Health, Safety & Medical Insurance

Traveler Health

While preparing for the cultural aspects of this experience is important, it’s also essential for travelers to prepare themselves, medically, to spend time in another country. Xperitas encourages all travelers to review the destination recommendations for travelers provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In addition, a visit to a travel clinic may be recommended by the CDC. See Current Health and Safety Updates for information about current world events and illnesses.

Travelers who take medication regularly are advised to speak with their primary caregiver about how international travel may or may not affect their health, and/or how to handle time-sensitive medications while in another time zone and manage medications that may need refrigeration. It’s always wise to carry a prescription for the generic brand of any medication in the event it must be replaced during travel.

Read these important tips for your student to ensure a safe and healthy experience abroad!

Health Conditions & Special Needs

Traveling abroad can be an amazing experience for travelers. It can also lead to increased stress, which may exacerbate a participant’s health condition(s). Participants must disclose any health conditions, medications, medically verified allergies, or dietary restrictions of which Xperitas, the program leader, and/or the host community or host family should be made aware. This includes mental, emotional, and/or social health concerns. Xperitas relies on this information to evaluate if participants are able to successfully participate in our immersion programming.

Xperitas reserves the right to cancel a participant who does not disclose a medical diagnosis on their application; regular cancellation fees apply.

Participants’ health information is shared with in-country partners and/or Family Stay Coordinator. Participants are responsible for sharing any allergies or requests directly with the airline.

Participants should travel with any necessary medication and know how to use it effectively. A medical professional will not be traveling with groups. Additionally, students need to advocate for their own well-being. This includes asking questions and recommunicating their allergies or dietary restrictions clearly to the guide (if applicable), host family, and food service providers.

Current World Events & Illnesses

Please refer to our cancellation policy for details about cancellations due to unforeseeable world events.

Traveler Safety

The safety of travelers is Xperitas’ first priority. While emergency situations are rare, you can rest assured knowing that Xperitas is prepared in the following ways to assist our participants while traveling abroad:

• 24/7 Xperitas Emergency Phone Number During Group Travel
• Monitoring of World Events, U.S. State Department Alerts/Advisories, and Specific Destination Occurrences
• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (Xperitas provides guidance on how to enroll before departure)
• Included Travel Insurance (See insurance policy information)

In the event of an emergency situation before or during an Xperitas program, we follow this procedure to ensure the safety of all participants and communication of their status to families.

Step 1 | Information Review
We review information provided by the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control. We consult with our Health and Safety Advisor.

Step 2 | In-country Communications
We communicate with our group leaders and partners in-country (e.g. land operators and family stay coordinators).

Step 3 | Communication with Families
We communicate with parents in the U.S., keeping all parties informed of any situation that impacts their group, along with any solution(s) we implement.

Traveler Insurance

All Xperitas program participants are covered by Core™Travel insurance, which covers medical risks, including Medical Expenses and Emergency Medical Evacuation due to a natural disaster or political instability while traveling abroad. Coverage details, policies, and instructions can be found here*. In the event that a participant falls ill or has an accident while traveling, the group leader(s) will ensure the traveler receives medical attention immediately. The deductible is $50. Evacuations are coordinated by Zurich Travel Assist, a travel assistance company that operates around the world in conjunction with our insurer. The Zurich Travel Assist emergency phone number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

*Inbound program participants coming to the USA are subject to different coverage limits, and upgrades are not available for purchase.

Note: Pre-existing conditions, routine physical/eye examinations and vaccinations, mental/nervous disorders, preventative services, and maternity/childbirth are not covered by the insurance policy included with Xperitas programs. Xperitas recommends that each traveler’s own comprehensive medical insurance be current and include coverage for the destination country.

Health Conditions & Special Needs

Traveling abroad can be an amazing experience for travelers. It can also lead to increased stress, which may exacerbate a participant’s health condition(s). Participants must disclose any health conditions, medications, medically verified allergies, or dietary restrictions of which Xperitas, the program leader, and/or host family should be made aware. This includes mental, emotional, and/or social health concerns. Xperitas relies on this information to evaluate if participants are able to successfully participate in our immersion programming. Review these important tips for your student to ensure a safe and healthy experience abroad:

• All health conditions, allergies, dietary restrictions, and medications must be self-managed by the participant. Participants should evaluate if they are able to manage and advocate for their medical condition/allergy in the destination.
• A medical professional will not be traveling with groups.
• Participants should travel with any necessary medication and know how to use it effectively. Additionally, students need to advocate for their own well-being. This includes asking questions and recommunicating their allergies or dietary restrictions clearly to the guide (if applicable), host family, and food service providers.
• Medical conditions, dietary restrictions, and allergies are shared with in-country partners and Family Stay Coordinators and considered when making family stay placements. Participants are responsible for sharing any allergies or requests directly with the airline.
• With food allergies, the potential of cross-contamination can exist in restaurant and host family settings. Travelers are encouraged to ask questions and verify ingredients as needed. Participants should bring any necessary medication (i.e. Zytec, epinephrine) in case of accidental ingestion or contact with allergens.
• Xperitas reserves the right to cancel a participant who does not disclose a health condition, allergy, or dietary restriction on their application or provide updates of an existing or new diagnosis. Regular cancellation fees apply.

Cancellation Insurance

The cancellation insurance included in the program price is for medically related causes only affecting the participant or a member of the participant’s immediate family.

The maximum coverage amount ($1000) is applied against the incurred loss calculated as of the date Xperitas receives the written cancellation. A physician’s statement and signature will be required for any medical claim.

Xperitas does not offer cancel-for-any-reason insurance. All travelers who would like trip cancellation insurance for non-medical reasons are encouraged to purchase additional travel insurance independently.

Insurance Cards

Xperitas participants will receive notice upon enrollment in the insurance policy, as well as information on how to access the Core Travel insurance portal before departure. Via the Core Travel portal, participants must print their insurance card for travel. In addition, they will have access to claim forms, policy upgrade options, emergency Travel Assist phone numbers, FAQs, etc. Participants must carry their insurance card with them while traveling.

Additional Insurance Coverage/Upgrades

For outbound programming (travel from U.S. to destination abroad), Xperitas is pleased to provide participants an opportunity to purchase additional insurance coverage limits above the standard insurance policy automatically provided.. Some upgrades available are:

• Get Trip Cancellation protection that fits the cost of your trip
• Buy extra days of coverage if you’ll be traveling overseas before or after your program dates
• Buy higher limits of coverage for benefits like overseas medical expenses
• Buy baggage/personal property coverage
• Pick up coverage for transit risks, like baggage delay, trip delay, and missed connection

Upgrading is optional. Options are available and detailed further on the Core Travel portal upon participants’ enrollment in the policy before departure.

Travel Insurance for Inbound (USA) Programs

For participants travelling from international destinations to the USA, Core Travel insurance policy and limits can be found here. Please note upgrades are not available under this policy.

You can read them here.

Core Travel Contact Information

Core Travel is a third party vendor and is completely independent from Xperitas. All payments and questions about coverage and claims should be directed to Core Travel at administrator@coretravelinsurance.com or 518-708-4192.