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Heather Holland has been working for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since 2004. She's traveled around the world and, except for a regrettable coral reef incident in Belize, has managed to stay healthy most of the way.

As the days get longer, gazes turn wistfully toward the office windows. Let’s admit it: we’re planning our vacations. For some this means a family trip to the beach; others lucky enough to snag a travel deal might be headed to Europe. In the current economy, your trip might be to your own backyard. Whatever your destination, one thing’s certain—you don’t want to get sick.

If getting sick at home is awful, becoming ill or injured away from home is infinitely worse. You’re in unfamiliar surroundings, you don’t have your own pillow, you don’t know which pharmacy is open past midnight. Uncertainty over whether your insurance will cover your care only compounds the misery.

Since deciphering your insurance policy is the last thing on your mind when hunched in a hotel bathroom with food poisoning, checking your health care policy should be an automatic part of your pre-trip planning. Depending on where you’re going, you may want to buy additional short-term travel coverage. Getting rescued by helicopter from a fall in the Shawangunks mountains doesn’t come cheap, so the peace of mind may be well worth the cost of a policy.

It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with any local conditions that might affect your health. Will temperatures or altitude be a problem? Are there any scary diseases you should know about? Do you need to pack extra insect repellant? The Centers for Disease Control is a wonderful resource for the critical travel information that can make or break a vacation. You can also stay abreast of any official travel advisories and warnings.

By the way, know that if you or your family members have Medicare, you can probably get care from almost any doctor or hospital in the country. Visit www.medicare.gov/Physician/Home.asp to find a local doctor that accepts Medicare. You might also want to sign up for “Ask Medicare,” the new e-newsletter for caregivers (or anyone who knows someone with Medicare). The summer issue promises lots of tips on healthy senior travel.

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