Upcoming Travel Plans? Be Sure to Pack These 5 Health Documents

A recent survey reveals that 46% of Americans intend to travel this summer—a level that would have been high before the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ While younger Americans are traveling the most, those over age 55 are also returning to the roads and skies in greater numbers. The survey notes that while worries about the virus have declined as a factor in deciding whether to travel, many travelers still embrace measures intended to mitigate the spread of the virus—from masking on airplanes to choosing destinations and attractions that allow for social distancing.

The last thing most people want to think about when traveling is an illness or injury, yet unexpected events can happen at any time. While you can’t always prevent these circumstances, you can take steps to be as prepared as possible. To help ensure you and the medical personnel treating you have the information they need, gather the following before you go:

1. Health insurance cards for any Medicare, employer-based and/or supplemental healthcare plans that you are covered under
2. List of medications, including prescriptions and any over-the-counter medications and supplements you take, including the dosages. Be sure to note any drug, food, insect, or environmental allergies, etc.
3. Proof of any vaccines required for your destination, which may include the COVID-19 vaccine
4. Medical ID card or bracelet, indicating medical conditions and/or allergies, if applicable
5. Medical implant and prosthetic device ID cards for stents, artificial joints, pins, plates and other hardware, and devices, such as a pacemaker. Having this information handy can also help facilitate the TSA screening process at the airport.

Be sure to check your insurance coverage with your carrier to determine what is and isn’t covered outside of your local network. Keep in mind, traditional Medicare does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. However, some Medicare supplement plans provide limited coverage. Certain private insurers also offer short-term health insurance policies designed to cover travel.

Don’t forget to keep emergency contact details handy. If you’re traveling inside the United States, you might add a card in your wallet or your phone’s lock screen with the name, address and telephone number of someone to contact in case of an emergency. If you’re traveling outside the United States, be sure to complete the information page on the inside of your passport with these details.

^{1 Deloitte Summer Travel Survey 2022}

^{This information was written by KRW Creative Concepts,}