I feel like a total newbie—I’ve never really thought about this before, beyond repatriation—what happens if I get seriously ill or injured abroad? Thankfully, it’s never happened to me.
But now I’d like to cover my bases.
Do you know of any insurance providers, or where to look and how to choose one, that covers potential hospitalization costs, specifically in Uzbekistan?
I don’t even know if this kind of coverage is tied to a specific destination, in Europe (France?), or if it’s arranged directly in the country... 🤪
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Hi Catherine,
I got some good info about "Chapka Assurance" for trips abroad. I haven’t used it myself, though. Something to look into!
Safe travels as you prepare for this country I’d love to visit!
Christiane
« Celui qui voyage sans rencontrer l’autre ne voyage pas, il se déplace »
Alexandra David-Neel
Holders of a French bank card—at least those residing in France with a French bank card—have medical and repatriation assistance, with two coverage levels: around 12,000 € for standard cards and around 155,000 € for Gold or Premier cards.
However, you must be covered by French social security, as this amount is used to supplement what your social security will reimburse.
It all depends on your exact situation, and it seems too specific to settle for a general answer—unless things have changed 🙂.
Hey Michel,
The thing is, I have no idea how much medical expenses cost in Uzbekistan... So I’m struggling to figure out how much coverage I’d need for a serious issue.
If I have multiple cards, do the coverage amounts stack?
Is my bank the right place to get a detailed breakdown of what my credit cards cover?
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
I have to say I hadn’t really thought about it before going, figuring that a repatriation assistance plan with 155,000 € coverage would do the job if needed.
No one can really tell you if the amounts can stack, since if there’s a problem, you’ll use one, not several—and you need to open the claim as soon as possible. If you have a Gold or Premier card, I can’t see how it wouldn’t be enough.
Didn’t you get an assistance/insurance notice when you signed up? Otherwise, you can find it online in your account. Or, worst case, ask the bank in question—but that’s usually a great way to get a random answer.
A friend’s month-long hospitalization in Memphis for severe dengue really made me cautious. Even though I assume—though I don’t actually know the criteria—that a potential hospitalization in Tashkent would be less expensive.
Maybe I can’t read French anymore. Why does it say "advance of costs up to 155,000 €" instead of "coverage of costs"? 🤔
Has anyone had experience with the doctors from the Premier Card service and the rest of the team? Responsive and efficient?
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Hi there,
I’ve only used the "Visa Premier" insurance once during a trip, to get reimbursed for damage to a rental car (250 €).
The thing is, you’ll need a lot of patience and a ton of paperwork to even qualify for reimbursement (and direct coverage is rare).
On top of that, every bank network has its own coverage, which varies from one bank to another (I tested this myself since I have multiple Visas).
Since then, I usually take out travel insurance, which, compared to the overall cost of the trip, isn’t that expensive.
I most often go with Chapka—competitive rates, clear terms, and good coverage.
But maybe that’s just my "belt and suspenders" approach 😅🤓
"Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux."
Marcel Proust
Hey again...
What you’re seeing in the copy just means that the repatriation and health assistance is for people who already have social security coverage and supplemental insurance, and are taking trips of less than 90 days, during which they want to be covered against unpredictable accidents or health issues.
It’s not meant for anything else.
If there’s a problem, it advances the amount, and afterward, you have to reimburse what was covered by your health insurance and any supplemental plan.
So, it doesn’t "cover" in the sense of taking care of everything—it advances the funds and covers excess expenses up to 155,000 €.
That’s how I understand it, anyway. I’ve used it twice, but only for minor things, to the point where I never even asked for reimbursement.
Also, there’s no such thing as "Visa assistance"—it’s a bank that issues a card with a group contract from a major provider like Europe Assistance, Mondial, or a few others.
And that’s who you end up dealing with when you call.
You could even try calling to test it out and ask who the provider is.
Catherine is asking about health assistance and repatriation, not insurance; these are separate components of what’s included with the bank card benefits.
