Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental overseas medical insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation, may prove useful. The international travelers hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at tel. The crime rate in the Republic of the Marshall Islands is relatively low, but rapidly increasing.
Most common crimes are break-ins and thefts from homes, hotel rooms and vehicles.
Random acts of vandalism are also on the rise. 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. It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.