Health and Safety

Health, Safety, Insurance, Special Needs 

Health (top)

Before a student leaves, he or she should be sure to have a complete physical examination. Their program may require them to do this.  Some countries require proof of good health in order to be granted a visa.  Other countries require certain vaccinations to enter the country.  Some vaccinations must be given as much as 6 months in advance of the student's departure.  All students should consult the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for further information about specific geographic health recommendations. The CDC can also be reached by calling toll-free (877) FYI-TRIP.

If a student needs treatment for an ongoing medical issue while abroad, they should work with their physician and their program provider to seek out medical support in their host country. For additional assistance contact our office as well as the Gettysburg College Health Center where students can find answers to questions they have about preparing for a healthy trip.  Contact the Health Center for an appointment by calling (717) 337-6970.

Students should have their doctor in the U.S. write out any standard prescriptions for medication they take, citing the generic name and chemical composition.  This includes allergy medicine, gynecological prescriptions, etc. Oftentimes, medication is called different names in other countries, but the generic name will help a doctor fill the prescription more easily, should the student need more medication while abroad.

Students who have medical problems which are not easily recognized (diabetes, allergic reactions to antibiotics or bee stings, heart conditions, epilepsy, etc.) might consider obtaining a medic alert identification tag.  This tag is internationally recognized.  Students should check with their doctor or hospital to see how to obtain one.

 

Safety (top)

Although our office cannot guarantee the safety of the participants of any program, we do stress the importance of mature and responsible behavior as the key to a safe and successful term abroad.

• The best study abroad student is a prepared study abroad student. It is extremely important for each student to familiarize himself or herself with the customs and laws of their host country to ensure his or her safety while abroad. Practices perceived as commonplace in the United States may be unsafe, atypical or even illegal in the country or region in which a student is studying and traveling.
• A student should always have contact information for local police, fire, and ambulance and be able to communicate with safety providers whenever necessary.
• A student should exercise caution at night and travel with companions when possible, exercise caution when interacting with strangers, avoid participating in dangerous activities such as drinking in excess and using illegal drugs.

 

Insurance (top)

It is very important that you have health insurance that covers you adequately while you are abroad. Please check the details of your current policy to see if it will cover you for your general health needs while you are overseas. If it does, please get details about how you would actually use the insurance once you are overseas.

One aspect of international travel that the vast majority of U.S. health insurance policies do not cover is Medical Evacuation and Repatriation. Medical Evacuation coverage pays for the additional costs associated with moving patients from one city to another, or one country to another for medical treatment. Repatriation coverage pays the cost of returning someone's remains to the U.S. if they die overseas. While discussions of this kind are not easy, they are clearly important.

Gettysburg College has a mandatory Medical Evacuation/Repatriation supplemental insurance policy that all students studying abroad must purchase to cover the costs of medical evacuation and repatriation in the event of such an emergency. Information about this mandatory insurance is mailed to the home address of each student, and the cost of the insurance is billed directly to each student's account. The cost is currently $31.00 per month. You can choose to opt out of this supplemental insurance if:

1. Your study abroad program provides medical evacuation and repatriation coverage (please check your program materials).
2. Your family health insurance policy includes supplemental medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
3. You currently have the general Gettysburg College Health Insurance Policy (Shared Services Insurance Group) since it includes supplemental Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage.

If you meet one of these exceptions to opt out so you will not be billed $31.00 per month, please print and complete this form and fax to Mary Ann Remaley at fax number: (717) 337-8566 at least one month prior to your departure date. Even students who have Gettysburg's Shared Service Insurance need to do this! For any other insurance questions, please contact Mary Ann Remaley at phone number (717) 337-6069.

 

Special Needs (top)

If a student has any special needs that his or her program should be aware of, now is the time to provide them with this information.  For example, do they have a learning disability, ADD, special medical needs, or special counseling needs?  Do they have concerns about how their gender, race, or sexual preference will be perceived abroad?  Programs that know about their special needs and concerns prior to their arrival are best able to help them settle into their program successfully.  If a student is unsure with whom to speak, or if he or she wants some advice about alerting their program to a special need or concern, please talk to our office.