If you’re studying at an NYU global site, plan ahead to make sure your prescription medication (including birth control) is available to you while you’re traveling. Here are a few things you need to know before you leave and while you’re traveling.

Get Extra Prescription Refills in Advance

Contact your insurance provider 1-2 weeks before your departure to request a travel override on your prescriptions, including birth control. A travel override will allow your pharmacist to provide existing refills in advance, which may be enough to cover your prescription needs during your travels. When speaking to the insurance provider, provide them with your travel dates, and an authorization may be granted (pending insurance coverage verification) that will allow you to obtain additional medication in advance.

  • Students with the NYU-sponsored student health insurance plan should contact Wellfleet at (877) 373-1170 to request a travel abroad override one week prior to your travel date.
  • Students who have alternate insurance should contact their insurance directly to inquire about the steps to have additional medication dispensed to you.

Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled.

Have a Backup Plan

NYU cannot guarantee that medications you carry with you will be permitted into any country. Your medication may be held in customs and/or confiscated. Additionally, prescriptions (including birth control) written in the United States are not honored abroad.

To confirm availability of medications and make contact with a NYU representative who can help schedule appointments with a local prescriber to obtain refills for medications in the country of study:

  • Log in to the SHC Portal

  • Go to Messages

  • Select Global Site Medication Assistance

Please note that students will be required to pay for medications upfront and submit a reimbursement request to their insurance provider.

Keep in mind, although the active ingredient(s) and the amount of each drug in each prescription medication have been verified, prescription medications and their foreign-country equivalents may differ from one another in the inactive components used in the manufacturing process. This may lead to differences in the type of prescription medications that are available (e.g., tablet vs capsule), or in the size, shape, color, or surface marking of the medication. Similarly, liquids may be flavored differently.

Get a Letter from Your Healthcare Provider

If you have a pre-existing medical need, you should carry a letter from your physician describing the medical condition and any prescription medications (including the generic names of prescribed drugs) while you’re traveling. We recommend you contact your healthcare provider 1-2 weeks before your departure to request a letter.

Don’t Ship Medications

Please do not ship any medications; they will be held in customs and/or confiscated.

Learn more about the health and wellness options at any particular NYU site at nyu.edu/health/global.

Travel Resources