The Three “P” s of Holiday Travel.

It’s that time of year again!  The holiday season – in the international insurance communities the holiday season is also known as peak travel season. So whether international travelers are visiting the beaches in sunny Southern California or ringing in the New Year in New York City’s Time Square, it’s all festive until a medical concern interrupts the merriment of the trip.

Few international travelers think ahead to the “what ifs” of an unexpected medical occurrence that leads them to the emergency room. Even fewer actually take proper precautions to know what steps to take if their travel is interrupted by a medical matter.

Preparations in the event of a medical emergency are crucial for any holiday traveler, but even more so for international travelers who are not familiar with the ins and outs of U.S. urgent cares, emergency rooms, specialty Doctors and hospitals.  New Frontier Group works with providers all over the United States. So my advice before and during you set off for your international travels falls into my easy to remember Three “P” s – Be PREPARED, Don’t PANIC, Allow yourself PEACE of Mind.

Of course every medical incident is different, but taking note of these three recommendations   in advance can make the difference between crisis and calmness.

• Be PREPARED: Make sure you have your International Insurance company or Assistance Team’s phone number accessible. Enter it into your phone.  If you need medical assistance while traveling or working in the United States, immediately call your Insurance or Assistance team.  Tell them of your circumstances and need for medical care.

• Don’t PANIC-I know this may be easier said than done. Stay calm and try not to panic. Once your Insurance or Assistance Team has verified your coverage, they will contact New Frontier Group and request that we assist with your complete healthcare needs and process.  Make note of New Frontier Group’s phone number +1 949 429 7130 and don’t hesitate to contact us or to give our phone number to your medical provider when registering into a facility.

• Allow yourself PEACE of Mind- One of the main reasons you have travel insurance is for the very peace of mind that if something does happen, you have a team to assist you. Once notified by your Insurance or Assistance Team, New Frontier Group will be ready to take over communications with the medical facility/administration. We work to ensure that your insurance information is on file and request claims be settled directly through us, minimizing any out of pocket expense to you.  Our goal is to alleviate the concern of any financial burden and allow you to get on with your holiday festivities.

I ‘d like to add one more “P” word that may be valuable for many international travelers – PRESCRIPTIONS! Prescriptive medicines in the U.S. can be very costly and if your Insurance approves coverage, New Frontier Group’s RX Concierge Program can assist you in coordinating the delivery of the medication with no upfront costs to you or your travel companions. Just make contact with New Frontier Group +1 949 429 7130 or have the medical provider notify us and we will have our RX Concierge take over from there.

Hopefully, you will not need any of my recommendations and your holiday travel will be filled with the PRESENCE of holiday cheer, joy and good health. Happy Holidays to you all.