Health Care on the Road - RV-Dreams Community Forum

foxriverguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Health Care on the Road

Dan and Gail · RV-Dreams Family Member

One of our daughters lives within a one hour drive of our primary physician, dentist, eye specialist and my gynecologist. We plan on spending some time with her family each year and our physicians have been very agreeable to scheduling annual checkups at that time. It will take some planning, but it will be worth it to have everything done at one time. As we've explained our plans to the physicians, they have been very interested and excited for us.

Our children live in 5 different states, from the west coast to the east coast, and they have mentioned our plans to their primary physicians; so if we have a need while roaming we will probably see their physicians.

I realize if you have ongoing chronic conditions, your needs may be different. As a nurse, I have always checked out the location of the nearest hospital and/or urgent care facility as we travel; especially while traveling with 5 children and now grandchildren.

You never know when someone will need emergency care. One of our daughters has a severe allergy to certain types of mold, so she and I, and her family, always check out the location of the nearest hospital and the local emergency response system. And with internet access, it is so easy to check hospital and physician credintials.

We use CVS pharmacy for the 2 prescription drugs we take, and don't anticipate having a problem filling them as we roam.

Hope this helps.

Gail

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since this was a major concern with my husband and myself going full time we have done this. Myself being a diabetic (type 1 for 42 yrs) I have disability (along with other medical problems) and my husband recently (having COPD) retired and will also be on disability in Jan.

I have done this...I told my drs. about our decision and I took out a coverage that will be national coverage while traveling of which mine is BCBS. I got all my medical records (copies that are up-to-date) take them with me. I also have standing app. some of which are made 6 months from now and in which time we shall be back in the area. Namely the summer months.

My husband who goes to the VA hospitials (of which there is a nationwide list of all these hospitals on the internet) will be covered through them. He also is on oxygen during the nitetimes and has rigged up a way that we can use the concentrator in our RV....it is in the storage compartment and the tubing runs up through the floor...he also installed vents so the concentrator will have sufficient air when running.

Also we have ALL prescriptions prescribed for at least 90 days. We have decided not to let these disabilities stop us in going full time while we still can. I truly hope this helps.

southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs

Here4Now · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are just completing a week back in our HCBFT (home city before full-timing) and have attended to all of our medical appointments....mammogram, colonoscopy, optometrist, glaucoma specialist, dentist, chiropractor, and annual check-ups.

All of our docs knew of our plans and have been very cooperative and helpful in accommodating our traveling. We have healthcare coverage that is nationwide which was a help when bloodwork had to be done at least one week before the colonoscopoy and we were not yet back in town.

Our daughter is still in this area, so we'll be back...although it might not be for 9 months. I got copies of our records from all our docs to carry with us for emergencies, and our chiropractor even wrote out a description of the problem areas we have and how he has adjusted us.

Almost every one of our docs has expressed interest in our lifestyle and a couple are even following our blog.