As we travel the world, we’re all probably hoping that we’ll stay healthy. Maybe you’re eating clean to stay healthy, or you figured out the best way to beat jet lag and stay on top of things, but one thing is sure for everyone that undertakes international travel – we worry about getting sick when we’re so far away from home. We worry about our health abroad. We worry about having a major health crisis while overseas, and we may not have enough resources to take care of ourselves. Even if we have all the resources, our host country might not be medically advanced enough to take care of our needs.
It’s a catch-22! We want to have fun on our vacation, yet at the back of our minds, we wonder what would happen if we needed medical health in the next country on our list. It even gets more worrisome if we’re traveling with others because our entire family or friends might also have the same medical needs. And what if the healthcare system of the country we are visiting isn’t good enough to save our lives if it came to that?
And there is always that fear of what your out of pocket expense will be if you were to actually need medical intervention while in an international country, one of the reasons why many people purchase travel insurance before they go on any vacation.
If you’ve ever needed to utilize the healthcare resources of a country while you’re traveling, you probably hoped it would be as good as you what you’re used to. But given that every country in the world has different health policies, the healthcare systems will vary. Some countries will have a better healthcare system than we have in the USA, while some will be worse. Even countries within the same continent will vary in how they do things.
To help understand how healthcare works outside the US, we will look at different geographical parts of the world and try to “loosely” make comparisons based on the most popularly-visited countries since every country will vary within each continent and every healthcare system will be very different from each other.
Healthcare Outside the US – International Healthcare
Africa
Most people choose to visit areas like South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe when they travel to the continent of Africa. These countries vary widely from each other, and even though some of these countries have some of the best healthcare systems on the continent, they are not comparable with what you would find back in the US and some other countries. This is because some African countries often lack funding, resources, and the infrastructure that make for a stronger healthcare system.
Once you add in the multiple epidemics and poverty levels in some parts of Africa, it might sound bleak, but it is not. Healthcare in Africa has shown some significant improvements in recent years. A recent case study on Kenya conducted by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Alliance for Health Policy and System Research showed the country has made remarkable progress in improving their healthcare in recent years.
The quality of the hospitals in most of Africa has improved tremendously over the years as well. Qualified doctors have either stayed in their countries to make a difference or those trained in other countries have returned to help. The somewhat limited healthcare in certain parts of Africa should not scare you from visiting Africa, though. As long as you have travel insurance or funds, you can easily find treatment at one of the better hospitals in this part of the world. Be aware that some hospitals might require that you pay down some deposit before they even look at you, even in the event of an emergency. So, make sure you have travel insurance, or put aside a lot of cash for emergencies.
Asia
Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines are the most visited areas of Asia, but that doesn’t mean the other countries and regions on this continent are completely ignored. Some areas of Asia offer better healthcare than others.
The healthcare system in areas like Thailand and the Philippines, as well as in Singapore, has improved in just the last two years. The goal is to offer universal healthcare with value-based care. It is important to note that while the healthcare in these areas has improved, it was never that bad, to begin with.
Asia has easily led the way when it comes to exceptional medical care. For example, in Singapore, everyone is covered by government health insurance. The downside to that health plan is that the people do pay higher fees for their coverage.
Japan actually offers some of the best healthcare in all of Asia. Their healthcare is very accessible and affordable. They also have excellent outcomes for every treatment they offer for all conditions. The best part is everyone who lives in Japan only has to pay for sixteen percent, or less, of their healthcare coverage. The premium is based on a person’s income. The government covers the other eighty-four percent or more. No one ever needs to pay a deductible and the co-pays are always charged according to a person’s age.
You will never need to worry about finding excellent healthcare when you are traveling in Asia, especially if you are in Japan. The quality treatments will have you feeling better in no time at all. And the best part is it will be covered if you purchase travel insurance prior to your vacation.
Europe
Healthcare in Europe is nothing like it is in the US. In fact, the US has health insurance that is one of the least favorable in the entire world. Compared to other advanced countries, adults in the United States are less likely to get medical help due to costs. In Europe, everyone has access to quality healthcare. No one is ever turned away for their inability to pay.
However, healthcare in Europe is not the same for every country. You may find slightly different healthcare options in Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. You will even find that Poland and Germany offer different healthcare.
Healthcare in Europe is funded by tax dollars. Those tax dollars come from payroll taxes, as well as specific funding from income taxes.
When you are traveling in these countries, you may find yourself at a government doctor or hospital. However, there are private doctors and hospitals that you can go to as well. The cost will be much higher for private options, but those costs would be covered by your travel insurance.
You won’t be disappointed with any treatment you get in Europe, though, because their standard of care is very high. Some of the healthiest countries in the world are in Europe, and many people believe it is due to their generally friendly healthcare system.
