Before You Go: A Practical Travel Health Checklist for People Who Care for Others

We all need a vacation sometimes. For people who spend their working lives taking care of others, vacations go beyond relaxing—they can also prevent burnout. But when it comes to travel—whether it’s a school break trip, a conference, a service trip, a family visit or that long-awaited vacation—it’s worth taking a thoughtful approach to your own health. 

Travel health is not just about avoiding rare tropical diseases. It’s about making sure your vaccines are up to date, knowing what your insurance will and will not cover, packing medications safely and having a plan if you get sick away from home.

Start with vaccines. 

At least a month before international travel, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travelers’ Health website for the country or region you plan to visit. Some vaccines, such as hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis or rabies, may be recommended depending on where you are going, how long you will stay and what you will do there. 

But the most important travel vaccines are often the basic ones: measles, flu, COVID-19, tetanus, polio and routine childhood or adult immunizations. Measles is a good example. It remains common in many parts of the world, including the United States.

For educators and clinicians, this is not only personal protection. Travel can bring infections back into schools, hospitals, clinics and public agencies, where exposure may affect children, older adults, pregnant people, immunocompromised patients or colleagues who cannot be vaccinated. A pre-travel vaccine check is a small act of community protection.

Next, review your health insurance. 

Many people assume their regular insurance will follow them wherever they go. That may be true for emergency care within the U.S., but routine or out-of-network care can still come with unexpected costs. Before domestic travel, look up your plan’s rules for urgent care, emergency care and out-of-state providers. Save your insurer’s member services number and know where the nearest in-network urgent care or hospital is at your destination.

International travel requires more planning. The U.S. government does not pay medical bills for Americans abroad, and many foreign hospitals require payment or a deposit before providing care. Medicare also has limited coverage outside the U.S., so older travelers or people caring for older relatives should check their Medicare, Medicare Advantage or Medigap benefits before leaving.

That is where travel health insurance and medical evacuation coverage come in. Travel health insurance can help pay for care abroad. Medical evacuation insurance can cover transportation to a hospital with appropriate care or, in serious cases, back to the U.S. This is especially important for travelers going to remote areas, cruises, rural destinations or places where medical care may not meet U.S. standards. Read the policy carefully: Cancellation coverage, lost luggage coverage and medical coverage are not the same thing.

Medication planning matters too. 

Take enough prescription medications for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays. Keep medications in their original labeled containers and carry them in your hand luggage. Before international travel, check whether your medication is legal in your destination country. Some common U.S. prescriptions or over-the-counter medications are restricted elsewhere.

Finally, make a simple care plan. 

Save local emergency numbers, the address of the nearest hospital, your insurer’s contact information and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. For international trips, enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which can help the embassy contact you during emergencies. For domestic trips, consider whether telehealth is available through your primary care provider or insurer.

The goal is not to make travel feel risky but to make it easier to enjoy. A little preparation when it comes to vaccines, insurance, medications and an emergency care plan can protect your health, family and community when you return well rested.