Quick Links:
- Stanford International Travel Policy
- What to do in an Emergency
- Stanford Funding for International Activities for Faculty
- Stanford Funding for International Activities for Students
- Overseas Resource Center
- ISIC cards
- Passport Photos
- Vaden Travel Clinic at Stanford
- Bing Overseas Study Program
- Applying for a Visa
- UK Visa Requirements for US Citizens
- US Dept of State Travel Page
updated 03/25/15
Stanford Students Going Abroad
STEP 3 VACCINATE
Vaccinations you may need:
Each traveler should consider his or her own health situation before deciding to travel abroad. We encourage you to research medical and mental health care options in your destination country and discuss any issues of continuing care abroad with your current health provider.
Visit the Vaden Travel Clinic for a review of required and suggested vaccinations in your country of destination and schedule an appointment at least 6-8 weeks before departure. Be aware that the cost for many of these vaccines is not covered by domestic health insurance plans and would need to be paid for out-of-pocket.
Vaden Health Center provides a suggested Travel Medical Kit
Below are some useful resources to begin to explore this topic and prepare for health care abroad.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Traveler's Health Website with country- specific information on health warnings, vaccinations etc. that may affect you. Also included in this information is information about the local drinking water.
- Stanford School of Medicine's Global Health Portal
- The World Health Organization (WHO) offers health conditions and information by country.
- The Center for Global Education's Study Abroad Handbook has a brief overview of health and safety abroad.
Medications
It is wise to have a general physical and dental exam before departure; women should also have a gynecological exam.
Take with you copies of all pertinent medical records, and prescriptions, including vision (make sure your prescription includes the generic name of the medication). It is also advisable to fill prescriptions before departure for the duration of your trip as some medicines are not available in all countries. Please know that seemingly equivalent medicines and prescription drugs purchased abroad may present potential health hazards. See the FDA website
Medications should be in their original containers and clearly labeled. If you have an existing medical condition and have controlled substances or injectable drugs, it is a good idea to travel with a doctor's note on official stationary. Keep in mind that some drugs may not be permitted in certain countries - contact your host country's embassy if you have questions.
Health Insurance
Review your current insurance plan to make sure it will cover you while traveling abroad, as well as provide for emergency evacuation/repatriation. Stanford's student insurance plan, Cardinal Care, offers worldwide coverage. Students who are enrolled in Cardinal Care also have medical and travel assistance, medical evacuation and repatriation through On Call International.
Whatever your policy, you should review it thoroughly and make sure you understand the details. Coverage abroad may be different than that in the U.S. and costs for medical care and/or evacuation can be very expensive. Make sure you read and understand the insurer's definition of terms in your policy. For example, "evacuation" does not necessarily mean getting you back home, but simply to the "nearest medical facility." For a good overview of this topic, see SAFETI's Insurance Coverage, Evacuation page.
If you are shopping for international health benefits, insuremytrip.com compares numerous plans for your specific trip. Travel Insurance Review also has a great deal of information and provides a fairly comprehensive range of topics which can help you come up with the right questions for potential insurers.
Whether you are on your parents' medical insurance plan, your own plan, or are shopping for a policy, here are some questions you should ask:
- Does it cover you outside of the U.S.?
- Does it include medical care?
- Does it include evacuation/repatriation coverage? What does this actually mean? Do you pay up front and then get reimbursed?
- Does it include repatriation of remains?
- What is the maximum benefit?
- Are there "per day" or "category" caps on expenses? Are prescription drugs covered? Is there a cap on them?
- What are the exclusions?
- What is the deductible?
- What is the loss ratio of the company you're considering? It should be about 80% (meaning that for every $5 collected in premiums, $4 are paid to health-care providers).
