- Who this episode is for? Aging adults who enjoy travel or want to explore travel for the first time.
- Topics covered in this podcast: Stories about seniors in various traveling scenarios, plus tips and helpful resources to help people over age 65 travel safely and mindfully.
Do you enjoy travel or want to enjoy travel? Don’t wanderlust without listening to Boomer Time Episode 41, where I share some stories about seniors and scenarios that help to illustrate the reasons why you should take precautions when traveling in your Golden Years.
In this episode, I include tips on what to pack for your next excursion, plus official recommendations specific to the needs of seniors.
Plus, I’ve included a downloadable checklist for older travelers from the U.S. Department of State. We hope you’ll find this helpful as you prepare for upcoming holiday travel plans. Visit me at www.nancycogar.com for this and more helpful resources.
Travel Advisories and Alerts
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
- Create an account at STEP.state.gov and provide the details of your specific trip, including dates of arrival and departure for the countries you choose.
- We will email you new Travel Advisories and Alerts as soon as we issue them, so be sure to provide an email address that you can access during your trip.
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
You may also subscribe to OSAC’s daily newsletters for additional security information. See OSAC.gov for more details.
OSAC is a public-private partnership within the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security that promotes cooperation between American private/non-profit companies and the U.S. government on security issues.
OSAC publishes our Travel Advisories and Alerts, which are sortable by world regions and security categories. Note: OSAC’s listing of Travel Advisories and Alerts may not be updated immediately during evening and weekend hours.
Insurance Coverage Overseas
The U.S. government does not provide insurance for U.S. citizens overseas. We do not pay medical bills or unexpected medical costs. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. For more information on health, visit our page on Your Health Abroad. You should also review the country information page for your destination before you travel.
Before you go, consider your insurance options.
- U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas.
- Private U.S. insurance policies also might not cover any or all expenses. Check with your insurance before traveling to see if it provides coverage overseas.
- More information is also available on the CDC insurance page.
MEDICAL EVACUATION COVERAGE
- Pays for medical care and emergency transportation.
- Can be purchased separately or as part of your travel health insurance policy.
- Is strongly recommended, particularly if you are visiting countries with limited health care facilities.
f you are an older adult considering international travel, learn what precautions to take to stay safe and healthy during your trip.
Before you travel: Check CDC’s destination pages for travel health information. Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.
Tell your doctor about:
- Any chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and asthma.
- All destinations that you will be visiting
- The types of accommodations where you will be staying such as hotels, hostels, short term rentals, boats, camping etc.
- The purpose of your trip such as to visit friends and relatives, business, or adventure travel.
- Timing and length of your trip.
- Planned activities, such as climbing at high altitudes, scuba diving, humanitarian aid work, or taking cruises
- All medications that you are taking.
Make sure you are up to date on all of your routine vaccines. Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.
Some routine vaccines for older adults include pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine, zoster or shingles vaccine, and an annual flu shot. Learn more about what routine vaccines are recommended for adults.
Take recommended medicines as directed. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you, take the medicine as directed before, during, and after travel. Counterfeit drugs are common in some countries, so only take medicine that you bring from home and make sure to pack enough for the duration of your trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Learn more about traveling abroad with medicine.
Keep a paper or electronic record of your medical history with you during travel.
Join the Boomer Time community! Learn more at NancyCogar.com, subscribe to my newsletter and gain helpful resources to help you or your loved one navigate aging with confidence.
