the

"Not Me" Syndrome

in regard to

Global Medical Plans

There is a tendency in many people to take the "it won't happen to me" position. Stays abroad are sometimes short. Travel agents may indicate that their trip cancellation insurance in a package also includes a full-blown international medical plan. Vaccination records are up to date. Some people believe that their employer or governmental sponsored medical plan will evacuate them back to US health care providers if they become in crisis. Younger, healthier people are willing to just roll the dice at times.

There may in fact be some limited medical coverage available to those that take the "it won't happen to me" position. The real question is whether the person abroad has a truly educated understanding of what risks might remain, both personally and for related family or group members.

                Consider the ways below that a person might require non-routine medical care while abroad. This is not an exhaustive list, only representative of the potential level of risk.