Travelling Overseas
While overseas travel can be an exciting prospect, there can be situations where things may go wrong and travellers find themselves needing urgent medical assistance, help with replacing lost luggage and/or assistance with making an urgent trip home. This is where quality Travel Insurance can help - along with providing peace of mind for travellers who may find themselves in any of these situations.
From Austria to Zambia, it's good to know you're protected around the clock anywhere in the world with AHI. AHI Assist brochureOUR PARTNERS
- Customer Care (AHI Assist)
- Dynamiq Assist
CUSTOMER CARE (AHI ASSIST)
Customer Care Pty Ltd is an International Medical Assistance company based in Sydney, Australia (hereafter referred to as AHI Assist) providing services to many leading travel insurers including AHI, multinational organisations, corporate travellers and expatriates worldwide and specialise in the management of medical assistance, medical transport and evacuations for international organisations.
AHI Assist procedures ensure effective and efficient responses to all medical cases. In an emergency situation, AHI Assist will immediately verify the precise nature of the patient's medical condition. AHI Assist have five medical consultants with specialties in Aviation Medicine, Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine.
In addition to this team of medical specialists there is the ability to call upon the services of a variety of suitably qualified medical specialists in all the major disciplines as the requirements of a case may dictate.
Dr Howard Roby is the AHI Assist Medical Director. Dr Roby is a specialist in Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Aviation Medicine and has over 20 years experience in aero-medical retrieval.
AHI and our clients access AHI Services through the 24 hour telephone number for any overseas medical emergencies. Our relationship with AHI Assist operates on our belief that they deliver the best 24-hour telephone customer service to our clients.
AHI Assist has a worldwide presence through membership of the International Assistance Group (IAG) a global network of independent assistance companies servicing multinational companies with travellers and expatriates worldwide. AHI Assist has 31 partners worldwide through this network and 53 direct offices.
The extent of medical and travel assistance provided by the AHI Assist team to our clients is in part determined by the boundary of the insurance policy.
Medical assistance includes (but not limited to):
- providing 24-hour medical advice
- referral to medical provider / facility
- medical evacuation and repatriation
- medical monitoring
- assessing medical standards and appropriateness of care
- paying of overseas hospital bills
- co-ordination of urgent and non urgent aeromedical retrievals
- organising the return home of incapacitated travellers with or without an escort
- co-ordination of the repatriation of mortal remains
- interpreting of medical reports /advice
Travel assistance includes (but not limited to):
- 24- hour travel advice
- referral to airline, embassy or other travel provider domestically or overseas
- assistance with reissue of passport, tickets or other travel documents
- assistance with reporting and reissue of stolen credit card
- payment of additional expenses including accommodation and flights
- rerouting of flights/ itinerary
- relay messages to and from family members
- claims and policy advice
- co-ordination of family member to fly overseas
DYNAMIQ
Dynamiq is an international emergency management firm. Our team provides 'Peace of Mind' by helping organisations prevent and respond to natural, manmade and deliberate emergency events. Dynamiq provides emergency planning, remote medical, travel risk and strategic security solutions, specialising in complex, remote and hostile environments around the world. Services include advice, contracted personnel, project management and 24/7 emergency response services. Due to our extensive global footprint, Dynamiq is able to provide end-to-end support for clients anywhere in the world. This includes:
- Corporate Crisis Management support
- On-the ground support
- Protection from civil and political coups, terrorism, war, kidnap, extortion and illegal detention or natural disasters and medical emergencies.
History of excellence
Recent terrorist attacks in India highlight the type and severity of risk to which companies operating in this geography can potentially be exposed.
As terrorists began to lay siege to Mumbai in November 2008 Dynamiq deployed consultants on the ground to support clients in the impacted hotels, whilst simultaneously providing corporate crisis management advice to the parent companies in Australia. With their established partnership to the Insurance Underwriters, Accident and Health International, Dynamiq was able to provide immediate response to all affected clients and advise their parent companies on required mitigating actions and insurance considerations. The clients in the heart of the danger zone were the first priority; while Dynamiq assisted other clients in the broader locality as well as travellers due to arrive in the area.
Whilst managing the impact of the terrorists incidents in Mumbai Dynamiq simultaneously managed a considerable logistical exercise in Thailand when protesters blocked Bangkok international airport and hundreds of passengers were stranded.
