Health and Safety

Nothing is more important than your own health and safety while abroad. While we hope that your time overseas is worry-free, but sometimes students do experience health and safety concerns. This module will go over various topics covering your health, safety, and emergencies overseas. Please read this section carefully and make sure you fully understand what you should do if you need to visit a doctor or if an emergency occurs.

Health Insurance

All students are insured with a company called United Health Care (UHC). UHC health insurance will cover you for the entire duration of your trip, from your date of departure until the official end of the program. If you are going early/staying late on your program, you will need to arrange your own health insurance for that time. You can contact UHC directly to do this.

UHC insurance includes full health and medical insurance as well as emergency medical evacuation and repatriation benefits while participating in a study abroad program. For more information on coverage and how to use your UHC health insurance, visit the insurance section of our website. Your insurance card will be accessible online through the online Student Resources portal of UHC’s website. You should print this card before you depart for your overseas program. Your UHC account will be activated approximately 2 weeks before you depart.

For pre-trip planning or if you are outside of the USA and you need to locate a doctor abroad or have an emergency, please call UHC Global 24/7 at 844-249-0748. UHC Global can also arrange for direct pay for a provider that you see overseas if you call this phone number. 

Note that you cannot access the UHC site until you have been enrolled in the insurance and activated an account. If you have questions prior to that please contact our office. Once you are enrolled and have set up an account, familiarize yourself with all the services and resources they provide before you go.

UHC can assist you in setting up a doctor’s appointment with an English-speaking doctor. They will also arrange payment with the provider. If you book an appointment that is not part of UHC’s network, you may be asked to pay out of pocket. The best practice is to call UHC while at the provider’s office and have UHC give a “promise of payment” to avoid paying out of pocket. If this is not possible, keep your receipts to seek reimbursement with UHC!

Some programs will require students to purchase additional host-country health insurance in order to meet visa requirements. This will be listed on the budget sheet for your study abroad program and you will receive instructions for this at a later date. This is mandatory for these programs.

Your Health Overseas

Prior to departure, do as much as possible to ensure that medically you are ready to go abroad. Make sure you have taken care of any necessary medical or dental procedures before you leave, like check-ups and immunizations. Inform your program coordinator of any health problems that you think may be a concern while abroad. Your program coordinator can make sure that your needs are met overseas and help put health and safety measures in place to support you. Any information you choose to provide to your program coordinator will be used to help you remain healthy, safe, and successful during your semester overseas.

If you are currently on any prescription medication, you should speak to your doctor about options for bringing your prescriptions overseas, including asking about the possibility to fill your prescription for the duration of your program. Your doctor should provide a letter explaining why you are carrying a large quantity of medication. Your insurance provider may also require a note stating the need for a large quantity of medication to be filled at one time. You may be able to show your “To Whom It May Concern” acceptance letter to help with speaking to your doctor or insurance company about the need for a large quantity of medication. Contact your program coordinator if you need assistance with this process. 

Travel with any medications in your carry-on suitcase to avoid important medications being lost in the case of lost luggage or a delay of luggage arriving at your destination.

If you have any controlled substances, syringes, or ADD/ADHD medications, please contact the consulate of your host country. The regulations and restrictions in your host country may differ greatly from those in the US.

Depending on where you study, there may be recommended or required immunizations or vaccinations. You can view the latest recommendations from the Center of Disease Control at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Be aware of the local health issues in your host country. Here are some things to consider: 

• Is the food more likely to initially upset your stomach if you aren’t used to it? 

• Are they located under weak spots of the ozone layer, making it likely for you to get a severe sunburn even if you normally tan? 

• Is the water safe to drink? 

