Health and Safety

Proper rest and nutrition help to prevent illness and minimize stress, thus enabling a stimulating and rewarding cross-cultural experience. Taking certain basic precautions will head off unpleasant, and potentially dangerous, situations. Please review the health and safety tips, including information about health insurance coverage, below. Also be sure to check out the section Emergency and Other Useful Numbers on this website for specific information about hospitals and clinics in Madrid, mental-health services and other services.

I. HEALTH

Medical Care and Health Insurance 

Students in urgent need of medical attention should call 112, the Spanish national hotline for emergencies.

Since students are not normally residents or citizens of Spain, they are not eligible for public health insurance coverage. Therefore, VWM participants are required to have medical insurance coverage from the US while studying in Spain and should take all pertinent information and forms for reporting claims if needed.

The program provides local health insurance through the Spanish company Asisa. This policy covers medical care from every kind of specialist, including diagnostic tests and basic dental work, within Asisa’s extensive national network. It also covers emergencies, hospitalizations and intensive care. Routine visits and other medical needs in Spain are covered without students’ having to pay upfront or depend on reimbursements from home (when the insurance network is used). There are minimal co-pays for some services, but the program pays them in order to encourage students to use medical services when needed. Students receive their member cards and have immediate access to care upon arrival in Spain.

For costs not covered by Asisa, including catastrophic coverage or the return trip to the U.S. if the student’s condition requires it, both Vassar and Wesleyan require students to work through their respective international service providers, GeoBlue (Vassar, see a helpful guide here) and International SOS (Wesleyan), through which students access the health insurance provided by Vassar and Wesleyan. For more information about these services, see the bold-faced items below. If you have further questions about how these services work, you should first contact Vassar’s Office of International Programs or Wesleyan’s Office of Study Abroad.

Nuts and bolts of medical care for our students in Spain:

(a) From Monday to Friday until 8pm, you can make an appointment usually on the same day for an in-person consultation with a doctor. Many doctors also offer on-line assistance from Monday through Friday from 8am to 9pm without interruption. If you are not facing an emergency it is important to request a medical appointment (which you can usually get on the same day) to have your symptoms treated. These services are covered by Asisa. To identify the appropriate specialist, ask the assistant director. She will find the doctors closest to the student’s homestay in Madrid and will request an appointment.

(b) For 24-hour emergency services (including late-night and weekend emergencies), especially after 8pm, we recommend you go to a private hospital managed by Asisa. Hospital de Madrid in Plaza Conde Valle Suchil (metro San Bernardo) is an excellent option next to most student’s homes. They have an office for international clients and speak English. See Emergency and Other Useful Numbers for other recommendations in Madrid. The assistant director can also help you locate a hospital or clinic near your homestay. We recommend that you always call the director or assistant director when something requires going to the Emergency Room.

(c) In the event of a serious accident you might also be taken to a public hospital. If the urgency requires it, you can tell your taxi or ambulance driver to take you (or a fellow student in the program that you’re aiding) to the nearest public hospital as you might have no quick way for you to access the information above. Spanish public hospitals are the go-to places for round-the-clock emergencies and major intervention. Whenever possible, however, a private hospital that takes Asisa is a better option. 

(d) If you have an emergency and you go to a public hospital or end up in a private hospital that is not part of the Asisa network, you need to contact GeoBlue (Vassar) or International SOS (Wesleyan). If you want your American medical insurance to reimburse it or pay for it up-front you must call the international telephone numbers for GeoBlue (Vassar) or International SOS (Wesleyan). Bear in mind that no one else, not even the director and assistant director, is authorized to make that call for you. In that same call GeoBlue or International SOS will tell you which hospital or clinic to go to and how to proceed. They’ll open a file for you at that hospital or clinic and they’ll send the invoice to your insurance provider directly. If you do not seek the preauthorization and follow GeoBlue’s or International SOS’s instructions you will have to pay up-front and then follow your American insurance provider’s procedures to submit a claim for reimbursement.

