What It’s Really Like to See a Doctor Abroad
Picture this: you’re traveling overseas, exploring a new city, meeting new people—and then suddenly, you get sick.
Maybe you wake up drenched in sweat with intense stomach pain, despite doing everything you could to avoid food contamination. Or maybe that small cut you got from cliff jumping in the Mediterranean, which seemed harmless at the time, is now very clearly infected.
Whatever the issue, one thing becomes obvious very quickly: you need to see a doctor.
And just like that, instead of planning your next museum visit or wine tasting day trip, you’re dealing with stressful questions:
How do I find a doctor in a foreign country?
Will they speak English?
How fast can I get an appointment?
Where can I get meds?
How much is this going to cost me?
These were exactly the thoughts running through my head when I realized I needed medical care—not once, but twice—during my recent 2 months of backpacking Eastern Europe.
I ended up visiting doctors in Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, where I was examined, received lab work, and was prescribed multiple medications. And surprisingly? The experience was far less stressful than what I’ve experienced in the United States.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what it was like to get healthcare abroad as a traveler. If you’d prefer this information in a video, watch this YouTube video below.
Health Insurance for Full-Time Travelers
Before I ever needed to see a doctor, I purchased international health insurance.
You may or may not need this depending on your situation, but for me, it made sense. I had recently quit my job to travel full-time, which meant the health insurance I had through my employer was ending.
While researching, I found a ton of insurance plans marketed toward full-time travelers, digital nomads, and expats. These plans vary widely based on things like:
How long you’ll be traveling
Whether you need coverage in the U.S.
What activities you’ll be doing
Emergency coverage, evacuation, and repatriation
For my situation, I wanted:
A full-year plan
Coverage for high-risk activities (like bungee jumping)
Adequate coverage in the United States
Emergency services, evacuation, and repatriation
I ultimately chose a plan with Cigna, which costs me $173 per month.
I haven’t had the plan long enough to recommend it yet, but I’m happy to share updates as I continue using it.
How to Find a Doctor Abroad
Whether or not you have international health insurance, the next big question is: how do you actually find a doctor when you’re abroad?
Call me a millennial, but my go-to method is crowdsourcing on Reddit.
If you Google something like “Tirana doctors for expats” or “Sarajevo English-speaking doctors,” you’ll almost always find Reddit threads where travelers and expats share their personal recommendations.
That’s exactly how I found the American Hospital in Tirana, Albania and ASA Bolnica in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
After that, I checked Google Maps reviews and ratings and confirmed whether the hospitals were in-network with my insurance
That was it.
Making a Doctor’s Appointment Abroad
Once I decided on the hospitals, I went in person to ask if I could see an English-speaking doctor as soon as possible.
In both cities, doctors were available for walk-ins—but the doctors available immediately did not speak English. So I had to return the next day in both Tirana and Sarajevo to see an English-speaking physician.
You could probably book appointments online or over the phone, but I found it easiest to just show up in person.
The good news? Appointments were quick, simple, and easy to ‘schedule,’ which was a huge relief.
What It’s Like at the Doctor’s Office
When I returned for my appointments, the process was shockingly simple.
At both hospitals I handed over my passport and wasn’t asked to fill out any paperwork or waivers. I didn’t even provide my insurance details upfront.
I was seen by a doctor within 10 minutes of arriving.
Both doctors spoke English (though not as fluently as I expected) so we used Google Translate at times. Even so, communication was totally manageable.
How Much Did It Cost?
This part surprised me.
Tirana, Albania: $120
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina: ~$30 (after a large discount for having Cigna insurance)
I forgot to mention my insurance in Tirana, so I may have received a discount there too.
One major perk of healthcare outside the U.S. is that you can ask how much it will cost in advance. I paid with my credit card at reception before leaving and had no surprise bills weeks later.
Lab Results & Prescriptions
When my lab results came back 2-3 days later, I returned to the hospital to receive handwritten prescriptions. In Europe, pharmacies are everywhere. I was able to walk into a pharmacy and get everything filled easily.
While I don’t remember exact prices, I ended up spending more than expected because I was prescribed multiple medications. Altogether, prescriptions from both visits cost around $120.
Important Note About Medications
Some medications that require a prescription in the U.S. are available over the counter in other countries. If you already know for sure what you need, it’s worth checking whether you can purchase it directly at a pharmacy without seeing a doctor at all.
Final Thoughts: Is Seeing a Doctor Abroad Scary?
Honestly? Not nearly as intimidating as I expected.
The process was efficient, affordable, and far less stressful than my experiences back home. While every country and situation is different, this gave me a lot of confidence about traveling long-term and handling health issues abroad.
If you’ve ever had to see a doctor while traveling, I’d love to hear about your experience. And if you’re interested in more honest stories and practical tips from life as a full-time traveler, there’s plenty more to come.