There are actually two separate notices, by the way.
Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s exactly what worries me when I see all the restrictions listed in the explanatory document: basically, you can’t do anything without first getting approval from this service and their doctors. I’m dreading endless phone calls bouncing from voicemail to voicemail when you might need to act fast...
Did you ever need Chapka and actually test their services?
Otherwise, it’s true that it’s tempting to skip the hassle for 60 €/person (I’ve become the type who wears suspenders, a belt, *and* a parachute )
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Personally, no—I’ve never needed to use their services (and that’s just as well).
I have a friend who had major health issues in the US during a trip and now lights a candle for them whenever he can 😅.
But you’ll find just as many people on Google who’ll trash them…
My rule is 60 €—that’s a good restaurant I’d skip to have peace of mind, even if I end up with 4 insurance policies…
After that, everyone does what they prefer
"Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux."
Marcel Proust
My rule is 60 €—it’s a good restaurant I’d skip to have peace of mind, even if I end up with 4 insurance policies...
I checked out Chapka’s website.
For their plan aimed at occasional travelers, short trips, and those already covered by social security, I don’t think the core principles differ much from other assistance companies.
Better in terms of communication and the person handling the case?
If that’s the case, then yeah, that’s great.
I’m planning a trip to Japan next year and I have asthma...
I wanted to know about the regulations regarding Ventolin (Salbutamol) in Japan—is it considered a drug? Can I bring my inhaler with me, or do I need to buy a similar product in Japan?
I have two American cousins. The older one was born in Paris, and his sister was born in California. The latter is planning a trip to Paris this summer, but she recently fell ill, and American doctors don’t know what’s wrong. I had the idea of letting her take advantage of her trip to get treated here, avoiding the high healthcare costs of the American system in the process. The problem is, I can’t find anything online about this—just testimonials from French people who used to be American, but nothing for a simple tourist.
I’m traveling to Portugal with my family and I have a treatment that requires injections. How can I take a flight with these? They look like injectable pens.
Thanks
We’re planning a trip to the Philippines from April 22 to May 8, 2026. Flight from Geneva with a layover in Turkey and Manila. Our itinerary: Angeles – Busuanga – Palawan…
The Philippines are a dream destination, but is it possible to travel there safely? I’ve heard that checked luggage often gets lost, tap water isn’t safe to drink, and mosquitoes are everywhere.
For water, what’s the best solution to carry in a backpack? Is a filtering water bottle 100% reliable?
For mosquitoes, should we treat our clothes with repellent? Are you vaccinated against hepatitis A, malaria, or dengue? Or is there an oral treatment to take?
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s travel insurance for someone who’s had a heart attack?
I can’t find an insurer that covers a pre-existing condition, even if it’s stable.
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, next month my wife, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are flying to Thailand. It’ll be a great chance to soak up some sun—something we’ve been missing lately here in France! But speaking of sun, I burn easily, and our daughter even more so. I was wondering what SPF to get for sunscreen and whether it’s better to buy it there or before we leave? Thanks for your tips!
Hello,
We’re planning to spend 3 months in Madagascar starting in mid-February.
Areas: Mahajanga, Tulear, Diego Suarez, and Sainte Marie—the order isn’t set yet. We’ll either drive for part of the trip or take flights.
We’ve heard all sorts of things about required vaccines and medications (is anti-malarial mandatory?). What’s the exact situation for travelers?
I’ll come back to you for other topics (like finding a reliable driver, among others).
Thank you.
Best wishes to you all,
Nicole
We're about to go on an organized trip to South Africa, including Kruger Park. We were told that Malarone should preferably be taken in the evening at the same time during a meal. But it's hard to know what time we'll have dinner, especially since I've read that in South Africa, dinner is usually around 6 PM.
I'd love to hear from people who've been on organized trips to this destination and could share their experience. We were thinking of taking Malarone around 7:30 PM, assuming dinner would be closer to 7 PM than 6 PM. Also, if the meal ends up being earlier or later than when we take the pill, would a cookie or a piece of bread be enough to take with Malarone?
