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Moving abroad and experiencing a transition to a new environment, culture, food, etc. can exacerbate or uncover physical and mental illnesses. It is important to work with your health professionals to make a plan for dealing with your health abroad. For more information on what you should do to get ready to leave for your host country, see Before Departure.

• Before you study abroad, make sure you visit your doctors, dentists, and any other health care practitioners that you regularly see. Your coverage throughÌý¶¶Òõ̽̽'s International Assistance Provider and Emergency Insurance does not include preventative care. During these visits, you should discuss any medical issues you have that may affect your experiences abroad.
• Make sure your health records are up to date and that you have copies that you can access while you are abroad. This is particularly important if you have a medical condition or if you expect to need medical care abroad.
• Research whether or not you will need immunizations or specific travel medications (like malaria pills) for your host country. ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s Travel Assistance ProviderÌýcan provide you with information about the health and immunization requirements of your host country, and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Student Health Services may be able to assist with certain vaccinations.

If you take any prescription medications, visit your health care provider prior to departing to discuss transporting your medications abroad.

• Learn about the legality of your medications in your host country. Some medications that are common in the US are strictly controlled in other countries.Ìý
• Ask your health care provider and insurance company for guidance on how to secure a sufficient supply of medication to last through your stay.Ìý
• Carry your medication in their original, labeled containers along with a copy of the original prescription. This will ease your way through Customs.ÌýAlways keep your medications in your carry-on bag.
• If you have a medical condition, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or other notification while abroad. You might want to bring cards with an explanation of your allergies or illnesses in your host country's language to show when necessary.
• Bring photocopies of your prescriptions- even a glasses/contact lens prescription.Ìý

Resources:

If you are sexually active, use safe sex precausions while abroad as well. Rates of STIs vary from country to country, as does availability of healthcare related to sexual health and reproductive care. If you are sexually active, you may wish to bring your preferred methods of contraceptives with you- do not assume you can easily find them in your host country as availability abroad may vary significantly.Ìý

Any mental health issues you have at home will likely still be present while you are abroad. In some cases, being in the new, unfamiliar environment of your host country can exacerbate your symptoms. You will not have access to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ CAPS while abroad, and likely not to a counselor from home due to licensing issues. Availability of mental health care can vary overseas and a good plan is critical. Conversations with your mental health care provider before you leave will be important to set you up to draw on tools you have to manage these conditions when overseass. It is critical to keep taking any prescribed medication while abroad, and ifÌýyou feel that your mental health is becoming unmanageable, to ask for help.Ìý

Like most things, rules and attitudes around alcohol and drugs vary greatly across the world. As a study abroad student, do not assume you can treat alcohol and drugs in the same way you may have at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ or at home. Educate yourself carefully.

While you may be of legal drinking age in your host country, you should still be responsible in your use of alcohol.ÌýSafety should be your first priority. Overconsumption of alcohol can make you an easier target for criminal activity of many kinds, and you will be even more vulnerable abroad where the culture, neighborhoods, and language may be unfamiliar to you.ÌýMost countries have a more moderate cultural relationship with alcohol than the US, and while drinks with dinner may be normal, drunkenness is viewed as inappropriate. Make sure to be respectful of the culture you are visiting.

Many countries have very strict rules around other drugs, including marijuana. These rules can include significant penalties including inprisonment and even death. Each year hundreds of Americans are jailed abroad for drug offenses. ¶¶Òõ̽̽ students have been arrested and imprisoned abroad for drug offenses in the past.Ìý

Insects can cause serious illnesses such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, zika, lyme disease, and others. Many of these diseases do not exist in the US but are prevalent in other countries. Students studying abroad have become ill with these diseases.

• Be aware of what insects pose a threat in your area and take the appropriate measures to alleviate your risk of disease.
• Use bug spray, mosquito netting, and preventative medication where appropriate
• Discuss potential threats with your travel doctor and program director or host university contact.

Due to differing regulations, getting tattoos and piercings in your host country may have more risks than doing so back home. If you choose to get a tattoo or piercing while abroad, you should make sure to research the tattoo/piercing shop's practices and reputation, and the country's regulations and risks to make sure it is safe.Ìý

• Exposure to blood borne pathogens (HIV, Hepatitis B and C) is possible.
• Even in countries with strict tattoo/piercing regulations, tattoo/piercing shops may or may not follow all of them.
• Cheap tattoos and piercings can sometimes mean:
  • Non-sterile or reprocessed needles
  • Cheap ink, which can cause skin irritation or can fade quickly

Remember that food and water can make you sick in developed countries as well as less developed ones. You should always observe and follow locals’ behavior regarding food and water.ÌýHave medication that treats food and water-borne illnesses and their symptoms with you, so that you can access it easily if needed.

Some good basic health tips related to food and water safety:

• Always wash your produce with clean water before consuming it
• Wash your own hands before you eat
• In locations where water may not be safe to drink or your food may have come from unsanitary conditions, cook or peel your produce.
• If food appears to have been sitting out in conditions that might breed food borne illness
• Inform yourself of water safety - your program abroad can help educate you on this - in places where tap water isn't safe to drink, that will include using it to wash foods, brush teeth, etc.

You may need to see medical care while abroad. Your program support can guide you on how to do so. In general, some guidelines:

Seek Medical Attention When…

• You have a fever of 101 degrees F for 24 hours or more
• If you have severe and frequent diarrhea or vomiting

Seek Emergency Medical Attention When…

• You have a fever of 103 degrees F or more
• You feel confused or disoriented
• You are experiencing reduced levels of consciousness (fainting)
• You have a severe headache

¶¶Òõ̽̽'s contracted International Travel and Medical Assistance Provider and our STARR insurance support are available for consultation and in emergencies for health and safety related needs. Students must additionally hold health insurance for routine matters which are not covered by STARR insurance. More information about how to access these benefits is available through ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Risk Management.Ìý

As long as you complete the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ study abroad approval process and are approved to study abroad, you will have international emergency health insurance coverage, but should also have additional routine care insurance. Some programs or host countries will require you to purchase specific health insurance policies. ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s policy provides coverage for sicknesses or injuries which occur while you are studying abroad. It does not provide coverage for routine or preventative services, and therefore you should take care of any/all preventative care you can think of (dental, vision, general medical) in advance of your study abroad experience. You should also verify your own health insurance policy to see what coverage it provides for medical services abroad.

• It is recommended that you check with your current health insurance provider to enquire about coverage for any possible medical expenses incurred while traveling abroad.
• Many programs and/or countries may require that you purchase specific health insurance. Check with your host university or program provider for requirements.
• It is possible that you may need to pay cash for some medical services on-site. ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s contracted program will provide you with coverage, claims, and reimbursement information.
• If your friends and family are planning to visit you, they should plan to purchase additional health and travel insurance that will cover them in their travels.
• A number of companies provide short-term health insurance coverage for students studying abroad and their families and friends visiting them, we would recommend you look into options that would fit your needs and read policy information carefully.