June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel
Jamaica
Jamaica;
After a full day of traveling, you check into your resort and get ready to head out for dinner. You just have to grab your blood-thinner medication, so you can take it with your meal. But it’s not in your suitcase. As you frantically search, a memory jolts you: You left the orange bottle on the kitchen counter at home.
This is not good. You’re supposed to take your medicine every day to decrease your risk of blood clots or stroke. What should you do now?
First: Don’t panic. It’s possible to get the prescription medication you need while on vacation—and travel insurance can help. We’ll walk you through it.
In the U.S., getting a prescription refilled while traveling is usually pretty straightforward. Call your prescribing physician’s office or your home pharmacy and explain the situation. Ask if they can arrange for a pharmacy near you to dispense the medication you need. If your home pharmacy is part of a chain, it’ll be easiest to go to a local branch of that chain (because your information will already be in the system.)
If you run into any difficulties getting your medication, contact 24-7 assistance, which is included in every Allianz Travel Insurance plan. Our assistance experts are there to help you.
Traveling with prescription drugs internationally can be a challenge in itself—and refilling a prescription outside the United States is even tougher. Typically, pharmacies overseas will only accept a prescription written in that country. So, here’s what you should do:
Having trouble communicating with the pharmacist? Our 24-hour assistance team can provide interpretation services.
Forgot your medication while on a cruise? The first step is to see the ship’s doctor. If your prescription is a common one—blood pressure or diabetes medication, for example—chances are the onboard pharmacy can fill it. The charge will be added to your bill. If the cruise-ship pharmacy doesn’t have the medication you need, you’ll have to see a doctor at the next port and then visit a pharmacy there.
Always pack prescriptions in your carry-on. If your checked bag goes astray, at least you’ll have your medicine.
Get a brightly colored bag or pouch for your medication. This can help you a) remember to pack your meds when you’re traveling and b) find them in your suitcase.
Bring medications in their original container, along with documentation of the prescription. While the TSA doesn’t require you to pack medications in prescription bottles, it’s a good idea for international travel.2
Make sure your medication is legal in your destination country. Stimulant medication for ADHD is considered a controlled substance and is illegal in some countries. Other medications that may be prohibited or restricted include narcotic pain medications, steroids, anxiety medication, cold medications with pseudoephedrine, injectable medications, and medical marijuana/cannabis.3 Some countries require a doctor’s letter or special approval from the health ministry to legally travel with certain medications.
Don’t just hide your medicine in your suitcase and hope for the best! American citizens have been arrested for traveling with prohibited prescription drugs.4 Check the International Narcotics Control Board’s database of country-specific information before you travel, or call the country’s embassy in the U.S.
Pack more doses than you think you’ll need. If you only have seven doses for a week-long trip, what happens if you drop one down the sink drain? Or your flight home is delayed? Having a few extra can be a lifesaver — especially if you carry them in a separate container, just in case.
If you need more medication than you have on hand, ask your insurer and pharmacy about getting extra. This falls under the vacation override policy most insurers offer.
Crossing time zones will affect when you take your medication. “Medicines should be taken according to the time since your last dose, not the local time of day,” the CDC cautions.5
Don’t wait to buy travel insurance. Travel protection is absolutely crucial, for more reasons than we can list. If you have a medical emergency overseas, insurance can save the day, save your finances, and even save your life.
Travel insurance can cover losses related to existing medical conditions (such as anything you’re currently taking prescription medication for)—but only if you purchase travel protection within 14 days of making your first trip payment and meet all other conditions to qualify for the existing medical conditions waiver.
Already planning your next adventure? Find out why 70 million+ travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance to protect them wherever they go. Get a quote.
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