I’m planning to set off on a "round-the-world" trip/long journey at the start of next year, lasting between 4.5 and 6 months. For now, the itinerary looks like this: South Korea (2 weeks) -> Japan (1 month) -> New Zealand (1 month) -> Argentina (1 month) -> United States (1 month).
I’m on medication (paroxetine 20 mg/day) and was hoping to bring enough for the entire trip so I wouldn’t have to find a doctor on the spot, deal with a molecule that might be slightly different from what’s available in France, or wonder if that’s even a possibility. Basically, it seemed simpler on paper...
But after looking into the regulations for each country, it’s suddenly way less simple . Many seem to only allow the amount corresponding to the length of your "stay" in the country... Which is a problem if I arrive in Korea with 4.5 months’ worth of medication, for example.
After all that, and even though I’ll obviously contact the relevant authorities in each country (fingers crossed for a response 😛), here’s my question:
Has anyone here had any experience with this? (Even if it’s a different medication or different countries, any input would be helpful!)
I’m trying to plan a trip to Dubai with my mom. I’ve seen that some of our medications require prior authorization (sleeping pills, codeine, anti-anxiety meds, etc.).
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been in our situation. A friend of mine applied to bring her tramadol, but it was denied—though she needed high doses!
Has anyone here gone through this process? Do we *really* need a prescription in English?
We just found out my wife is pregnant, and we’ve planned a trip to the Barlavento Islands in Cape Verde this November.
We’d like to know if there’s a real risk of Zika contamination on those islands, because from what we’ve found online, the recorded cases are old and come from the Sotavento Islands.
We’re thinking about canceling our trip.
If you’ve recently traveled to Cape Verde or live there, do you have any thoughts on this?
hi, I’m looking for information about the possibility of returning to Thailand with a portable liquid oxygen system and whether it’s possible to recharge it in Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. thanks
I’m starting a new discussion on this topic since there doesn’t seem to be a recent one.
I have several chronic conditions (including asthma and related ones), and I’m planning to travel for a year across different countries.
Generally, I understand it’s possible to travel with approved medications (which should be my case), but often with a limit of 3 months’ worth of treatment.
Since I’m going for 12 months, that means for three-quarters of my trip, I’d have more than 3 months’ worth of medication.
I plan to bring my prescriptions with the INN (International Nonproprietary Name), as well as the original packaging (even though it’s a nightmare, but from what I understand, it’s necessary). But I’m not sure if that’s enough...
Have any of you been in this situation before? How does it work at customs—do I need to declare everything that exceeds the 3-month limit? Do I need a letter from my doctors?
I'm currently in Bangkok: How can I find a good doctor for a consultation? It's for a friend who'd like a second medical opinion compared to what they got in their country of residence.
Any professionals you'd recommend? How much does it cost?
I’ve already visited quite a few countries across several continents, but I’m pretty new to Asia.
I’m planning a trip to Thailand in October or November, and I wanted to check about health precautions: malaria treatment, vaccinations (hepatitis A or others...).
I’ll mostly be in the northern region, around Chiang Mai, where I’ll spend a lot of time in nature and the mountains. Then I’ll head south to Phuket or Krabi and visit Khao Sok National Park. I’ll finish up in Bangkok, with a likely detour to Kanchanaburi.
From what I understand, for a stay of less than 60 days, I don’t need a visa (I’m a French national)? I just need to fill out the TDAC form 3 to 5 days before arrival?
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone is heading to Cuba soon and could bring me some over-the-counter Sildenafil (viagra) tablets—available at Varadero Airport, among other places.
