Travel Preparation Checklist
Finalize itinerary as much as possible prior to reviewing travel information.
Plan medical and dental exams within 3 months of departure and inform your family physician of your travel plans. Medical care abroad can be risky and complicated in certain situations.
Review web site information related to your trip.
Contact your health insurance carrier to find out about coverage for overseas travel approximately 2 months before departure date.
Most health insurance companies do not pay directly to foreign hospitals or clinics, but may reimburse you a percentage of the cost when receipts are received (written in English and converted to U.S. dollars.) Also, most health insurance does not include medical evacuation, which can be very costly!
Check to see if your insurance company has "vacation override," which would allow you to get more than one month of medication while traveling.
Consider purchasing a travel health insurance policy that includes medical evacuation.
MSU employees should have signed a travel voucher and have picked up their
"Medex" card at the Travel Office in room 370 Administration Building.
Review "Health Insurance Information for Travelers."
Use the Travel Vaccine Planner to prepare for your Travel Clinic visit.
Update routine vaccinations. For example:
- Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td) - recommended every ten years.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) - all people born after 1957 should have
had two.
BE AWARE: If you plan to get live virus vaccines, such as MMR, Varicella (chicken pox) or Yellow Fever, they must be given at the same time or spaced a month apart. - Hepatitis B - series of three shots given over 6 months. Two shots spaced one month apart should give some level of protection. An accelerated schedule for travelers at high risk also exists. Talk to your doctor or travel clinic staff for details.
Make a travel clinic appointment at least 8 weeks prior to travel if you are going to countries with potential for high or moderate risk situations (i.e., former eastern block countries, most countries in Central and South America, any country in Africa, Thailand, China, Vietnam, India, etc.). In addition to medical counseling and routine vaccinations, they can provide you with the recommended and/or required vaccines you may want to consider before your trip.
Consult your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy to see if they cover personal possessions while traveling, in case of theft. This is especially important if you will be carrying a laptop or other expensive electronics.
Make copies of appropriate medical records and insurance documents to carry with you on your trip.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Travelers' Health Web site and the Recommendations of the advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Web site to become aware of the health and vaccine information for your destination(s).
Go to the WHO - World Health Organization Web site to learn about the health concerns in the destination(s) you are traveling to.