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Before You Go

As a senior traveler, your most important pre-departure task should be a checkup with your domestic health care provider.  Your doctor (and dentist) should do a full body scan to assess your health and travel ability.  If you don’t receive a full endorsement from, you might be putting your health at serious risk.   

In addition to this checkup, you’ll also need to ask for doctor’s notes for any medication that you plan to take with you on your medical tourism vacation.  These notes might prove extremely useful at airport security checks.  They'll come in handy once again when you finally meet with your medical tourism physician or dentist. 

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Are You Fully Vaccinated?

Are you up to date on all of your inoculations, vaccinations, and medication?  Keep in mind that some vaccinations take days, weeks, or months to begin working, so leave yourself plenty of time. 

Do You Have Adequate Travel and/or Health Insurance?

Do you have the requisite insurance for your trip?  Will it cover you while abroad?  Be sure to read the fine print of any policies you carry.  If necessary, ask a family member or attorney to help you with the paperwork. 

Handle Your Affairs at Home

Make sure you alert your family members and friends to your upcoming trip.  This is not just a courtesy; it is also a security precaution.  Keeping them in the loop will make it easier to handle any emergencies that might crop up during your medical tourism vacation.  Your friends and family members should have the full contact details of your airline, hotel, hospital, and embassy.  In addition, they should be aware of your full itinerary and travel arrangements. 

Before taking your trip, you also have to have your house and financial affairs in order. 

  • Will bills get paid? 

  • Who will feed your cat? 

  • Can you put a temporary hold on mail and/or newspaper delivery? 

  • Can you arrange for a close friend to housesit?   

For a more thorough discussion on pre-trip preparations, please visit our section on Getting Your Affairs in Order.
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