Leisure travel can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. What defines a perfect trip differs from person to person, but most would agree that it is a time to be eagerly anticipated, richly experienced, and fondly remembered. When you set off on an adventure, be it across the continent or the globe, it’s doubtful that your itinerary includes a visit to urgent care, or an extended hospital stay. 
The reality is that many travelers do become ill, and your risk increases with travel to foreign – and especially third world – countries. Where do you go if you become ill? What services are available where you are staying? How will you get home if your condition is serious? Foreign travel poses other issues as well, such as destination-specific immunizations, and knowing whether or not your health insurance will be accepted in the event you need medical assistance. Further, what if you don’t speak the local language or if you are unconscious?!
Medical concierge services can alleviate your need to dwell on the “what ifs” of travel, freeing you to focus on what’s important – unencumbered enjoyment. These service companies are much more than just travel protection. As the term “concierge” suggests, they assume the role of caretaker in the event you need medical assistance during your trip.
There are a variety of companies that provide this service, with options ranging from per-trip coverage to annual memberships (which are gaining in popularity as of late).
What can you expect to get for your fee? While memberships range from basic to elite, services may include the following:
- Travel protection and insurance
- Destination specific vaccination and immunization information
- Assistance with locating medical care
- Notification of family and friends
- Embassy and consulate contact information
- Travel and health records storage
- Medical advice and referrals
- Translation services
- Payment guarantee in local currency
- Essential medication delivery
You will often find that in addition to medical services, these companies provide other travel assistance, such as emergency lodging, cash advances and lost or stolen credit card reporting, passport assistance, lost luggage, and evacuation and repatriation services (we’ll hope that this one is never needed!).
The New York Times once ran a piece entitled, Stuck in Paradise, Needing Medical Help. It offers a glimpse of the problems you could face should you find yourself needing medical assistance while traveling, and the magnitude of coordination likely required to receive it. You can read the article here.
One of the many companies providing medical and travel concierge services, Aspire Lifestyles is a good example of a travel assistance provider. Aspire’s parent company is SOS International, a leading medical and travel security company.
We’ll conclude with a great quote on travel from Terry Pratchett:
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
– Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
Enjoy the journey!
References to any specific products or services are purely informational and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.