Trouble in Paradise: How to Avoid High Healthcare Costs While Traveling and Vacationing

It’s summertime, which means we’re seeing “out of office” messages galore and an influx of requests from family and friends to “water the plants” or “feed the cat” while they’re vacationing. Whether you’re a financial advisor taking a well-deserved vacation or you have clients visiting their summer homes, there are some important pieces of advice we’d like to share. No, it’s not where to find the best gelato — although as a gelato aficionado I could definitely answer that question for you. It’s (you guessed it) advice about healthcare while traveling and vacationing! 

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Although it’s not a thrilling topic and certainly not at the top of things anyone thinks about when vacationing, it is important to know the answers to questions like: 

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• “How does my healthcare coverage work if I’m out of state? Or out of the country?”
• “I’m not familiar with the area, how do I find a pediatrician for my toddler’s earache?”
• “I forgot to pack my prescription medication, how do I get a refill if I’m not anywhere near my pharmacy? Or if I’m not technically due for a refill?”

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If you’re not prepared for the healthcare issues that could arise during your vacation, you may find yourself paying an expensive medical bill and dealing with a lot more stress than needed. So, bookmark this blog for when you might need it, and let’s dive in.

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Proactive steps to take before your vacation to avoid unnecessary medical costs.

It’s always better to be proactive than reactive. You can’t prepare for every single possible medical situation that may or may not arise before traveling, but there are a few simple and common things you can do before your trip to avoid unnecessary medical costs.

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Medications

This is a big one! In the midst of packing, it can be easy to forget medications. Try creating a list of all the medications and/or medical equipment you need to pack so you’re less likely to forget. If you do forget to bring an over-the-counter medication, that’s a pretty easy fix. Just go to the nearest store that sells the medication you need. Forgetting a prescription medication isn’t quite as simple. A proactive step you can take is to request a vacation override or travel supply for your prescription. It’s best to request a vacation override on a prescription at least two weeks before your trip. This is a form you can fill out at your pharmacy that allows you to have a prescription filled early or for more than a 30 or 90-day supply. Exact rules and coverage vary depending on your insurer, pharmacy, and state. 

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Research

Another way to avoid unnecessary medical costs if you need healthcare while traveling is to research if your pharmacy has locations in the area you’re traveling to. It can also be helpful to do a quick search on your health insurer’s website or member platform to see in-network providers, pharmacies, and clinics that exist in your travel destination. You can also check what your health insurer’s policies are on covering healthcare expenses incurred outside of your home state.

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Travel medical insurance 

If you’re someone who travels outside of the U.S. for extended periods of time or frequently throughout the year, it might make sense to look into travel medical insurance. This is because many health insurers, like Medicare, do not cover medical expenses that you incur outside of the U.S. Make sure to discuss this with your insurer, financial advisor, and travel agent though; if you don’t travel often or for long periods of time, paying for this additional insurance may be a waste of money. It will depend on your unique situation.

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Where to go depending on your medical situation.

Let’s say you’re at a beach with your family and one of your kids goes sideways under the water. They get a painful earache and you can’t seem to fix it on your own. They need medical attention, and since you’re not at home, you might feel tempted to rush them to the nearest hospital. Or, maybe you and your spouse are on a hiking trip and you fall. Your ankle hurts pretty bad, but you’re not sure if it’s a sprain or something more serious. Again, you might be tempted to go to the nearest hospital. However, a sure-fire way to get an expensive medical bill is to go to the E.R. Even if you’re medical situation isn’t an emergency and you only receive minor medical care, the hospital may charge you a high amount for simply being in the E.R.. 

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Generally, taking yourself or someone else to the E.R. is necessary if one or more of the following is present:

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• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Chest pain
• Acute respiratory distress
• Medication overdose 
• Large, open wounds
• Severe head injury
• Loss of normal function (e.g. inability to move an arm, unable to speak)

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This is not an exhaustive list of E.R. scenarios, but it gives you an idea of what is an emergency and what isn’t. And of course, if someone’s life is in danger, call 911.

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The two examples we gave earlier, an earache and a potentially sprained ankle, are situations where it would be more appropriate to receive care at an urgent care clinic or a walk-in clinic. These facilities are generally much more affordable than E.R.s and large hospital systems. The following are medical situations that urgent care clinics can take care of:

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• Common illnesses (e.g. colds, the flu, earaches, sore throats, migraines, and low-grade fevers)
• Rashes
• Minor injuries (e.g., sprains, back pain) 
• Minor cuts and burns
• Minor broken bones
• Minor eye injuries

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Knowing where to go for different types of medical care can mean the difference between a $75 co-pay and a $3,000 medical bill.

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A quick recap before you jet off to your next destination!

If you’re a financial advisor helping clients plan for their trips financially, don’t forget to include potential healthcare expenses into that plan. Providing strategies to mitigate unexpected costs can be as simple as sharing this blog with your clients so that they’re aware of what to prepare for before their trip and where to go for care should they need medical assistance while traveling. Equally as important: book some R&R time for yourself! And when you do, keep this blog handy, too, in case you need it for yourself or someone you’re traveling with. The hope of course is that you’ll be perfectly safe and healthy while vacationing and won’t need these tips, but having this information on hand can give you some peace of mind during a potentially stressful event and save you money in the long run. 

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Happy travels!

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