  1. For Wesleyan students: Whether in Madrid or not, Wesleyan students can request assistance through International SOS/University Health Partners by calling the Philadelphia number on your membership card. Bear in mind program staff are not authorized to make these kinds of calls for you. International SOS explains pre-authorization instructions and coverage and can provide some remote medical care directly. The International SOS telephone number is (from Spain, dial 00 as if to the US, then the country code plus number as follows) +1 215 942 8478. As a rule, when you need medical care that is not covered by Asisa, you will need to call this number in Philadelphia. If you can arrange the appointments through International SOS (they need to authorize the care and then direct you to the appropriate hospital or clinic in Spain), you will not have to pay out of pocket. Whenever possible, contact International SOS as early as possible, even before you leave for Spain if you know you will need one or another kind of medical (including psychiatric) care while abroad. Students in the past have arranged regular mental health counseling and physical therapy in advance, to name just two possibilities. For more details about what is covered by International SOS check the Health information on the Wesleyan Study Abroad page. 
  2. For Vassar students:  Students should refer to their pre-departure materials for more detailed information about their GeoBlue coverage. Before departing for Spain, download the GeoBlue app on your smartphone and register in their online portal. Via the GeoBlue portal you will be able to access your ID card, find providers, pay providers directly, and submit/track claims. When seeking medical care, you can:

a) Find an in-network provider on the app and schedule an appointment by contacting them directly. Then request Direct Pay on the app. For optimal service, request Direct Pay at least 48 hours prior to your appointment to avoid paying out-of-pocket for your visit. 

b) You are also free to see any provider you choose. If you see a non-contracted provider, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for treatment and submit a claim for reimbursement.

Bear in mind, finally, that any medical expense in Spain that your study abroad insurance provider does not reimburse or that you need to pay up-front for reimbursement later will cost far less in Spain than in the US (by several orders of magnitude). The reason for this is that medical care in Spain is far more regulated by the government in Spain than is the case in the US.

If a student needs intensive care and/or to be hospitalized:

  1. If in Madrid, head for the Hospital de Madrid in Plaza Conde Valle Suchil (metro San Bernardo). This hospital takes Asisa health insurance which will cover most needs. The Hospital also has a Hospiquality office, which is there to help the student navigate how to obtain reimbursements from the student’s American medical insurer if need be: they are mediators, not insurers or providers. 
  2. Students can always consult with International SOS (Wesleyan) or GeoBlue (Vassar) if they need other types of services not covered by private hospitals that take Asisa.

Student Medications

It is not a good idea to change medications or stop taking them before going abroad, as this is a relatively stressful event (even simple things, at least at first, will seem complicated). Students should bring all the medication they will need for the entire semester. Since our local insurance does not include a pharmaceutical plan, we cannot guarantee that students’ medications would be less costly abroad. Wesleyan’s study abroad health insurance does not cover prescriptions obtained in the US. Students must contact their U.S. insurance company well before departure and request the necessary supply. Insurance companies must normally seek authorization from the student’s doctor and enter an “override” to provide the student upfront with the medications needed for such a long period. Students should bring medications in the original container, in case they need to purchase them in Spain. This is preferable to having medications mailed from the U.S. by post, because they can be held up for a week or more at Customs and retrieval can sometimes be difficult (even impossible) and costly.

Students with Special Medical Needs 

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is an organization dedicated to facilitating an international experience for students with special medical needs. Before leaving home, such students should consult this organization’s website.

Behavioral Health Resources

Students who are receiving counseling services in the United States before coming should consult with their therapist whether they can continue receiving them online while they’re in Spain. For students who require counseling services in Madrid, we recommend the following options:

  1. Spanish health insurance Asisa may cover 20 sessions of psychotherapy for students, provided that a psychiatrist in Spain prescribes the need for counseling, which means a student first needs to go to a psychiatrist in Madrid in order to access this service. If more sessions are required, students can continue these sessions paying a reduced price for them.  Bear in mind that many therapists might not speak English, so if you use these services, you’ll most probably have to speak in Spanish.
  2. The program also refers students to a private practice of bilingual psyhcotherapists and psychiatrists called Sinews, which our students have used in the past with great success. Please note that the services provided by this practice aren’t covered by the program or by Asisa so students will have to pay for them. (Bear in mind that these type of services tend to be much cheaper in Spain than in the US).

Students can also make use of the following resources at their home institutions:

Vassar

1. Campus Responses Center. Available 24/7 by phone if you need to reach an Administrator on Call, an SAVP Advocate or the Director of International Programs at any time: 001 (845) 437-5221

2.  Support, Advocacy and Violence Prevention (SAVP). 

Wesleyan

  1. Counseling and Psychological Services
  2.  If students abroad need emergency support outside of the usual work hours (9am-5pm Monday-Friday), they should call Public Safety at 001 (860) 685-2345 to reach a dean on call. Students are also encouraged to seek on site support through Asisa or International SOS and to contact the Director or Assistant Director for guidance on finding the appropriate resources.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Alcohol and substance abuse is a serious problem on U.S. campuses, and unfortunately the problem exists on American programs abroad. One of the temptations of life in European cities for American students is the lower drinking age and the regular presence of alcohol in social situations of all kinds. Moderate drinking among young Spaniards is normal and acceptable, but drinking to excess is regarded as socially inept and immature. In addition, substance abuse of any type is your passport to tragedy, as it seriously interferes with students’ ability to handle the challenges of an unfamiliar environment.

