Travel Talk

Pack a pendant and health insurance along with your passport

A simple pendant or bracelet could help save your life if you make the decision to go abroad to live, according to international insurance specialists.

Experts at International Citizens Insurance have issued some top tips to people preparing to move countries in search of a new life.

Buying a small piece of jewelry to display vital medical information – alongside investing in vital healthcare insurance – could be one of the best decisions you ever made if you have a long term chronic health condition.

The advice from International Citizens Insurance comes as it also highlights top destinations which will not allow entry into their country without health insurance – a trend that could increase amid the global pandemic.

Joe Cronin, President of International Citizens Insurance said: “There is much to consider when looking to make the move abroad and obtaining the right level of insurance cover for your needs and circumstances is right at the top of the list. But there are lots of other things that need to be considered when planning.

“If you have a chronic medical condition while abroad, arrange an appointment with the appropriate specialist in your host country. Consider obtaining a bracelet or pendant indicating your important medical condition. Also, be mindful and aware of any worsening of your condition.”

The global insurance specialist says the following tips are also important to consider, as recommended by doctors, HR experts and expatriates.

As part of your preparation:

• Ask your doctor about vaccinations and immunizations required for your overseas stay

• Translate the names of prescription and overthe-counter medications you use

MedicAlert ID Bracelet photo by MedicAlert UK

• Research the medical care and the healthcare system in the host country

• Discuss your strategy should a serious illness occur at any time

• Visit your primary care doctor, dentist, and eye doctor before travel

• Choose a doctor in your host country for yourself and your family members.

The company believes selecting adequate insurance cover is as important as getting your passport. This is especially important with an increasing number of countries who will not let you into the country without healthcare insurance. This means travelers can be turned away as soon as they arrive.

The countries below have made health insurance mandatory for some or all travelers and expats as of December 1, 2021.

Andorra: Advises visitors from Spain, France or Portugal to obtain a travel document from the Social Security office of their country. All other visitors are advised to have private travel insurance that has COVID-19 coverage.

Argentina: Requires proof of international health insurance that will cover COVID-19 care.

Aruba: Has a COVID-19 insurance plan that all visitors must pay $15 for before entering the country.

Bahamas: Includes COVID-19 insurance in the cost of their visa.

Cayman Islands: Visitors must attest that they have travel medical insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage or that they understand the financial risks and can afford to cover their own health costs.

Chile: Visitors are required to have travel or global medical insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage and has a minimum coverage of $30,000.

Costa Rica: Travelers must have an international medical policy that covers them for the whole stay. The policy must include $50,000 in COVID-19 coverage, with at least $2000 for COVID quarantine.

Cuba: Tourists must have travel medical insurance that covers COVID-19.

Curaçao: Requires visitors to be adequately insured for health care and potential COVID-19 quarantine.

Fiji: Visitors must have proof of international travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage.

Jordan: Tourists must have medical insurance.

Malaysia: Visitors must have minimum travel medical insurance coverage of RM100,000 to enter.

Montenegro: Requires proof of medical insurance to enter.

Russia: Requires travel medical insurance to cover the entire stay. The policy’s geographic coverage must cover the subscriber worldwide, in the Russian Federation only or in Europe with Russia included. The government recommends that visitors carry at least $35,000 worth of coverage.

Singapore: Visitors must have a travel insurance plan with minimum coverage of S$30,000 against COVID-19.

Saint Maarten: Requires visitors to purchase a mandatory COVID-19 insurance policy to enter. Visitors purchase this policy during the Electronic Health Authorization System process.

Schengen area countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland): Visitors who require a visa must have travel medical insurance valid for the duration of their stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000.

Seychelles: All travelers must have insurance to cover COVID-19 treatment costs including isolation.

South Korea: Travelers must hold travel insurance for COVID-19 with a minimum coverage of 30 million won.

Thailand: Visitors must have a travel medical insurance policy with minimum coverage of $50,000.

Turkey: All visitors are required to have international medical insurance that covers them for the duration of their visit.

Turks and Caicos: Requires travel medical insurance that covers COVID-19 medical costs, including quarantine.

Ukraine: Visitors must have an insurance policy from an insurance company registered in Ukraine that will cover the cost of COVID-19 treatment. The policy must be valid for the duration of stay.

Uruguay: Visitors must have international medical or travel insurance that specifically covers COVID-19.

Vietnam: Visitors must have medical or travel insurance that covers COVID-19 with minimum coverage of $50,000.

For an up-to-date list of the latest requirements, visit https://www.internationalinsurance.com/

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