Program Foundations

Program Details

Travel Planning

Packing Advice

Living in England

• Security
• Healthcare
• Telephones
• Postage
• Automobiles
• Income Tax Returns for 2003

Travel Advice

General Information

HEALTHCARE AND MEDICATIONS

For minor ailments you will be covered under the National Health System in England. The National Health System does not include a major medical plan, so it is necessary for you to have coverage. The programme will provide you while you are a participant with a policy through Cultural Insurance Services International. Information regarding that policy will be available at the pre-departure orientation session. However, this policy does not cover students for pre-existing conditions so it is important for you to be covered either by your parents' policy or to purchase the Student Assurance policy through UMD. Information on this policy will be available at the pre-departure orientation session or from the UMD International Education office. For the Student Assurance policy through UMD, the cost is about $350 per semester. If you select this coverage, you will be billed for it through UMD accounts receivable.

Dentistry in England is not as elaborate as it is here. Normal teeth cleaning and fillings are similar, but the English view corrective dentistry (braces, etc.) as less essential. If you wear braces and will still have them when you leave for England, encourage your dentist to recommend someone in Birmingham for your needs.

The medical system in the U.K., while very good, is overstressed and understaffed. You will have immediate needs and emergencies (flu, broken ankle, etc.) taken care of immediately. Access to any kind of specialist (psychiatrist, dermatologist, etc.) requires a long waiting period, so you should not expect to consult a specialist while you are in Birmingham.

If you have a chronic illness which requires medication, keep the following in mind before you leave the country:
•Meet with your doctor to plan how to deal with your illness while you are gone.
•Review all medications and side effects.
•Bring both hand-written and typed, signed and dated prescriptions of all drugs you are carrying or may need while overseas.
•Have enough medications for the entire trip or make arrangements for refills to be mailed to you. Have your pharmacist label all containers with generic names. Drugs are, of course, available in Birmingham pharmacies, but you may want to avoid the hassle of getting new prescriptions from British doctors.
•Consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or neck tag. You may also wish to carry a card in your wallet identifying your illness. Medic Alert Foundation International is a worldwide organization that supplies tags containing an identification number, the medical information, and a toll free telephone number to call in case of emergencies. Once you join Medic Alert, you become a lifelong member. You may contact them at Medic Alert, P.O.Box 1009, Turlock, CA 95380.

It is absolutely essential that both the International Education office at UMD and the Programme Director in Birmingham know of any continuing medical problems or medication you might be taking. All students will be required to provide the programme with the names and addresses of their physicians in the United States before they leave.