Before you leave: the 5 things the State Department wants every U.S. traveler to do

The State Department's international travel checklist has five steps, and all of them happen before you leave the United States. The one with the biggest financial stakes is insurance, because U.S. health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, usually does not cover care abroad and the U.S. government does not pay medical bills.

The State Department's International Travel Checklist lays out the five steps, and the sections below add details from its country advisories, including China and Russia, so use them as a starting point and then check your own destination's page.

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Start with the destination's travel advisory, which shows a level from one to four, the risk letters behind it and the date it was issued. The destination page also lists tips from the U.S. embassy, entry, exit and visa requirements, how long your passport must stay valid, embassy contact information, local laws and special circumstances, and vaccine and health information.

The details differ sharply by country. China's page, for example, says you must register within 24 hours of arrival at your hotel or residence, re-register at every new location, and carry your passport and visa at all times. Russia's says U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work there.

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The department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, sends alerts and updates from the U.S. embassy or consulate for the place you are visiting or living. Messages go to your email and cover security alerts, demonstration alerts, health alerts, weather or natural disaster alerts, travel advisory updates and routine messages about embassy services.

Enrolling also helps the embassy or consulate reach you or your emergency contact in an emergency. You can sign up at mytravel.state.gov.

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Gather your documents and make several copies. The department suggests giving one set to a trusted friend or family member, keeping another set with you but separate from the originals, and photographing everything with your phone, so you can replace documents if they are lost or stolen.

Check your passport's expiration date as soon as you start planning, since some countries, especially in Europe, require it to be valid for at least six months after your travel dates, and apply early if you need a new one. Passports for children under 16 are valid for only five years. Confirm whether your destination requires a visa or electronic travel authorization, and note that some prescription and over-the-counter medications that are legal in the United States are not legal abroad, so bring copies of your prescriptions and labeled bottles. Parents traveling without the other parent may need custody papers or a notarized letter of permission, and many countries do not accept a U.S. driver's license, so you may need an International Driving Permit and extra auto insurance.

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The checklist points to the department's guidance on crisis response and evacuations, lodging safety, medicine and health, laws abroad and trusted traveler programs, along with CDC travel advice and World Health Organization country overviews. It also lists pages for particular travelers and activities, from accessibility needs and women travelers to adventure travel, cruises and studying abroad.

Several country advisories add practical points. China's says that if you break local laws, even by mistake, you could be deported, detained or imprisoned, that you should ask officials to notify the U.S. embassy immediately if you are arrested, and that the embassy will monitor your health and safety in detention but cannot guarantee your release. Its technology section advises updating all software before leaving the United States and avoiding public Wi-Fi.

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The department says the U.S. government does not provide insurance or pay any costs for Americans abroad, including medical bills and unexpected travel costs. It highly recommends travel medical insurance that covers emergency care and medical evacuation, which can be a separate plan or part of a policy covering trip cancellation or interruption, and it urges you to read a policy carefully to see what it does and does not cover.

The checklist lists three kinds of coverage to consider: travel health insurance, emergency medical evacuation and international auto insurance. Country pages explain why it matters. China's says hospitals and doctors require payment before service or admission, even in emergencies, and that most hospitals abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Requirements and advisories change. Confirm current information for your destination at travel.state.gov before you travel.