North American Healthcare

Medical facilities in the USA are among the most advanced in the world. Hospitals and clinics are private and have up to date equipment where patients can receive the best treatment, but it is very expensive and you may even need further treatment to recover from the shock of the bill!

There is no form of national insurance in the USA, nor are there any reciprocal medical arrangements with either the UK or Europe. We strongly advise that you have good medical insurance to take care of any emergencies and preferably the type of insurance that pays the bill direct to the hospital services, without requiring you to wait for reimbursement upon your return home. The UK Foreign Office website recommends that insurance for the USA should have a cover of at least $1,000,000 and include evacuation to your home country.

Furthermore it is advisable to make sure that you will not need any dental care while you are in the USA as, while it is the best in the world, it is also the most expensive. Unfortunately no insurance policies cover dental care so a dental check before you go to the USA could prevent you from paying hefty sums.

At the present time there are no particular health risks linked with travel in the USA, although it is wise to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes as in some regions of the USA and Canada there is a risk, albeit very low, of contracting Nile Fever.

Water is usually safe to drink, as the USA has a highly developed purification system. However bottled water is most popular and many people choose to drink it in preference to tap water.

For further information on health, check the British Department of Health's website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/