How to prepare for complications before you book: insurance for medical travelers, follow-up care at home, and the questions to ask the clinic about revisions and complications.
Last updated: October 16, 2026
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 (in the U.S.) or local emergency services right away. This page is for planning ahead.
Complications happen, including after you get home
CDC lists wound infections, bloodstream infections, drug-resistant infections and blood clots after flying among the risks of surgery abroad, and notes that travelers may need care in the United States if complications develop after they return (CDC). In one study from Brigham and Women's Hospital of 78 patients treated there for complications of cosmetic surgery abroad (2010–2017), the most frequent problems were pain, surgical site infections and wound-healing problems; 12 patients needed hospitalization (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2018).
Before you go: arrange follow-up care at home
CDC advises (CDC):
- See your healthcare provider or a travel medicine clinician at least 4–6 weeks before the trip.
- Make sure you can get any needed follow-up care in the United States.
- Bring copies of your medical records, including lab results, and get copies of all your records from the clinic before you return home. You may need them translated into English.
- Understand the potential cost of follow-up or emergency care if complications occur, review what your health insurance covers, and plan for the possibility of paying out of pocket.
CDC's Yellow Book adds that patients should give their overseas records, in English, to any healthcare professionals they see afterwards (CDC Yellow Book). A practical tip: tell your U.S. doctor before the trip what procedure you plan, and ask whether they will see you afterwards.
Insurance for medical travelers
Your regular U.S. health plan may not pay for problems that start with a procedure abroad. CDC says follow-up care for complications "might not be covered by your health insurance," and Medicare "usually doesn't cover health care while you're traveling outside the U.S." (CDC; Medicare.gov).
Types of cover CDC mentions:
- International travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation back to the United States (CDC).
- Supplemental travel health insurance that may cover follow-up or emergency care for procedures received abroad (CDC), sometimes sold as "medical tourism" or "medical complication" insurance.
Example of a company that sells complication cover for medical travelers: Global Protective Solutions, a product of Custom Assurance Placements (Columbia, South Carolina). On its own website it describes policies for people traveling abroad for treatment, with benefits for a medical complication for up to 180 days after the procedure (medicaltourisminsurance.com). It is named here as an example for information only, not as an endorsement. Compare policies and insurers yourself.
Before buying any policy, read the policy wording (not only the summary) and check:
- whether it covers complications of a planned procedure, or only unexpected illness and accidents during travel;
- how long after surgery complications are covered, and whether care in the U.S. after you return is included;
- whether medical evacuation to the U.S. is included;
- exclusions, such as pre-existing conditions or revision surgery for dissatisfaction with the result;
- whether you must buy it before a certain date or before you travel.
Ask the clinic before you book
Ask for answers in writing:
- What is your policy if I have a complication while still in the country? Who pays for extra treatment, nights or medicines?
- What if a complication appears after I am home? Will you review photos or records remotely, and is there a charge?
- What is your revision policy? Which revisions are included, within what time, and who pays for travel?
- Which local hospital would treat me in an emergency, and is it near the clinic?
- How do I reach the surgeon after hours during my stay?
- Will I receive my full records (operative report, anesthesia record, implant details if any, medicines) in English before I leave?
CDC's Yellow Book also notes that if complications develop, medical tourists "might not have the same legal recourse" as with care in the United States (CDC Yellow Book), so clear written terms matter.
What xcuro does
Your xcuro coordinator stays in touch after treatment and helps you arrange follow-up with your clinic or a second opinion. No clinic can guarantee a medical result. xcuro is not a healthcare provider and does not provide emergency medical services. See our Medical disclaimer.
FAQ
Will my U.S. health insurance pay for complications?
It might not. CDC advises reviewing your policy before you travel and planning for possible out-of-pocket costs (CDC). Ask your insurer in writing.
Does regular travel insurance cover surgery complications?
Check the policy wording. Some travel policies cover only unexpected illness and accidents; CDC mentions supplemental travel health insurance as an option for follow-up or emergency care from procedures abroad (CDC).
What records should I bring home?
Copies of all your medical records from the clinic, translated into English if needed (CDC), to share with any doctor who treats you later.
Does xcuro guarantee results?
No. No clinic can guarantee a medical result (Medical disclaimer).
Related guides: Is medical tourism safe? How to check a clinic abroad · How paying for treatment abroad works
Sources
All sources accessed October 2026.
- CDC Travelers' Health – Medical Tourism: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/medical-tourism
- CDC Yellow Book – Medical Tourism: cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/health-care-abroad/medical-tourism.html
- Medicare.gov – Travel outside the U.S.: medicare.gov/coverage/travel-outside-the-u.s.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons – "Plastic Surgery Abroad Can Lead to Severe Complications after Returning to the US" (March 29, 2018): plasticsurgery.org
- Global Protective Solutions / Custom Assurance Placements: medicaltourisminsurance.com
- xcuro Medical disclaimer