Holiday time means travel for many of us. Whether you are heading home for the holidays or traveling to a favorite place to decompress, part of your vacation planning should include preparing for health emergencies. Before you travel, please review options for care.
You can use the following checklist to make sure these essential items travel with you:
- health, dental and prescription ID cards (If you need replacement cards, you can always go online to print one or call your insurance plan),
- phone numbers of primary care doctors and specialists,
- durable medical equipment,
- enough prescription maintenance medication to last for the whole trip—and a few days beyond, and
- any necessary over-the-counter medications.
HealthSelectSM of Texas and Consumer Directed HealthSelectSM
For more tips and things to consider before your trip, HealthSelect participants can visit the Education information section of www.HealthSelectRx.com and click on “Medication Planning for Travel.”
Don’t forget virtual visits! Virtual visits are offered at no cost to those enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas; those enrolled in Consumer Directed HealthSelect must meet their deductible before visits are covered, but the cost of a virtual visit is still likely to be less than a trip to the doctor or urgent care center. For more information, go to the virtual visits webpage in your online medical benefits guide or call a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Personal Health Assistant toll-free at (800) 252-8039.
If the doctor prescribes medicine, participants can have him or her send it to a pharmacy in their vacation location (they should be sure to use the Optum Rx pharmacy locator to find one that’s in network).
HMO
KelseyCare powered by Community Health Choice members should also consult the plan’s FAQs for more information. They can go to https://www.erskelseycare.com/pharmacy-services/find-a-pharmacy/ to find participating pharmacies.
Source: ERS Update Express (Nov. 5, 2018)