Before leaving, have a complete and comprehensive physical exam by your physician, including cardiac stress test if over 40, chest Xrays and baseline blood tests, including blood count and multiscreen (includes liver and kidney screening tests). Have copies of your past medical records, EKG's and X rays aboard your boat when you depart. Have adequate first aid equiptment, be trained to give CRP, first aid and have a contact avialable with your physican at home. Keep your primary health insurance. Contact your carrier and find out what their policies are for foreign travel. Many policies have coverage on a limited basis and some allow for transport. I personally avoid HMO's because of their restrictive coverage. When I was on the BOD of SSCA, there was an affiliation with Bluewater insurance (this relationship has been since severed)--they offered and still offer a world wide cruiser's health insurance--very much like IMG and I checked out the physicians and hospitals used in the US and they were good. This is not a recommendation of any insurance plan. Look carefully at what is covered in the country, the residency requirements, and transport back to the US. Health care in Latin America is what is most important to Scott and his wife. When we were cruising we examined the various medical facilities and talked with physicians. In the larger towns there are usually excellently trained physicians, often who have had residencies at good US programs. To find these professionals check with the local yacht club members or professionals such as other physicians or attornies. The standards for hospitals are much different than in the US--but the costs of both physician's visits and hospitalization/proceedures/medication etc are far smaller than in the US. In smaller towns, the care is often hap hazard. There may not be a hospital within a number of miles over a rough road--if even available. Even air flights may not be available, so check to see if a policy will provide helicopter transport with trained medical personal if necessary. On the good news side--in general cruisers are healthy and medical needs are minimal. One has to be cautious to avoid accidents. A safety inspection of a boat is a very good idea. Look for areas of sharp corners, metal or glass edges which might cut. Have safety proceedures for anchoring and use of winches and windlass. Wear shoes when up on deck, and when cooking in rough weather, wear boots and an apron to avoid burns by spilled hot water (of course have the cooking pots secured by clamps). If you get a cut in any water, immediately clean it, irrigate it and apply antibiotic ointment. If there is sign of infection, begin antibiotics. The "coral cuts" type of infection was one of the most common aliments we saw. Regards--and safe voyaging Bob Austin