Prescription refills while traveling for extended periods of time in an RV require some pre-planning. The following are some tips for how to manage your prescription refills while on the road.
Know Your Refills
Check your prescriptions to see when you will be due for refills while you are on the road—certain medications, such as controlled substances, may be state restrictions on filling an out-of-state prescription. Be sure to check the medications and the states you are traveling through for any issues with refills. When in doubt, call ahead to the pharmacy. Know in advance the information needed to refill an out-of-state prescription.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage for out-of-state refills varies by company and plan. Additionally, some drug categories are heavily restricted in certain states. Therefore, not all prescriptions can be transferred out of state or called in by your doctor. In those cases, be sure to plan and have plenty of the medication on hand. If your trip is longer than the supply available to fill before leaving, you may need to find a local doctor to write a script. Make an appointment in advance and be sure to have your doctor at home send your medical records. This will substantiate your prescription history and make the process of getting a local script faster and easier.
Check with your insurance coverage to see if they will cover 60 or 90 day supply. If they do, ask your doctor to write or call in for the maximum amount available before departing home. For stays of an extended period of time, check to see if the prescription plan offers mail orders. If so, have the refill sent to the temporary address along your route.
Other options
Another option to consider is having your doctor at home write several prescriptions. Be sure to have them dated with the refill dates. Again, be sure to check with the state where you will be using the script. Always best to double-check there will be no issues with an out-of-state script.
Don’t wait until the end of the medication to try and figure out how to get a refill. Planning will save you time and give you peace of mind while you are traveling. Prescriptions filled while traveling requires pre-planning to ensure no lapse in doses. Check your medications and refill dates. Have a plan for how and where to get refills while you are traveling. A little bit of pre-planning can prevent a lot of frustration on the road.
