International SOS / CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad

Students should download and print the Student Duke ISOS membership card prior to international travel.

Employees can download and print the Employee ISOS-CIGNA membership card.

Duke University has contracted with International SOS (ISOS) to offer its travelers the highest possible level of travel, medical and security advice and services, as well as online access to information that is helpful in preparing for your travel and learning about your destination. Services range from telephone advice and referrals to full-scale evacuation by private air ambulance. The ISOS network of multilingual critical care and air-medical specialists operates 24-hours a day, 365-days a year from the ISOS Alarm Centers around the world. Your ISOS membership, provided by Duke, is additional protection against unexpected difficulties that can arise when you are away from home on a Duke program or Duke business. It is designed to supplement the policies, procedures and support staff which the University already has in place as well as your personal international health insurance and the CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad coverage.

ISOS coverage applies to Faculty, Staff and students - both Undergraduate and Graduate - who travel abroad on a Duke funded, sponsored or organized trip. ISOS also covers accompanying dependents who are traveling with an eligible employee or student. Please note that ISOS is NOT health insurance and does not cover personal travel. To learn more and to print your Duke-ISOS membership card, please visit the Duke-ISOS portal. If you have any questions regarding the ISOS plan please visit Corporate Risk Management.

The CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA) program provides short-term health insurance for full-time, benefits eligible employees and their accompanying dependents when they travel abroad on behalf of Duke for trips that are six months or less in duration. The CIGNA MBA coverage is just like your regular health insurance and given they've partnered with ISOS, Duke employees enjoy a seamless experience if/when they encounter an illness or injury abroad. Duke advises a traveler to make CIGNA MBA the first place to call if they become ill or injured while traveling internationally.  You can learn more about the plan, download an Insurance Certificate or print your Duke CIGNA MBA membership card at the CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad section of Duke Human Resources.

Note: International travel that entails an employee being abroad for longer than 6-months should enroll in a health insurance plan that offers international coverage. Accepting a long term international assignment is, in most cases, considered a "qualifying event" and allows one to change insurance plans. You can learn which providers will cover international residents and their dependents at the Benefit Summaries section of Duke Human Resources.