Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful. Theft and other petty crimes have been rising in Macedonia, but are still low by U.S. standards. Emergency police assistance can be obtained by dialing 92.
Response time varies, but is generally considered to be effective.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Westerners who travel to Macedonia can expect shortages of fuel, and in some cases, long waits for processing at the border. U.S. citizens are reminded that they are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro can obtain updated information on travel and security within Macedonia. Macedonia has declared its independence from the former Yugoslavia, but has not been recognized as an independent country by the United States.