Health Resources and Traveling with Medication Abroad

MENTAL HEALTH BANNER 2023​​​​​​​

International Travel Medical Insurance:

Overview

Temple has contracted with Starr Insurance, administered by Healix International, to provide international health and security insurance for students, faculty and staff for the duration of their time outside of the U.S. on university-affiliated travel. This coverage provides a comprehensive program of insurance benefits and services that covers 100% of the medically necessary doctor's visits and emergency care overseas, including coverage for preexisting conditions. Travelers should review the entire summary of benefits for details regarding the full policy, benefits and exclusions. 

Temple's policy number is: #TEMP2302233

Please review this document for frequently asked questions and for directions on accessing Healix International's resources for Temple travelers. 

Pre-Trip Guidance & Advice

All Temple travelers registered with Healix International receive a pre-travel advisory email and a health and security country report about their destination(s) 14 days prior to their departure.

Access to comprehensive and real-time information on general travel advice, vaccination requirements, hospitals, embassies, business and social etiquette for all countries and major global cities can be accessed at any point via:


Temple travelers who would like to speak with Healix International prior to traveling can contact them via email at temple@healix.com or through Temple’s Assistance Helpline at +1-267-855-1884.

During Your Trip

However minor or serious, if Temple travelers have medical concerns while traveling, they should first contact Healix International on Temple’s helpline +1-267-855-1884 or through the Healix Oracle app. Healix’s Medical Operations team will provide immediate assistance 24/7/365 and when appropriate, identify vetted clinics, hospitals, or doctors. Where available, they will also provide a pre-treatment financial guarantee of medical costs covered under the international travel medical insurance plan.

In a safety or security emergency, Healix’s Emergency Response Team will reach out on Temple’s behalf via the Healix Oracle app and email to alert travelers, initiate check-in on Temple travelers in the impacted area, and assist travelers in crisis. Healix will arrange all necessary resources to coordinate expedient evacuations and repatriation when necessary.

The direct Temple University helpline to Healix is included on the downloadable Emergency Contact Card

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Mental Health Resources for Students Studying Away:

Temple provdies some mental health resources for student traveling off-campus:

Below are some external websites, articles, and videos that provide comprehensive information and coping strategies for mental health issues abroad:  

Websites:  

  • Mental Health Abroad from the University of Florida International Center  
  • WebMD: how travel affects you mentally 
  • GoOverSeas: this article is specifically about experiencing depression and depression-like symptoms, but the website has many articles about all types of issues that come up when studying abroad.  

Articles:  

Videos: 


For Dublin City University Specifically:  

Mental Health:  

  • DCU has great counseling services for mental and physical health! You can learn more about them at their main website here.  
  • You can get in contact or make an appointment with them here.  

Physical Health:  

Obtaining Prescription Medicine While Abroad:

The first step is always to tell your doctor/ psychiatrist when and where you will be going far in advance. They can offer you the best advice for filling your prescription abroad.  

You should be able to bring at least three months of your prescription meds abroad, so, time allowing, the best course of action is to just take all your meds with you.  

CDC STUDY ABROAD GUIDELINES: FOR MEDICINE  

Important notes about prescription medications abroad from the above link:  

  • All prescriptions carried internationally must indicate the student’s name, the name of the medication (brand name and generic), and the dosage and quantity prescribed. Treating physicians should provide a letter explaining the student’s diagnosis and the recommended treatment.   

  • Students should pack a copy of the physician’s letter along with all medications (in their original, labeled containers) in their carry-on baggage. Some destinations may require disclosure of prescription medications when clearing customs. 
  • Most countries prohibit arriving travelers from importing quantities of medication greater than what has been prescribed for personal use. For study abroad exceeding 90 days, students should—where possible—fill prescriptions in the US that will cover them for the full duration of their time away from home.  
  • Some countries do not accept prescriptions written by US providers. Students who anticipate needing to refill a prescription while abroad must be prepared to schedule an appointment to visit a local doctor to obtain a valid, accepted prescription. Students need to determine before travel whether their travel insurance policy covers such appointments; insurers may consider this to be preventive care and refuse coverage. 

Student Well-Being While Away:

While participating on a Global Opportunities program, students are supported by on-site staff, Global Opportunities, and the rest of the Temple community.
 
Prior to studying away, we encourage students to consult with their support teams on campus. They may include the following offices: