Concerns about Dr.'s,prescriptions etc.

Curlida wrote:
Sorry to ask so many questions but my wife is concerned that if we start doing some extensive traveling, do you plan short triips around Dr. Appointments,getting prescriptions filled ect. Will Dr's work with you so you don't have to keep coming back to your home base etc.How do you full timers juggle your healthcare, paying your everyday bills etc. it kind of sound like a dumb question but she is a retired Police officer who was hurt on the job and always has to make appointments or get RX's filled.

1. When I snow bird for the winter in Ariz. for 3 to 4 months I just find a Doctor who will be my primary care giver while I am there. I then have all my medical records from my home town sent to this doctor who then can make appropriate medical decisions about my care.
2. Finances -- Use your home town bank and have your bills put on "auto Pay" so you don't have to worry about important bills not being paid or missed.
3. Prescriptions --- establish an account in your home town with one of the major pharmacies , Longs, CVC, Wall Green that provide services nation wide. Now you can go to any Wall Green Pharmacy in any state to order and pick up your meds.
4. Travel protection -- buy a. Good Sam Emergency Road Side Service(there are others) b.Good sam Travel Assist plan. Both these plans will provide you protection as you do your extensive traveling.
5. Create a "spread sheet"--- or you can just write it out, list all current medications/drugs (drug,generic name, dosage, frequency, reason for medication, Dr. prescribing information of all your current drug/medications, the names,addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers of all your doctors. Run about 10 copies of this spread sheet, carry one in each vechicle, one in your wallet, put one in an envelope and stick it to the door of your refrigerator. As your medications chang, you simply update your medical spread sheet and run 10 more copies. Distroy the old copies.
If you need to have emergency medical care, give this spread sheet to the Emergency Care staff. The emergency doctor will appreciate this and you won't have to try and remember all this information.