Hi there! So, I'm hesitating about taking a long trip. I'd like to go away for 2 to 3 months and travel across several continents. I’d love some advice. I often have unexplained allergies and need to follow a daily treatment for my diabetes (insulin). I think I can get authorization from my doctor to travel for 6 months with the treatment—is that correct? After those 6 months, is it possible (instead of bothering a relative to send the medication) to see a foreign doctor to get another 6-month travel authorization? How does it work at the airport? Do I need just one medication transport authorization, or do I have to request a new one in each country (once the treatment runs out) for both the flight and a DCI? Also, travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so will I have to pay for foreign consultations out of pocket? I’m not sure if I explained myself clearly. Oh, and just to repeat—travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so foreign consultations will be at my own expense? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone.
After years of traveling to the USA without any medical insurance subscriptions—and luckily never having any major health issues (though I did get a scorpion sting buried in the sand at CBSouth, 😇)—life has caught up with us, and we’re now being forced into "wisdom" and leaving our carefree days behind.
So, I’m looking for the best compromise for a 2-month health insurance plan.
I’ve read the discussions on this topic, but the most recent one is from last year, and I’d love your take on the current situation.
I’m familiar with the usual options like Europ Assistance and AXA, but I’ve just discovered Chapka and Heymondo (the latter seems interesting in terms of both price and coverage).
What do you think of these last two? How do they compare in terms of value for money against the bigger companies?
Hi,
We’ve planned a 3-week trip to Bali this summer with our 7-year-old daughter. The itinerary includes Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Sidemen, Amed, and Ubud. The more time passes, the more we read about people getting sick—some with mild to severe traveler’s diarrhea, and many ending up in the hospital. We, as parents, have been through it in Egypt with pretty bad cases, but we’d really like to avoid that for our daughter. Even though there’s no zero risk, and we’ll be careful, can any of you reassure me? Not everyone got sick, right? I’d love to hear positive feedback from parents, but not just them 😊. Thanks in advance!
Hi there...
I’m traveling with a friend for a month in November.
We booked our round-trip tickets from Paris to Phnom Penh, and yes, I know—it was a mistake. We should’ve flown out of Laos, but here we are.
But is it doable to backpack through both countries in a relaxed way?
I’ve seen that the transport takes a while...
Thanks so much for your replies.
Hi there,
I’ve started looking into getting dental implants, possibly in Costa Rica or Mexico.
Do you have any clinics to recommend or ones I should avoid?
For the next steps, I need to choose between Cuba Medika or Medigo—these are agencies that help with medical procedures. Do you have any info on either of them?
Hi everyone, a question for those who’ve been lucky enough to visit Raja Ampat—should you consider preventive malaria treatment given its proximity to Papua? And how was the food hygiene situation?
Thanks for your feedback! !
For several years now, increased aggression has been observed in Cape fur seals.
At least 70 unprovoked attacks on humans.
It was recently confirmed that this is due to rabies.
The suspected origin is contamination in Namibia by jackals.
The contagion seems to be spreading.
Preventive vaccination (of the animals) is being considered.
Just a reminder:
Rabies affects all mammals.
Once symptoms appear—sometimes weeks or even months later—death is inevitable.
It’s the bite that transmits the disease.
There are so-called "furious" forms with aggression, but also forms without aggression.
In case of a bite, in addition to standard wound care, tetanus prevention… rabies prevention is essential.
Stay careful out there…
Seeing seals from a boat along the coast isn’t rare in these parts…
I need 2 dental implants and I'd like to get them done abroad (it's a question of price).
Thanks for helping me with my search (Turkey, Spain, Romania???)
Can you tell me if you're satisfied with the services provided by Dentist Miguel at Club Amigo in Holguin? I'd like to go there in mid-December. Is it worth the trip to get dental prosthetics done?
Thanks for getting back to me... Michelle from Quebec
Hello,
I’m looking for a dentist who can do a full lower-arch implant with a complete prosthesis. I’m in Quebec and available to travel to Cuba. Need full contact details. Thanks everyone!
My current plan is to get my teeth treated in Cuba, especially for dental implants.
Has anyone here had experience and could refer me to a good, affordable dentist?
I’d really appreciate it if you could give me an idea of the price for one implant, since I need at least 6 done.
Thanks so much!
