerary and save it in your phone with a note about which country it belongs to.
If you are in a hotel, hostel, or organized tour, ask staff immediately how to call for help. They know the local system and can often call for you and translate. If you are alone and do not speak the language, try calling your country's embassy or consulate — they have staff trained to help citizens in emergencies and can often dispatch help or find an English-speaking doctor.
Save your embassy's phone number in your phone before you leave. The U.S. State Department website lists the address and 24-hour emergency number for every U.S. embassy and consulate in the world. If you are in a country without a U.S. embassy, the nearest one can still help you by phone.
Understand what hospitals abroad will ask for before they treat you
In many countries, hospitals require payment before they provide non-emergency care and sometimes before they provide emergency care. They may ask for a credit card, cash, or proof of insurance. If you cannot pay, they may refuse to treat you or may treat you and then pursue you for payment later.
If you are admitted to a hospital, ask for an estimate of costs before treatment begins, if possible. Ask whether they accept your insurance and whether they can bill your insurance directly or whether you will have to pay and seek reimbursement later. Get itemized bills for everything — hospital stay, medications, procedures, imaging — because you will need these to file insurance claims when you return home.
Some hospitals abroad are much better equipped than others. If you are in a developing country or a remote area and have a serious injury or illness, your embassy may help you arrange evacuation to a better hospital in a nearby city or even back to the United States. This is expensive and requires travel medical insurance or significant savings, but it can be lifesaving.
Register with the State Department before you leave
The U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that lets the government know where you are traveling and how to reach you. If a natural disaster, civil unrest, or other crisis happens in the region where you are, the embassy can contact you to check on your safety and provide information about how to leave the country if needed.
You register on the State Department website before you travel. You provide your itinerary, your phone number, and your emergency contact at home. The embassy will not check on you unless something happens in your region, but if it does, they will know how to find you. This is especially important if you are traveling to a country with political instability, natural disaster risk, or limited medical infrastructure.
Consider travel medical insurance if you are traveling for more than a few days
Travel medical insurance is separate from your regular health insurance and is designed to cover medical emergencies while you are outside your home country. Policies typically cover emergency medical care, emergency dental care, emergency evacuation, and sometimes trip cancellation if you become ill before you leave.
The cost depends on your age, how long you are traveling, and what coverage you choose. A 30-year-old traveling for two weeks might pay $60 to $100. A 65-year-old traveling for a month might pay $200 to $400. You buy the policy before you leave, usually online, and it takes effect immediately. If you become ill or injured during your trip, you call the insurance company's 24-hour number and they help you find care, arrange payment, or arrange evacuation.
Travel medical insurance is worth buying if you are traveling for more than a week, if you are traveling to a country with limited medical infrastructure, if you are over 60, or if you have a chronic health condition. It is not worth buying for a short trip to a developed country if your regular insurance covers you abroad, but it is cheap enough that many travelers buy it anyway for peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I get sick but it is not an emergency?
Call your travel insurance company or your regular insurance company and ask for help finding a doctor. Many insurance companies have phone lines that can connect you with English-speaking doctors abroad. If you are in a major city, your hotel concierge can usually recommend a doctor or clinic. Pharmacies in many countries can dispense medications without a prescription, but check with your insurance first about whether they will cover it.
Will my travel medical insurance cover me if I have a pre-existing condition?
Most travel medical policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless you purchase the policy within a certain number of days of your first trip payment — usually 14 to 21 days. If you have a chronic condition, buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. Read the policy carefully to see what is and is not covered.
What if I need to be evacuated and do not have travel medical insurance?
Evacuation without insurance is extremely expensive — often $50,000 to $250,000 depending on distance and the type of transport needed. Your embassy can help you arrange evacuation, but you are responsible for paying. Some credit cards offer travel medical coverage as a benefit, so check your card's terms. If you cannot pay, the embassy may help you contact family or arrange a loan, but you will still owe the money.
Can I use my regular insurance if I am traveling to Canada or Mexico?
Many U.S. insurance plans cover emergency care in Canada and Mexico, but not all. Call your insurance company to confirm. Even if your plan covers these countries, you may still want travel medical insurance because it covers evacuation and can make it easier to find English-speaking care.
What if I need a prescription filled while I am abroad?
Bring enough medication for your entire trip plus extra. If you run out, go to a pharmacy and explain what you need. In many countries, pharmacists can dispense medications that require a prescription in the U.S. without a prescription. Bring a photo of your medication bottle or a letter from your doctor explaining what you take. Prices vary widely by country, and your U.S. insurance probably will not cover it, so ask the price before you fill it.