Help! I Forgot My Prescription Medication on Vacation
After a long journey, I checked into our resort, eager for a relaxing evening. As we headed out for dinner, I reached into my carry-on for my medication… and it wasn’t there. A wave of panic hit me as I remembered leaving the bottle on the counter! I couldn’t believe after years of travel that I actually forgot my prescription medication!!
This can be a serious situation if you need to take your medication daily to reduce the risk of any life-threatening health issue. Here’s what you should do if you find you forgot your prescription medicine while on vacation:
Refilling a Prescription in the U.S.
Call Your Doctor or Pharmacy: Contact your prescribing physician’s office or your home pharmacy and explain the situation. Ask if they can arrange for a nearby pharmacy to dispense your medication. If your home pharmacy is part of a chain, it’s best to visit a local branch of that chain, as your information will already be in their system.
Weekend or Holiday Solutions: If you can’t reach your healthcare provider because it’s a weekend or holiday, visit a local urgent-care clinic or emergency room for immediate assistance.
Insurance Considerations: If your insurance company won’t cover the extra medication, request a one-time vacation override. You may still need to pay a copay, but insurance should cover the rest. If you encounter difficulties, contact the 24-7 assistance included with many travel insurance plans for help.
Refilling a Prescription Internationally
- Contact Your Doctor Back Home: Ask your healthcare provider to email you a copy of your prescription along with a letter explaining why you need the medication. Make sure the prescription includes the generic name of the drug, as brand names can vary by country.
- Visit a Pharmacy: Take your new prescription to a local pharmacy. Be prepared to pay out of pocket, as U.S. insurance is typically not accepted overseas. Travel insurance may not cover prescriptions unless it’s part of an emergency or trip interruption that left you without your medication.
- Find a Local Doctor: Make an appointment with a local healthcare provider. Your hotel or host should be able to provide you with this information. In Barcelona once, I used Google and searched by rating, and it was perfect. Explain that you forgot your prescription medication and need a valid prescription. Bring your prescription and doctor’s letter, and have them translated if necessary.
Extra Tips and Preventative Tips in case you forgot your prescription medication while on vacation:
- Take a photo: I line up my prescriptions before I leave and take a photo that clearly shows what it is and the dosage. This is especially important if you use those little dosage pill boxes that don’t have labels.
- Sticky notes: For something as important as medication or a passport – put a sticky note on your door handle so you can’t exit without seeing it.
- Use Technology: Your insurance company or travel insurance provider might have an app for faster service. Check before you leave.
- Travel Insurance Assistance: Utilize the 24-hour assistance services provided by your travel insurance for recommendations and support, including arranging a conference call with your doctor back home.
By following these steps, you can manage the situation and ensure your health is taken care of, even when you’re far from home. Safe travels!
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