Health & Safety While Traveling | Office of Global Education

Your Wellbeing in a New Learning Environment

Your wellbeing is the most important factor to consider when planning for a semester or year away from campus. To make the most of your time away, evaluate your health needs as you research programs and destinations of interest to you. It is your responsibility to have a conversation with your health care providers (i.e., physician, counselor) about your intended semester or year off-campus. Creating a plan for your health and wellness in advance of your semseter or year away is essential for setting yourself up for success!

Consider the following questions:

If you have a chronic or recurring health issue, have you discussed with your health care provider if there is comprable care in the host country should you need treatment?
If you have a learning disability or other condition that requires accommodation at Amherst, can it be accommodated abroad? Many countries around the world do not have the equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act and, therefore, may not be legally required to make alternative arrangements. But many study abroad programs do make such accommodations. It is important for you to learn what can - and what cannot - be accommodated by communicating with the program.

The Global Education Office is available to help you research some of these questions. Please be in touch with us if you need assistance (x5691).

3 illustrated pills in various shade of purple

Medications

It is essential that you research, well before you depart, how you will obtain your medication abroad. Getting medication away from Amherst can be a difficult process and certain medications may not be available in your host country as drug laws vary greatly around the world. It is incredibly important that you verify the following before leaving the US:

Contact your program to learn about health insurance options available to program students. They should be able to tell you if your specific medications would be covered in your host country.
If your program does not offer its own insurance or their insurance does not cover your medications, contact your current insurance provider and ask if your medications will be covered while you're away. Please note that some medications are not available everywhere, and some over-the-counter medications in the U.S. are prescription-only outside of the country (e.g., sleep medication).
Learn what your copay will be by asking your insurance provider. Oftentimes, in foreign countries, the student must bear the full cost of the medication and will then submit a reimbursement form and receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement for these costs. If the cost is overwhelming, please check with the Amherst Financial Aid Office to learn about funds available to help you.
Students can also call AIG Travel Guard to learn more about medications abroad.
If you receive financial aid, please note that the cost of medication is not specifically included in your aid package but students use the personal expense credit to cover these costs. We encourage you to work with health services and your insurance provider prior to your departure to determine what will be covered and what you will be expected to pay.
Visit the Students Abroad website by the U.S. State Department which has specific information for study abroad students about prescription medications.

Immunizations

Some programs require or recommend certain immunizations; some host countries require certain immunizations for entry. Your program is best suited to advise you on program or host-country recommendations and requirements, but you can also look at the CDC Country Profiles for information on immunizations for travelers.

While Amherst no longer requires members of the community to be vaccinated against COVID-19, some programs and/or host countries may require it. Please consult with your program for more information.

Health Insurance

Because you are a student at an institution in Massachusetts, you are required to have health insurance while in residence at the college. If you are on the college plan with Gallagher Student Health you will be covered for the calendar year starting mid-August each year. The student plan is comprehensive and offers coverage worldwide. When participating in activities outside of MA, out-of-network charges may apply, e.g., copays and deductibles.

When outside of the United States, you will likely be asked to pay for your medical care first and will then need to submit for reimbursement. Covered expenses will likely be reimbursed on an out-of-network basis. Nonetheless, keep your health insurance card on you at all times.
When you submit claims for reimbursement, you will need to have the itemized bill(s) translated into English and include a letter informing the claims administrator that you are seeking reimbursement for charges previously paid.
Please ensure that your name, ID number, address (to receive your reimbursement check), and your school’s name are on the bill.

If you are on a different plan, call to make sure it will cover you in your host location and, if you are traveling abroad, that coverage extends to any countries where you intend to travel. If your plan doesn't provide international coverage, you have three potential options:

Ask your study abroad program if they offer comprehensive health insurance. Make sure coverage extends to countries where you plan to travel. Please note some study abroad programs offer insurance that starts and ends with the program dates, so if you plan to travel before or after your program, you will not be covered. We strongly recommend you find additional or alternative insurance that offers coverage for the entirety of your time away.
You may enroll in the Amherst Student Health Insurance Plan (through Gallagher Health) by contacting the Controller’s Office at (413)-542-2811.
Visit www.insuremytrip.com to compare and enroll in different health insurance plans specifically designed for travelers.

Emergency Medical Assistance Insurance

Most health insurance policies do not include coverage for emergency evacuation or repatriation of remains, both of which can be costly. Amherst students on college-sponsored programs (i.e., programs credited, arranged, and/or funded by Amherst), have a benefit through the Five College's policy with AIG Travel Guard for the dates of your program. This benefit through AIG Travel Guard includes emergency medical assistance, general trip advice, and access to many other services. The online resources of AIG Travel Guard are extensive which include country-specific medical and security information, travel guidance, up-to-date travel delay information, and much more. The attachments below include a summary of the policy coverage. More information on international college-sponsored travel is available on the Five Colleges, Inc. website. A copy of the membership brochure and policy is here.

AIG Travel Guard policy number: GTP 9144090*

Toll-free number: 1-877-244-6871

Overseas collect: +1-715-346-0859

*If registering on the AIG site, omit the GTP when entering the policy number.

Please note these important points regarding the AIG policy:

Coverage is only for the actual program dates. If students add personal travel before or after their program, the college recommends obtaining additional insurance through another provider or pay for coverage from AIG. (See below for more information on additional coverage.)
International students are not covered in their home countries.
Domestic students are not covered if they are less than 100 miles from home.

If you and your parents would like to purchase additional coverage, especially if you plan personal travel at the end of your program, you may want to review the emergency medical assistance insurance from iNext. You may also want to check with your study abroad provider to see if they include such insurance through their program fee. An additional resource where you can compare different insurance packages is available at www.insuremytrip.com.

Health & Safety Apps

The Center for Counseling and Mental Health compiled a list of applications that address a variety of concerns and can be used to support the work you do in therapy or assist with self-improvement. Although these are not a replacement for professional therapy or treatment, they may help you maintain a balance while abroad.

The U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each have a travel app for student travelers to research country profiles and travel advisories for specific health and safety information.

Strategies for Staying Safe

While no program or institution can guarantee your safety (at home or abroad), you can minimize your risk when traveling by researching your host city and culture and engaging fully in the orientation provided by your program. Other resources that you should review are below:

AIG Travel Guard has country-specific health and safety profiles. (See "Insurance" information below for more information on this program.)
The U.S. State Department has created a Students Abroad website specifically for students traveling, working, or studying abroad. The website has a wide variety of information ranging from how to obtain a passport and visa to filling prescriptions abroad.
Association for Safe International Road Travel promotes global road safety and has developed country reports about driving conditions abroad.
Jasmine Jahanshahi Fire Safety promotes fire safety awareness around the world.

Personal Property Insurance

Students may want to consider purchasing personal property insurance while they are attending their study away program. Five Colleges, Inc. recommends a plan through Gallagher, which has reasonable rates and provides worldwide coverage. Insurance of this kind is paid for out-of-pocket (as are any deductibles should you need to file a claim); students receiving aid can use their personal expense credit to cover this cost if they choose.

Office of Global Education Health & Safety While Traveling

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