Dynamiq personnel escorted and evacuated 27 travellers from Bangkok, via multiple means of transportation including helicopter, road and commercial aircraft and facilitated the crisis management with concerned employers at head office.
Dynamiq has assisted organisations in cases unrelated to terrorism. One of our valued clients was involved in a motorbike accident in the Philippines. The situation threatened to escalate, despite our client not being at fault. Dynamiq used established and vetted local contacts to negotiate with authorities to safely extract and repatriate the client.
After the Sichuan earthquake in China, Dynamiq personnel evacuated affected young aid workers to safety before escorting them back into the devastated region to assist in the recovery effort. Dynamiq's preventative approach also helps travellers in emerging and escalating situations. Their support to companies and travellers during the swine flu pandemic helped organisations protect their people, assets and reputation.
RESCUE & ASSISTANCE
Intending travellers often ask the question, "Why should I bother with travel Insurance? Nothing is likely to happen to me on this trip".
Our clients have access to our emergency assistance partners through the AHI Assist 24 hour hotline who have a global emergency response capability in the event of a medical, safety, security or natural disaster event or emergency.
Here are some of their experiences...
TRAVEL ADVISOR
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Smart Traveller
Find out about your destinations. Keep informed of the latest government information on travel warnings and precautions. Visit the Australian DFAT Website for the latest travel information
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WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) acting as a directing and coordinating authority on international public health.
WHO coordinate international efforts to control outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as SARS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, swine flu and AIDS.
Ask your health professional at least eight weeks before you go for advice on any health precautions needed in the area you are visiting e.g. anti-malaria medication, vaccinations. See our checklist
AHI Corporate Travel Insurance. Ensure your travel insurance policy covers your business and personal circumstances and planned activities.
On smartraveller.gov.au so that you or your family can be contacted in an emergency
Keep a copy of your passport, AHI insurance policy schedule, 24 hour emergency numbers and ticket details with you, and leave another set with family or your office. Carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Contact home and your office if you are near a major disaster or incident while travelling overseas and know where your nearest Australian Embassy is located
If you don't want to end up on an episode of Border Security, check out Travel Secure
This government website includes information on passenger and baggage screening, liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) restrictions, and recommendations about travelling with children, laptops, medicines and sports equipment.
TRAVELLERS CHECKLIST
International travel exposes you to changes in climate, temperature and diseases which can impact your health. Minimise the health risks by taking few precautions before you travel. For the latest travel advice specific to your destination see our Travel Advisor Page
- Past Medical History
- Vaccination Requirements
- Pregnancy
- Allergies
- Medications
- Pre-Existing Conditions
- Disease Prevention
It is important that you discuss your personal travel plans with a health professional to ensure you have the correct for information on routine, required and recommended vaccinations for your trip and any booster doses of childhood vaccinations you may need.
Keep a list of all prescription drugs required whilst travelling and check with your doctor prior to departure. Before leaving Australia, you should check that your medications are legal in the countries you are visiting. You can do this by contacting the country's embassy or high commission.
Medicare benefits are not available for treatment received overseas; however Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with a number of countries.
These agreements do not replace the need for medical insurance for travel overseas. Details are available at the Medicare page of the Health Insurance Commission site.
Under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, as an Australian resident your are entitled to assistance with the cost of medical treatment in: Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with these countries cover any medically necessary treatment you require which may arise while in that country.
The Travel Doctor
TMVC website provides vaccination advice, travel health advice, clinic details and current health alerts for overseas travel.
If you have medical history, always carry summary of your medical history and your family doctors details with you.
Please see your doctor to identify your specific needs.
- Do frequent leg exercise, move around the cabin, stretch and take deep breaths regularly while seated
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration
- Eat lighter to avoid bloating
- Keep important medication with you in case your luggage goes missing.
Take a list of any emergency numbers that you may require including AHI Assist Emergency phone number + 61 2 9202 8211
Check your card limits (including any daily limits) with your financial institution. Check with your bank for information on international ATM fees.
Ensure you have some local currency on you when you arrive and depart from your destination in case any local arrival or departure taxes are payable.
Check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the period for which you are travelling.
Check to see if a visa is required for any of your destinations.
Check coverage is available at your destination with your mobile service provider and if necessary enable International Roaming.
Make sure your licence is current and valid. Not all car hire companies will accept a foreign driver's licence. Contact your local Australian Motoring Association to find out more about an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Check with your airline