Health and Safety - Colorado College

All students are expected to attend a pre-departure orientation, where detailed health and safety information will be given. Orientations are held in May for students whose programs begin the fall and in December for students whose programs begin in the spring. You will also receive written pre-departure materials from our office. Please read this information carefully, and take time to learn about political situations, living conditions, and any health and safety issues relevant to your host country.

As you prepare to leave campus, we hope that you will also consider the emotional stress of studying abroad. Study abroad can be a very powerful and positive developmental experience that may ultimately lead to increased levels of self-awareness. However, the life changes associated with study abroad can also be stressful and confusing, and may potentially exacerbate existing physical and emotional conditions. If you have any concerns, it is very important that you meet with the staff at Boettcher Health Center or other health care provider to discuss how studying abroad could affect your situation. Addressing your health issues prior to studying off campus will help you identify those resources that will and will not be available at your program site.

Please visit the links below for more on health and safety abroad:

• Health Insurance
• The CC Student Health Insurance Plan
• International SOS
• Immunizations
• Safety Guidelines

Health Insurance

All students studying abroad must have health insurance that covers them outside the U.S. If you are planning to study abroad, it is very important that you understand HOW your insurance coverage works overseas, WHAT types of illness and emergency care your insurance covers, and WHERE you will go to receive your health care abroad. First of all, check with your current health insurance company about the extent of your coverage abroad. If you are currently covered by your parents' plan, pay special attention to restrictions that may apply to overseas travel. We cannot tell you all the questions you need to ask of your insurance provider, but at a minimum you should understand the following before you leave the United States:

• What Insurance Covers: Know exactly what is and is not covered by your insurance plan. For example, high-risk sports injuries, dental care, and optical care are sometimes not covered by basic medical insurance. Also, if certain pre-existing conditions are excluded, check on the exact definition of "pre-existing."


• Insurance Provided By Your Program Sponsor: Some programs include insurance as part of their program fee and have pre-planned insurance arrangements for their participants. Purchasing their insurance may make it easier for the program staff to assist you while abroad. However, you should still look closely at the limitations in its coverage. If the program does not offer insurance, and/or you think the program insurance is not sufficient, you should consider purchasing additional coverage.


• Other Aspects to Consider: You should also investigate the financial limits of your coverage, whether your insurance applies during independent travel or vacation, what countries it includes, the policy's start and end dates, and whether you will have to pay first for treatment and be reimbursed later by your insurance company.

If your present insurance seems insufficient for your needs, you will want to purchase supplemental coverage. Visit our office for a list of companies that provide short-term health insurance.

The CC Student Health Insurance Plan

The Colorado College student health insurance plan, offered by The Chickering Group, does provide coverage to students who study abroad. If you are enrolled in this plan, and feel that you require medical attention while abroad, you may seek treatment from any provider. Because you are more than 50 miles from campus, you do not first need a referral from Boettcher Health Center. Covered medical expenses will be paid at the "non-preferred care" rate, which is normally 70% of allowable charges (note that you will also have to pay the $250 deductible). Keep in mind that you will most likely need to pay the health care provider up front and in full for any services received, and be reimbursed later. In order to facilitate your reimbursement, make sure to get an itemized bill from the provider, in English, if possible, that includes the full name and address of the provider, the date that services were received, a detailed listing with separate charges for each service provided, and a notation that you paid the bill in full.

As a participant in the Colorado College insurance plan, you also have access to the emergency travel services provided through Assist America. These services include passport and visa information, prescription assistance, inoculation and immunization information, emergency ticket replacement, as well as medical evacuation and repatriation.

As you prepare to study abroad, be sure to review the information in the current Student Health Insurance Plan brochure and discuss with your family whether you feel the coverage is sufficient. Please direct additional questions to the insurance coordinator at Boettcher Health Center, who may be reached at 719-389-6386.

International SOS

Colorado College has contracted with a company called International SOS (SOS) to provide worldwide assistance and emergency evacuation services for all study abroad participants. The services provided by SOS range from telephone advice and referrals to evacuation by private air ambulance. Colorado College students also have access to country-specific information on the SOS website, including recommended vaccinations, weather and road conditions, telephone and voltage information, and more. It is important to understand that although International SOS will offer students travel and medical advice and services, as well as cover the costs of medical evacuation and repatriation, International SOS is NOT travel or medical insurance. If you visit a doctor's office or have to be admitted to a hospital, International SOS will not cover these services.

As a Colorado College student, you are automatically enrolled in the SOS program. However, you will need to register your travel information with SOS before you depart the U.S. You will receive further instructions prior to your departure.

Immunizations

Your program sponsor should tell you about any needed vaccinations or medications particular to your program location. If you will need them, start your immunizations early. Some cannot be given at the same time as others, or may require a series of shots over several months. Depending on where you're going, you may need immunization against yellow fever, typhoid, cholera and other diseases, including malaria and hepatitis. All students should make sure their immunizations for tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, are up to date. For more information, consult the immunization nurse at Boettcher Health Center or another health care provider. They will meet with you to discuss health concerns in your host country, the pros and cons of receiving certain immunizations, and can administer any vaccinations you choose to receive (or direct you to a clinic that administers them).

Safety Guidelines

As a participant in a study abroad program, it is crucial that you take responsibility for your own health and safety. The following guidelines were developed by NAFSA: Association of International Educators for students participating in study abroad.

As a participant, you should:

• Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for your personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.


• Read and carefully consider all materials issued by your sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in your host country.


• Conduct your own research on the country you plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as social, cultural, and political situations.


• Consider your physical and mental health, and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to your program sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.


• Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.


• Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about your participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of your whereabouts and activities.


• Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.


• Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions.


• Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program.


• Accept responsibility for your own decisions and actions.


• Obey host-country laws.


• Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.


• Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol.


• Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of your whereabouts and well being.


• Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in your host country.