Beyond health and safety, substance abuse could result in arrest, fines, and incarceration. It is also essential to keep in mind that, while in Spain, Spanish law applies. The student’s embassy and the program staff will assist anyone in making sure their family is contacted, but students in such circumstances are subject to Spanish law and are responsible for all corresponding expenses.

With regard to the VWM program, if substance abuse is disruptive to the program or homestay family or potentially harmful to the student’s own well-being, the director is authorized to expel the student from the program. Useful related information is made available by the University of Minnesota study abroad office.

II. IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Madrid is a very safe city. But as in any unfamiliar urban environment or tourist destination, travelers confront special risks. Major European cities are more liable to suffer from petty crime (such as pickpocketing) than violent crime. It is crucial that students understand the potential risks in Madrid or in any other major city they might visit.The following measures should help ensure your safety and minimize the likelihood of trouble. We strongly urge you to abide by them. Before you depart:

  • Make two photocopies of all of your personal documents (passport, visa, identification cards, insurance cards, credit and debit cards).
  • Keep the photocopies in a safe location, one set at home in the US and another at home in Spain, readily available for consultation (and reporting purposes) in case of theft or loss.

While in Madrid:

  • Track any travel and health alerts on the consular website of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and consider (although it´s NOT required) signing up for any bulletins for American citizens.
  • Keep your family and the program staff apprised of your whereabouts. When you travel, be sure that someone knows where you are and how to reach you.
  • Be wary of pickpockets in crowded areas frequented by tourists (discos, subways, buses, small streets or plazas in downtown areas).
  • Carry only as much money and as many bank or credit cards as you absolutely need, in an inside coat or shirt or pants pocket rather than in an outside pocket or backpack; in a small purse zipped closed and well-controlled; or in a money belt (not in a large bag or purse that you carry on your back or to your side).
  • Leave unnecessary valuables, cash, and credit, bank, and ID cards at home (in Spain).
  • Carry a photocopy of your passport at all times while in Madrid. The actual passport is necessary for any official business (at border-crossings, in the event of a police check, in banks when you need to change currency or withdraw money, or, sometimes, when you want to use a credit card) and when traveling outside of Madrid.
  • Carry your student ID card
  • Carry your emergency contact numbers at all times and keep a hand-written copy of your name and cell phone in your wallet. A stolen purse or wallet with this information inside is often returned to the program office or turned into the police. If you include your cell-phone information in your wallet you may find yourself getting a call within days of a theft or loss explaining where you can pick up your wallet and all its precious contents (minus the cash).
  • Learn from locals what behavior might put you at risk. Be alert to your surroundings and the people with whom you have contact.
  • Be wary of people who seem overly friendly or interested in you. Be cautious with new acquaintances – do not give out your address or phone number and do not provide personal information regarding other students. Report unusual activity near your classes or home to the program staff.
  • Avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. Be discreet in your conduct. Speak Spanish as much as possible and try to associate with Spaniards in small groups.
  • Avoid going to big clubs (like Capital and Barceló) on your own or separating from your group without notifying them about it. Do not receive any beverages from strangers, do not leave a beverage unattended and try to avoid alcoholic consumption in these spaces altogether. The Madrid Police has reported instances of people using predator drugs to rob or attack others in these places. Always check-in on your friends and stick together.
  • Do not hitchhike, even if the locals do.
  • If your wallet is lost or stolen
    • cancel your credit cards immediately (that is why you make photocopies in advance and keep a list of toll-free numbers handy so you know whom to call and what your credit card number is)
    • file a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was lost/stolen. This is a must in case of your passport—your embassy will require it to issue a new passport.
    • Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. The numbers are:  Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742; Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
    • Call the Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Identification While in Madrid

Everyone is required by law in Spain (and Europe) to carry official identification on them at all times: for Americans, the only legitimate i.d. is the passport.

In accord with recommendations of the U.S. Embassy, for security reasons we recommend that students carry a clear, color photocopy of their passport on them and that they leave the passport itself at home or, while traveling, in their hotel room. The photocopy has no legal status, but it is better than carrying no passport at all or losing the passport. Most businesses will accept the photocopy for credit-card purchases and law-enforcement officers will look a little more benignly on it than carrying nothing at all. However, for any official business with the bank or with the police, students will be required to carry (or retrieve) their passport.

Students should always travel with their passport when leaving Madrid for longer than a day trip. And they should carry other forms of ID, such as their student card from the UC3M as well.