Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Upper East Side: New York Presbyterian Hospital,
525 E.
68th St., at York Avenue (
&
212/472-5454);
Lenox Hill Hospital,
100 E. 77th St., between Park and Lexington avenues (
&
212/
434-2000).
Hot Lines
Department of Consumer Affairs
&
212/487-4444;
and
taxi complaints
at
&
212/NYC-TAXI. If you suspect your car
was towed, call the
Department of Transportation TOWAWAY
Help Line
at
&
311. You can also call 311 for non-emergency city
matters or questions pertaining to New York City.
Insurance
Medical Insurance
Although it's not required of trav-
elers, health insurance is highly recommended. Most health insur-
ance policies cover you if you get sick away from home—but check
your coverage before you leave.
International visitors to the U.S. should note that unlike many
European countries, the United States does not usually offer free or
low-cost medical care to its citizens or visitors. Doctors and hospitals
are expensive, and in most cases will require advance payment or
proof of coverage before they render their services. Good policies will
cover the costs of an accident, repatriation, or death. Packages such
as
Europ Assistance's “Worldwide Healthcare Plan”
are sold by
European automobile clubs and travel agencies at attractive rates.
Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc.
(
&
800/777-8710;
www.
worldwideassistance.com) is the agent for Europ Assistance in the
United States.
Canadians
should check with their provincial health plan offices
or call
Health Canada
(
&
866/225-0709;
www.hc-sc.gc.ca) to find
out the extent of their coverage and what documentation and
receipts they must present if they are treated in the United States.
Travelers from the U.K. should carry their
European Health
Insurance Card
(EHIC), which replaced the E111 form as proof
of entitlement to free/reduced cost medical treatment abroad
(
&
0845/606-2030;
www.ehic.org.uk). Note that the EHIC only
covers “necessary medical treatment,” and for repatriation costs, lost
money, baggage, or cancellation, travel insurance from a reputable
company should always be sought (
www.travelinsuranceweb.com
).
Travel Insurance
The cost of travel insurance varies widely,
depending on the destination, the cost and length of your trip, your
age and health, and the type of trip you're taking, but expect to pay
between 5% and 8% of the vacation itself. You can get estimates
from various providers through
InsureMyTrip.com
. more than a
dozen companies.