Know the specific common issues in your area and prepare! While we encourage you to explore your new city and experience all it has to offer, be aware of some common issues Americans face while abroad:

• Alcohol Use: The legal drinking age is lower in many countries. Observe the local attitudes toward alcohol consumption. It may be common to drink as a form of socialization while abroad, but it is not advised to drink in order to get drunk. Your host university may have a bar on campus or you may often see a bottle of wine served with dinner. Enjoy your surroundings, but be aware that American college students have a reputation of being loud, drunk, and obnoxious while abroad. Don’t feed into the stereotype!

• Drug Use: Do not buy, use, or possess illegal drugs while abroad. No one -- neither SUNY Oswego, nor your program coordinator, nor the U.S. Government-- can help you if you are arrested for violating drug laws while abroad. Drug laws are often more strict overseas and you could find yourself in serious trouble if you partake.

• Pickpocketing/Petty theft: Unfortunately, pickpocketing and petty theft are common in the majority of destinations abroad. While it is most likely to happen in tourist areas, please be aware that it can happen anywhere. Be extra vigilant, not just of your personal possessions (such as your wallet, purse, credit cards, money, jewelry, identification) but most importantly of yourself. Pickpockets love pubs, clubs, bars, beaches, touristic areas, the metro and areas where large numbers of individuals are congregated. Be extra vigilant for yourself and your belongings. The best way to protect yourself is to treat everyone who approaches you with caution and always hold on tightly to your purse, bag, or wallet. The less items of value you carry, the less of a target you will be, do your best not to stand out or flaunt expensive items. Above all else, never assume that you are too savvy to fall victim to a pickpocket!

Title IX Abroad

Title IX is the federal anti- discrimination law that states: "No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." (Title IX 1972 Education Amendments) Title IX bans sex discrimination throughout our college and campus community -- in all programs and activities including study abroad programs. Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence and sexual assault. 

While abroad, students are held to the same policies and procedures as if they were on campus. If a Title IX incident occurs overseas, students are still able to use the resources available to them on their home campus. If you are sexually assaulted, you can contact your program coordinator and/or report it to the Title IX committee, who will be able to provide you support services. If you’re in need of medical services, United Health Care can also assist in finding a supportive doctor, mental health services, and more. 

You can also contact Pathways to Safety, which works provides information to Americans overseas regardig domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

Additional crisis support can be accessed using the SUNY SAVR website. SUNY SAVR can provide information including confidential crisis hotlines, private reporting resources, support services, NYS and national resources and more. Even though you are overseas, there is help available. The SUNY SAVR page can be translated into several languages. 

What Constitutes an Emergency?

Know the difference between an emergency and an unfortunate event before you go. In the case of a true emergency, contact your in-country program contact and/or the authorities. They will be able to assist you immediately and with the appropriate local resources for your health and safety. 

Emergencies are defined as providing an immediate threat to the safety and well-being of the student. While these examples are rare, an emergency could include:

• You are hurt and need to go to the hospital

• You have been assaulted

• You are arrested

Some examples of instances that are not emergencies are:

• You lose your purse/wallet/passport

• Your luggage is lost or your plane is delayed

• You get lost (and aren’t in harm’s way)

In the case of a true emergency, after contacting your program contact and/or the appropriate authorities, you can contact SUNY Oswego’s Office of International Education at 315-312-2118. After hours, it will direct you to call campus police (315-312-5555) who will then be able to contact our staff members if needed. 

While we don’t like to talk about it, planning ahead for a “worst-case scenario” will make it less stressful if the situation does occur. Here are some general tips for planning ahead:

• Have “in case” money: It’s recommended you get some of your host country currency prior to departure. Generally, $100 for summer/semester programs and $50 for short-term programs is a good idea.

• Lost Wallet/Purse Preparation: Have the number for your credit card/bank written down in another place so you can contact them immediately. Don’t carry large amounts of cash on you and keep your wallet/purse secured as much as possible.

• Lost Passport: Make copies of your passport; leave one with your parents/guardian and keep one with you. You will also find a copy on your online study abroad account. You will need this if you lose yours and need a replacement! To avoid losing yours, keep it in a safe place; don’t use it as an ID when going out and about.