An estimated 1.9 million American children travel internationally each year, and the number is increasing. In general, children face most of the same health risks as their parents, but the consequences can be more serious. Some conditions can be difficult to recognize in children, especially in those who aren’t talking yet. If you are planning to travel to another country with your kids, be familiar with the risks of travel to help them stay safe and healthy.
If possible, children should complete their routine childhood vaccines on the normal schedule before traveling overseas. However, if they must travel before four years of age, accelerated schedules are available for many vaccines. Some travel vaccines cannot be given to very young children, so it’s important to consult with one of our physicians as early as possible before travel.
Know the Health Risks and how to avoid them!
PLEASE SCHEDULE YOUR TRAVEL CONSULT 2 TO 3 WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE…HERE IS WHY!
For some destinations, it is suggested that you take malaria prophylaxis by mouth, which must be administered beginning two weeks prior to departure. Vaccines will also need to be administered in advance for adequate immunity to develop. It is, therefore, important that your travel consultation is performed 2-3 weeks prior to leaving the country.
For certain areas in Africa and South America, we may recommend Yellow Fever vaccination, a vaccine that is only available at certain health departments and travel clinics in the area. We will need to do your travel consultation, take the time to investigate the recommended vaccinations and determine how and when they should be given. Once vaccines are administered, it usually takes a few weeks before immunity develops.
What can I expect to pay for a travel consultation?
Since travel consults are most often not covered by insurance carriers, we will collect in full for most of the services performed. On the date of your consultation, you will be charged for an office visit and any necessary vaccinations. The vaccinations you will need are dependent on the area you will be visiting, and will be discussed in more detail when you meet with your physician.
Office Visit Fee: $84 – $207
This fee will vary depending on the complexity of the consult and the amount of time the physician spends with you. It will be an out-of-pocket expense
Typhoid Vaccination: $145 (Our most common vaccination)
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- Typhoid vaccinations are only necessary for some travel destinations
- This vaccine is most often not covered by your insurance carrier & will be an out-of-pocket expense
- If your child is age 6 or older, they may be able to take the oral typhoid vaccine. This would be prescribed by the provider and would be paid for at the pharmacy according to your prescription drug coverage.
If you have health insurance:
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- If you receive regularly scheduled vaccinations at your travel consultation appointment, we will bill your insurance for those costs.
- If you are seen for something non-travel related during your travel consultation, (ie: cold symptoms) be prepared to pay any additional co-payments or deductibles related to that issue.
- After your payment has been made, if you wish for us to submit charges to your health insurance for the travel consultation, we will. Payment for all charges must be paid at the time of service before we will submit.
Please be Advised: that the information above is based on our experience with multiple insurance carriers over a long period of time. Because there are many insurance carriers and many different plans offered by those insurance carriers, it is impossible for Cornerstone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine to know how your particular carrier and plan will process a specific claim. We file insurance claims as a service to our patients. You may receive a statement from our office after the claim has either been paid or denied asking you to pay the resulting balance from services not covered.
Call us to schedule your travel consultation today at 919-460-0993