North America
Most of us are familiar with healthcare in the US, for better or worse. While there are some government plans, most of the citizens pay for their own insurance through a private insurance company. Then there are deductibles or copays for almost every single appointment you go to and every medication you take.
Canada does healthcare a little differently than the US. They have a universal health care system. Everyone in Canada has this insurance, which is paid for with the taxes the citizens have paid. Unfortunately, you can have a three-month wait to receive these healthcare benefits in Canada.
There are private insurance companies in Canada, too, but they are used for those medical services the government plan does not cover. You must have insurance if you want to be treated while traveling in Canada. If you do not, you may be required to pay for your healthcare prior to being treated at a hospital or clinic. The only exception is when it is a medical emergency.
Central America
Some areas of Central America offer better healthcare than others. The areas of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala are beginning to improve access to healthcare and the quality of care that is given. However, this is extremely difficult in rural settings where even the most basic services are limited.
In areas like Costa Rica and Belize, you will find that healthcare is much better. That doesn’t mean you can afford to pay for much of it out of your own pocket. While the healthcare costs in Costa Rica are between fifty and eighty percent lower than what you would pay in the US, they are still pricey. Therefore, you will want to make sure you have travel insurance before you leave for your trip.
The hospitals or clinics you might visit if you are ill in Costa Rica may appear to be in need of repairs or updates. That shouldn’t have you turning around and waiting it out. Inside these buildings, you will receive excellent care from the medical staff.
South America
The citizens of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and many other South American countries receive excellent medical care. These countries have a universal healthcare system, although not every medical facility is as good as all the rest. The rural areas will have less medical treatment options available than the bigger cities. Over the years, countries in this part of the world have consistently invested heavily in research for health, resulting in significant improvements in the quality of health and medical services to the population.
While healthcare in South America is cheaper than in many other parts of the world, you will want travel insurance to cover any services you may have. Failure to have travel insurance can result in medical bills you were not planning on having during your trip.
Australia and Oceania
Healthcare in Australia is run by all levels of the government. It is considered one of the best healthcare systems in the entire world, which may just be one more reason to have this part of the world on your bucket list.
Everyone in Australia has access to public hospitals. Those medical services are either free or lower cost. The public insurance is paid for by the different levels of the government. There is also private health care available in Australia, but private health insurance is needed to utilize those services.
You can receive excellent healthcare at any of the public hospitals or doctors when you are in Australia. However, you can also choose to go to private institutions. You will want to choose your travel insurance carefully, though, so you have both options available to you.
All-Inclusive Resorts
You will mainly find all-inclusive resorts down in the Caribbean as well as Mexico. When you’re a guest at these resorts, you wouldn’t need to go too far when you feel ill or have an accident. Most of the all-inclusive resorts have either a doctor’s office or clinic on-site. There is always either a doctor or nurse right there and others are on call in case of an emergency.
Now, this won’t replace a hospital if you need one, but it is an excellent option if you have a minor issue that can be treated quickly. It is best to have travel insurance for this type of healthcare because it will be more expensive since it is done right at the resort, which sometimes can be pricey.
What to Do When You Get Sick When Traveling Outside the USA
If you happen to get sick or injured when you are traveling outside the USA, the first thing you will want to do is contact the closest US Embassy or Consulate. They can direct you to the healthcare provider or hospital for treatment. They can also inform family or friends if your condition is serious.
If you are responsible for any of the medical treatment, the consular officers can help transfer funds to pay the bill. This will ensure you have the medical bills paid and you can be treated. If you have travel insurance, you shouldn’t need to worry about this. However, it is dependent on the coverage you purchased prior to your trip.
What Does Your US Health Insurance Cover?
Most health insurance will not cover any medical treatment that is completed out of the country. This is especially true for Medicare. Some private medical insurance may offer some coverage. Therefore, it is best to check with your health insurance company prior to traveling abroad.
When to Purchase Travel Insurance
You should always purchase your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. It is easy to purchase this type of insurance, or at least it is once you decide which type of insurance you need.
There are many types of insurance to choose from. Plus, you can purchase travel insurance for a single trip or for an entire year. The latter should be taken into consideration if you travel a lot every year.
Some travel insurance covers cancellations due to the weather, while others will cover missed connections and even emergency medical evacuations. You should definitely look at all the fine print of the travel insurance policies you are considering. There are usually some exclusions you may not otherwise be aware of. If you have any pre-existing conditions, you will want to check to see if they will be waived or not.
The good news is that many travel insurance policies have a grace period, and you can receive a refund within ten to fifteen days. This will allow you to catch anything you may have missed when you made your purchase.
We never plan to have an emergency when traveling, but you can never guess when an emergency or a simple illness may happen. Things as simple as Traveler’s Diarrhea and motion sickness can throw you off! It is best to be prepared by knowing what healthcare is like where you are going and having travel insurance to cover any medical services you may need. Both will ensure you can get home feeling just as good as when you left.