Emergency treatments are carried out against advance payment or direct payment. Other treatments are often denied without proof of insurance or a deposit. Medical facilities are usually very good. Travel health insurance for at least US$500,000 and travel repatriation insurance is strongly recommended. A resilient credit card is also recommended. It is often cheaper (if medically possible) to fly back to Germany and be treated here. Check findjobdescriptions for more information.
Other risks
The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci, poliomyelitis and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. In the northern and eastern states there is a risk of transmission of Lyme disease from ticks from April to September, especially in grasses, shrubs and undergrowth. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs in late summer and autumn in California, in Texas, occasionally in Florida and sporadically on Hawaii (Big Island). An effective insect repellent is recommended. The rare disease caused by the hantavirus is caused by contact with the infected secretions of rodents. Focal points are Yosemite National Park, Colorado, Washington and Wyoming. However, hantavirus infections also occur in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas. Ingested through the respiratory tract, flu-like symptoms can occur. Human-to-human transmission occurs only in extremely rare cases. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended in the case of particular exposure (e.g. current outbreaks, simple travel conditions, lack of hygiene, missions, inadequate medical care, special professional/social contacts) and generally for children and adolescents. Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis do occur. In order to protect themselves, young adults in particular who are planning a long-term stay should be vaccinated. The vaccination is recommended for long-term stays for certain groups of people (young people or schoolchildren, students). Travelers should clarify the need for vaccination with their doctor, taking into account the recommendations in the country of travel. Isolated cases of the plague have been reported from the Midwest, Southwest and West Coast of the country. Protection against rats and fleas through safe sleeping places and more frequent changes of linen, avoiding contact with animals (rodents, cats) and keeping away those who are already sick reduce the risk of infection. Rabies occurs nationwide. Wild rabies accounts for over 90% of rabies cases occurring in the country. Foxes, skunks, raccoons and wolves. Bats are primarily responsible for transmitting rabies to humans. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. The viral disease West Nile fever is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, especially in late summer and autumn. The spread in the USA is almost nationwide. Adequate protection against mosquitoes should be provided. People who stayed in the USA or Canada between June 1st and November 30th of a year are not allowed to donate blood for four weeks after their return to Germany because of the potential risk of West Nile virus transmission. As of 2017, several Zika infections were recorded in Texas and Florida. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, Joint pain and conjunctivitis. The infection often goes unnoticed or only has mild symptoms. The isolated deaths documented so far were mainly related to other pre-existing conditions. There is neither a vaccination nor a medicinal prophylaxis. Consistent compliance with personal mosquito protection measures is recommended. There is neither a vaccination nor a medicinal prophylaxis. Consistent compliance with personal mosquito protection measures is recommended. There is neither a vaccination nor a medicinal prophylaxis. Consistent compliance with personal mosquito protection measures is recommended.
Health certificate
Proof of vaccinations Immigrants and other travelers who require a visa must – depending on their age – have proof of vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae B, pneumococci and influenza. Such vaccination requirements also exist for people who attend kindergartens, schools, colleges, holiday camps, etc. or live in communal accommodation. If necessary, obtain information from the local US representative or relevant institution in the USA. Tourists are not affected by these measures.
Money
Currency
1 US dollar = 100 cents. Currency code: US$, USD (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of US$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins come in denominations of $1, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cent. The $2 bill is so rare that ATMs won’t dispense it. It is a popular collector’s item that many Americans have never held in their hands because of its rarity. Banknotes are increasingly being replaced by colored bills. However, the old banknotes remain valid.
Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted. The use of credit cards is recommended. You should at least have a credit card, as many hotels or rental car companies require prepayment if you don’t pay with a credit card. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Bank customer card Money can be withdrawn from automatic teller machines (ATM) using credit cards and a pin number. In addition, the Visa Debit Card, the Visa Check Card and bank customer cards with the Maestro logo can be used at some ATMs. Debit cards with the V-Pay logo are not accepted in the United States. Cash withdrawals are subject to a fee. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are rarely available in Austria. Traveller’s checks should be made out in US dollars, because euro traveler’s checks and cash in euros are only exchanged in the bureaux de change and at international airports, even in large cities. Proof of identity is often required (in some cases two) when paying or cashing traveler’s cheques. Not all banks can cash traveler’s checks and some charge a fee that can be quite steep. Traveller’s checks in US dollars are otherwise accepted by some banks and bureaux de change in larger cities. You get the difference to the invoice amount back in cash.
Bank opening hours
In general: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat sometimes also 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
No restrictions. The import and export of amounts of US$ 10,000 or more (including bearer shares, travelers checks, money orders) must be declared. Attention: In foreign currency matters, people who are related to each other are legally considered to be one person.
Currency Exchange
Hotels generally do not exchange foreign currency and only a few banks do exchange foreign currency. It is therefore advisable to change enough US dollars before departure or put them on a credit card.
