Every time we go on vacation, we dream of the sun, the sea and look forward to only positive emotions from the long-awaited vacation. Unfortunately, sometimes our vacation is overshadowed by unexpected illnesses or injuries, especially if exotic countries are chosen for vacation. Local cuisine, hot sun, communication with animals and plants of exotic countries can lead to poisoning, infections, injuries and other unpleasant consequences. How to get medical care on vacation, we will tell in this article.
How to get medical help on vacation
When you buy a ticket to any country in the world, you also buy medical insurance. This is a mandatory condition, which is spelled out in the legislation on tourism of the Russian Federation – all travel companies are required to insure customers against accidents, unforeseen injuries and illnesses, etc.d. Medical insurance is required when traveling to the Schengen countries, the USA, Canada, the Baltic states and some others. It is impossible to obtain a visa to these countries without a valid medical policy. There are also countries where medical insurance is not required – these are Egypt and Turkey so beloved by our tourists. However, you should not risk your health in countries with a different climate and unusual cuisine, and it is better to purchase health insurance anyway.
How to get medical help on vacation
Next, we will consider how to behave correctly so that the insurer pays your costs and provides the necessary assistance in full:
Find out in detail from the insurer which services are included in the basic package of medical care. As a rule, the insurance includes: medical consultation, emergency medical care in case of injury or unexpected illness, transport services, examination, treatment, dispensing of medicines, if necessary, also inpatient treatment. If the patient is unable to move independently, the insurance must contain a clause on the transportation of a tourist to his homeland. Illnesses such as sunburn or toothache are generally not covered by insurance.
Never call the insurance company from your mobile phone (exception – when urgent medical care is required). Use a landline phone, because very often insurance companies do not pay compensation for your expenses in international roaming. Check your insurance policy before you go on vacation, it usually contains a local number in the country of your stay, by which you can call a doctor by calling the hotel reception free of charge or from your room. If such a contact number is not indicated in the policy, call the insurance company and inquire about this issue, you must be given a local doctor’s call number.
How to get medical help on vacation
If you or your loved ones need medical assistance, do not rush to invite a doctor serving the hotel. Call the doctor who works under your insurance at the phone number indicated in the policy. Keep in mind that the insurance company will not pay for the independent call of the “hotel” doctor and you will be denied compensation. Of course, there are exceptions – when the patient is in a serious condition and it is impossible to delay the arrival of a doctor. If the insurance company does not guarantee the quick arrival of your doctor, call another, but at the same time it is advisable to record your actions on a voice recorder and take the testimony of witnesses (that the patient urgently needed medical attention, and it was dangerous for human life and health to delay).
If, after an examination by a doctor invited under the insurance policy, you had to buy medicines at your own expense (on the recommendation of a doctor), then you are entitled to compensation for cash expenses. To receive compensation, you must show your insurer the doctor’s prescription with his personal signature and stamp, as well as receipts from the pharmacy. Here it is important to pay attention to the following: in the checks, exactly those drugs and medicines that are indicated in the doctor’s list must be indicated. If the cash register does not indicate such information or it was not there at all, then ask the pharmacy employee to list on a piece of paper the medicines that you bought and certify this list with a pharmacy stamp.
Remember that there is nothing more important than health, so carefully study the medical insurance and do not hesitate to ask the representatives of the insurance company any questions you are interested in.
