Yellow Fever Travel Warning for Sudan

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in Sudan began a 10-day mass vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Darfur on 20 November 2012, in response to the outbreak.

As of 17 November 2012, the outbreak is reported to have affected 26 localities, with a total of 459 suspected cases including 116 deaths. Two cases were confirmed by IgM ELISA test and RT-PCR by the WHO regional reference laboratory for yellow fever, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal. An outbreak investigation team led by the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO are in the field to assess the extent of the outbreak and prioritize areas for the mass vaccination campaign. Read More »

What is the Cost of Hospitalization & Medical Care in the US

According to a recent PBS News Hour article, the average U.S. Citizen spent $8,233 on medical care in 2010 which is 2.5 times more than any other country.  Ironically, the average American family has $3,800 is savings according to the U.S. Census; however, only 15.9% of the population in 2011 was uninsured.

Graphic is from PBS News Hour article

A hospital stay in the United States costs over $18,000 on average according to Mark Pearson, head of Division on Health Policy at Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  You might not know but in the U.S., how much a doctor or hospital gets paid depends on the type of insurance a patient has.   A patient with an insurance plan with “rich” benefits will usually be have the option to be treated by most doctors while  patients who have lower-paying insurers might be denied, unless it’s an emergency.  The type of insurance you have is critical to the availability and quality of care you have the opportunity to receive.

Currently, there are few methods for controlling rising costs in medical care in the U.S.  Having a comprehensive health insurance policy limits your financial risk of an unforeseen illness or  accident.

Graphic is from PBS News Hour article

The table below gives some estimate costs of common medical procedures compared with some of the countries with similar quality of medical care.

Graphic is from PBS News Hour article

The table shows that:

• A coronary bypasses costs between nearly 50 percent more than in Canada, Australia and France, and are double the price in Germany.
• Hip and knee replacements are generally cheaper in other countries than the U.S.
• PTCAs (coronary angioplasty) are much more expensive in the United States than elsewhere.

If you are visiting the US, it is highly recommended to purchase a visitors health insurance or travel medical insurance plan from a reputable insurance company.  What is the cost of hospitalization in the U.S.?  Unforeseen accidents and illnesses which result in hospital stays can exceed $18,000.  Read the full PBS News Hour article online at

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/health-costs-how-the-us-compares-with-other-countries.html

Ask a Flight Attendant: What are the most comfortable travel shoes?

UNCOMFORTABLE travel shoes can not only ruin your feet, they can ruin your vacation.  Bobby Laurie, a Los Angeles-based flight attendant for almost seven years, gives great advice in picking comfortable and fashionable shoes you can travel with.  He recommends sturdy shoes that to not include any metal (in case you are enrolled in the T.S.A. PreCheck program, which can enable frequent travelers who have been prescreened to pass through security without removing their shoes.

He shares a tip in case you find yourself with a sore blister at 36,000 feet.  You can read about it over at New York Times online at http://ow.ly/dBgq3. Read More »

Visiting Denmark? You’ll Need More Than a Schengen Visa

Denmark is a member of the Schengen Agreement which allows you to travel in between member countries on a single visa.  One of the requirements for a Schengen Visa is to show proof of health insurance.  Contact Insurance Services of America for an affordable travel medical insurance quote which meets the Schengen Visa health insurance requirements.

If you are planning a trip to Denmark, then take head to the recent travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department.  The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen has learned that there have been devices placed on ATMs in the Osterbro section of Copenhagen, where the U.S. Embassy is located, that are able to read the ATM cards and/or collect data for PIN codes.  Read more for tips to avoid being victimized by such ATM readers: Read More »

The Nation’s Germiest Airports – Gross!

Watch Out For These Travel Email Scams

Should I be concerned about infections caused by “flesh-eating bacteria”?

This healthip is shared with permission by eDoc America.  eDoc America partners with Insurance Services of America to provide our clients with online and telephone medical consultation services with licensed doctors to answer your medical questions.  Read More »

Get Care While You’re There: A Guide to London’s Games

37 days and counting until the Summer Olympics…

Not all of us are as quick on our feet as the athletes we’ll watch at the Summer Olympic games. So while you may be fortunate enough to get to participate as a spectator, like most of us you may be clumsy at times, prone to accidents, or have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We certainly hope everyone’s trip to the Olympics is trouble-free, but just in case, our final installment of our Guide to London’s games offers useful tips on how to find help if you need it. Ready? Set…go!

How Do I Get Medical Care?

While medical services are widely available in London, free care under the National Health System (NHS) is allowed only for Read More »

Play It Safe: A Guide to London’s Games

The Summer Olympics are almost here!

In just 39 days, London will treat the world to its Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies. If you’re lucky enough to be there in person, this second installment of our 3-part Guide to London’s Games, offers information on what London is doing to keep you and thousands of spectators safe during the Summer Olympic games. Here we go…

Is London Safe?

Kroll Security Analysts reports that there is a moderate risk for crime in London, although the overall crime rate fell by one percent in 2010 from 2009 figures, according to the London Metropolitan Police. In January 2012, the secretary-general of Interpol said his organization uncovered no specific intelligence indicating a threat to the Olympic Games by militants.

The most serious crime threat to foreigners in London comes from Read More »

Go for the Gold: A Guide to London’s Games

The world will soon train itself on London, England as the city hosts the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Spectators from across the globe will travel to London see the world’s best athletes compete to win gold. In this 3-part Guide to London’s Games, we’ll address a few questions and welcome your feedback. Let’s go!

Can I Still Get Tickets?

According to a recent search at www.CoSport.com, tickets are still available for certain competitions, including some basketball, gymnastics and volleyball tournaments. There are still Olympic Games you can watch even without tickets. Read More »