Medical insurance is required and travel insurance is recommended. If you need insurance contact the Israel Tour 2012 Coordinator for assistance at (718) 975-6643 or israel2012@cccinfo.org. It is the personal responsibility of the traveler to have proper medical coverage for overseas travel.

REQUIRED Medical Insurance:  If you currently have personal medical coverage through your work or other institution, it is likely you are covered for overseas medical treatment. Please check your policy. If you do not have a medical plan that covers you overseas, you must secure such coverage in order to participate on the trip.

OPTIONAL Travel Insurance: If you desire to protect your travel investment against an unforeseen cancellation or a needed emergency return flight home, it is recommended you purchase a travel insurance policy. You are reminded that your $1000 deposit is non-refundable.

If you need either of the above insurances, contact a local travel agency or see the following web links for assistance.
                        Atlas                              http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com               1-800-826-4919
                        Access America          http://accessamerica.com                    1-866-807-3982
                        Insure My Trip              http://insuremytrip.com                          1-800-487-4722
                        Travel Guard                http://travelguard.com                            1-800-826-4919
                        Travelex                        http://travelex-insurance.com               1-800-504-7883

MEDICAL CONCERNS
Medical problems usually revolve around three common illnesses: (1) Dehydration: Israel has a very high solar intensity and as a result you will need to drink water more frequently to avoid dehydration. (2) Diarrhea: This is most often caused as a result of your body adapting to new foods and new water. The food and water in Israel is sanitary, safe and comparable to USA standards. Nevertheless, most participants on the program will undergo mild, moderate or more severe episodes of diarrhea. Be prepared with a 5-7 day supply of anti-diarrhea tablets. (3) Constipation: This is most often caused as a result of time zone adaptation and your body adapting to new foods and water. Most on the program will undergo mild, moderate or more severe episodes of constipation. Be prepared with a 5-7 day supply of stool softeners and/or laxative tablets. NOTE: All of the participants on the program will experience one or more of the above conditions. It is unavoidable. It is a fact of international travel that we all must face. If you are prepared in advance and have the proper medical aids, you can manage these discomforts successfully. If you neglect any one of the above, you can expect to spend a few days of medical Rest-and-Recovery in your hotel room. Not only will you be uncomfortable but also you will miss some valuable sites and instruction while not traveling with the group. Should circumstances warrant, you will receive professional medical attention to bring you to a more speedy recovery. (4) First Aid: Also bring with you traditional first aid supplies such as band-aids, antibiotics, sun-block, aspirin, and a full supply of your prescription medicine. Experience has shown that it is not recommended you stop any medication just prior to the trip, but wait until the trip is concluded before you stop any medication. Treat all of the above symptoms early and immediately – do not hesitate. Please inform a group leader during the program if you are experiencing any of the above illnesses. We want you to remain healthy for travel. (5) Sun Hat: One of the best items to have with you (male and female) is a good sun hat providing ample shade. Israel has a high solar intensity and dehydration is a routine medical issue in August. It is strongly recommended that you bring with you a hat that can provide you with ample shade.