Maintenance & Restoration

Christian in FL · 08-17-2015, 12:17 PM

So how do fulltimers handle meds and healthcare? I have a plan and medicare, but get my meds through a patient assistance program. The company mails it to my doc every 3 months and I pick it up. Suggestions?

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mary and bob · 08-17-2015, 01:34 PM

Will they mail your meds to General Delivery at a post office near where you are staying. That is how we get our mail while away from home.

honda03842 · 08-17-2015, 02:03 PM

There are multiple approaches to this problem depending on your prescription insurance.

With ours we can get our meds anywhere. We mostly use the insurance's central location and they send it where ever we want. If we're traveling about we use general delivery at small post offices.

You can also drop your prescriptions at a Walmart, CVS or ... and pick up your medications at any of their locations. We've done the latter with Walmarts.

Byron Kinnaman · 08-17-2015, 02:09 PM

It's not been much of a problem for me, once I learned their system. When I order refills I can specify a one time delivery address. That one time address if I'm traveling is always General Delivery at a post office close to where I'm staying at the time. I usually have a few months more on hand in case there's some sort of problem. I can reorder 90 day supply every 60 days, so before we started traveling I managed about a 60 day cushion.

Jon Vermilye · 08-17-2015, 02:23 PM

One point on getting your meds at a chain pharmacy - If you have to switch pharmacies, you will likely lose any refills. If fact, in New York state, switching between locations even if they are the same chain, the refills are canceled.

Since Walgreens is the only pharmacy that claims to have a location in every state, (and some states have only one location) if you do lots of traveling it pays to ask your doctor(s) for multiple paper prescriptions for you can start over if you have to use a different pharmacy from your normal one.

There are also some pharmacies that will not fill an out of state prescription without talking with your doctor. I had this problem with a CVS out west, and because of the time zone differences, couldn't call to my doctor in the East.

Getting refills on a long trip can be challenging, even with the non "schedule" drugs, which are even more difficult. Even having them mailed to you can be a problem since I have 2 different eye drops that must be kept within a narrow temperature range. Since I tend to move every couple of days, finding a location to have drugs mailed to can also be difficult.

honda03842 · 08-17-2015, 02:26 PM

As to cushions, on occasion I've had a doctor double my dosage from 1 pill a day to 2 pills a day. This allows me to build up a backup supply.

I explain how my life style is different and I need this kind of protection. It also provides me with the medication I need in case of some national problem, a more serious situation.

I asked him about the 'good till dates' on pills and he said that's really pretend. One time he gave me a prescription for gout, basically a one time medical event but I carried the pills for 7 years. One day I felt the onset of gout and took one, quickly gone.

This no medical suggestion just what my doctor told me. Of course there may be some meds that expire, ask your doctor about yours.

Like Byron I always have a backup for the key medications.

honda03842 · 08-17-2015, 02:33 PM

We had a prescription at a NH Walmart, we were 1500 miles away at another Walmarts. They could not refill it instantly but made the call to the doctor without our intervention and had the meds in two days. Sometimes transferring prescriptions requires the pharmacy to do something beyond fill it.

We get most of our pills and mail by general delivery and have not had a single lost item in 15 years. We pick small town post offices. We probably get mail and meds no more than 10 times a year.

Bob Miller · 08-17-2015, 03:11 PM

Some Rx's, especially liquids, do have a shelf life.

Check on-line at the Mayo clinic web site or with your physician. Be sure to tell her that they may be exposed to higher than usual temps.

In certain meds may require an original script for a refill. Ask about the Schedule your meds are on and if an original script is needed, particularly in other states if you are travelling.