Online travel care with a doctor you choose

Illness can strike at any time. However, not every place has a travel clinic that is easily accessible to patients.

At HealthTap, we believe that doesn't mean that people should forgo care. Our telehealth app gives patients access to medical advice via text messaging from trusted healthcare professionals they understand, wherever and whenever they need it, as long as a doctor-patient relationship has been established in a video visit prior to traveling.

Visitors from outside the country do not get free medical treatment while in the United States, so it is strongly recommended that they purchase travel insurance. However, healthcare is usually available if the patient is willing to pay for their expenses out-of-pocket.

Telehealth apps like HealthTap are an excellent option for foreign visitors, as they are easy to download and provide quick access to care. Using HealthTap for minor illnesses is also far less stressful than searching for an appropriate clinic or hospital, especially for people who may be unfamiliar with the area they're staying in.

While the types of injuries and illnesses people will encounter depend on where in the country (or world) they visit, a few health issues are more likely to occur than others.

For example, people traveling long distances in a closed form of transportation, like a train or an airplane, are at a higher risk of catching a cold, the flu or COVID. Travelers' diarrhea is also very common, caused by food poisoning, unsafe water or just new and unusual cuisine.

People spending time on a boat (like a cruise ship) are also at a higher risk of developing “sea sickness,” which can easily impact a vacation. In addition to ordering travel vaccinations, our doctors may also be able to prescribe preventive medications, such as a medicated skin patch, to minimize the risk of feeling seasick before it strikes.