Forum Discussion

Will_and_Eric's avatar
Jul 10, 2018

Dr visits on the road

I am sure we are the only ones with this issue. Medications. Since our Doctors are all here in Florida where we live now, what do we do when we hit the road? Our Doctors are only going to refill prescriptions for so long before wanting us to come in for a check up. Can’t see driving all the way back to Florida for that. What have others done about this issue? Thanks in advance!
  • RVing and medical needs.
    1. When I reach a location I plan to stay for an extended period of time, I call the local hospital and get the names and numbers of local Drs. and then set up an appointment. I then have an established Dr. and have all my medical records sent to this new Dr..
    2. I created a complete computer spread sheet that lists all my prescriptions i.e. name & generic, dosages, frequency, Dr. who prescribed, list of all my previous surgeries, allergies and name, addresses, phone/fax # all Drs. I carry 5 copies of this spread sheet and just present it to the Dr. or emergency care center where I am located. This spread sheet does not have to done a computer but having it saved on your computer makes it easier to keep it updated and current. I also aways carry a copy inside my vehicles. I also transferred this info to a small flash drive and hang it on my dash after I paint it red so emergency responders can use to down load all my prescriptions.
    3. I use a large pharmaceutical i.e. Wall Greens that can fill my prescriptions no matter what state or city I am in.
  • I hesitate to post this here, because I basically agree with the other posters that you need to be monitored by a Dr. if taking certain prescription medication. But many full timers take advantage of Mexican pharmacies, where it is possible to buy many of these prescription medications over the counter. As one example, Los Algadones, in Mexico, has a 3 or 4 block stretch next to the border crossing full of pharmacies, dentists, and eyeglass places which cater to the hordes of Yanqui tourists who cross over specifically to get medicine or to have dental work done.

    https://www.dayodental.com/what-are-the-rules-on-buying-prescription-meds-from-mexico/
  • It is going to depend upon your health conditions and what conditions the prescriptions are treating. We have been able to work with several different doctors since 2007 as well as our mail order pharmacy. We get blood work done when our doctors want it done and have the results sent back to them. It does require some planning. It also helped that our health care providers know that we are being responsible while we are on the road. We also carry our medical records and test results with us on usb drives in case of emergency which greatly helped when Dave had a heart attack while on the road in an unfamiliar area.
  • For a number of years, my wife and I have arranged our travels so that we're near our doctors first once, and now twice a year for physicals, follow-ups, etc. Prescription renewals as said, have been easily handled through a major chain. With most prescriptions done electronically now, filling them anywhere in the country is not usually a problem. Schedule II controlled drugs can be problematic though.
  • Lots of threads on this subject, and the answers can be varied.
    If you have a set travel pattern, say winters Az, SoCal, and summers Id, Wy, Or, and maybe Wa. You could get a new plan in Nevada, Make the University med center your primary care facility and your electronic records are available both in the southern region from Vegas, and up north from Reno and several small clinics. And from those other states your still always within a days drive to your home system.
    If that doesn't help then select your plan based on flexibility in Dr. visits, but with the med insurance industry still evolving it's hard to say where to go, plans change, companies want to force you to their preferred providers, flexibility is the last thing they seem to want to offer.
    Fl. has been mentioned here several times as having better plans available for those not on medicare, You may want to look at Escapees.com for some guidance, they have quite a bit of material helpful to fulltiming, and have Fl, along with Tx. and SD as states they follow the changes most closely in.
    At any rate get digital copies of your med records before you hit the road, having the information available is a timesaver when you do have to go someplace new.
  • For some meds, you need to be monitored for potential side effects and/or for resetting of the dosage. Medical conditions might also require monitoring and you need to consider a medical exam to check for other conditions or complications. Review your travel plans with your doctor and reach an agreement for future care.

    If you are a full timer on the road for years, you will need to periodically find new providers. You also need to carry documentation of previous visits and labs.

    If you need a prescription renewed, that can be pretty easy especially if you use a chain pharmacy. You doctor can call in a prescription for most meds almost anywhere in the country.