Studying abroad is a wonderful, educational, and life-changing experience.  In order for students to make the most of their time abroad, it is important that safety is the main priority for both the students as well as us at Athena. Being educated about what they will encounter in the destination country increases the students' chances of having a pleasant, hassle-free experience abroad!

Medical Insurance Abroad

Athena Study Abroad has partnered with HTH Worldwide, a global leader in international health insurance. All Athena program participants receive supplemental international health insurance coverage through HTH as part of their Athena program package.  

More information on Athena's HTH insurance coverage

It is also important that students maintain any US-based health insurance they have in order to avoid any break in coverage or issues regarding pre-existing conditions.

Emergency contacts

Athena provides students with 24/7 emergency contacts both in the US and abroad so that in the event of an emergency, help is just a phone call away. 

In the event that an emergency occurs while a student is overseas, students are advised to take the following steps:

• Seek medical treatment or assistance from local authorities (if applicable)
• Contact their on-site Resident Director/Advisor for in-person assistance.  The RD will then advise the Athena staff here in the States of the situation, and we will inform relevant parties here in the States. 
• If, after contacting the staff overseas, the student requires the assistance of Athena representatives back in the US, a 24/7 emergency phone number for Athena advisors here in the States is provided (to be used in the event of an emergency).
• If a non-emergency situation occurs during business hours, students are asked to contact their on-site advisor or Athena staff in the US through use of standard business contact information.

Prescriptions/Medicine

The U.S. Department of State provides the following advice regarding prescriptions and medicine overseas:

A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical problem should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics. (A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.)

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you. Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked luggage is lost. To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet. You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

Information on filling a prescription abroad and other health issues may be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html.

More Department of State Information

Vaccines

Students are advised to consult their personal physicians and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)  for advice on appropriate vaccines and necessary healthcare prior to departing for their study abroad program.

Student Preparation Resources

Because study abroad is a wonderful opportunity to enhance a student's educational and personal development, we at Athena encourage students to actively participate in their program preparation so they are as ready as they can be for life abroad.  In addition the wealth of information we provide to students prior to departure (handbooks, street smart guides, packing tips, timelines, budgeting advice, etc.) we also provide the resources below for students to do additional exploration and preparation.

• Safety information »
• Health issues »
• Services for Americans traveling abroad »
• Consular information »
• Travel tips for students »