The freedom and liberation that comes with RV and van lifestyles have encouraged many people to pack their things and hit the road. There’s no more struggling to afford housing, no more obligations to stick to one location, and no need for the run-of-the-mill 9 to 5 jobs that are often unfulfilling. All that matters is you, your family, your mobile home, and the millions of acres of land to explore along the way. Be that as it may, RV life isn’t without obstacles.
Healthcare, for instance, can be a burden. When you’re constantly moving from state to state, acquiring adequate insurance, finding reputable service providers, and even covering the cost of prescription medications gets challenging. While this shouldn’t discourage you from giving RV living a try, proper preparation is required to ensure healthcare doesn’t become a problem. Below are some practical solutions.
Shop Around For Insurance
Unfortunately, most insurance companies don’t follow patients from one state to another. Instead, they cover individuals and families for medical services in their hometown. Therefore, you will need to shop around to try and find coverage that will provide coverage if you move around a lot.
Schedule Appointments Strategically
If you can’t find out-of-state insurance, your next option is to schedule regular appointments in the state your coverage applies. Then, ensure that your travel plans include heading back to your home state in time for your medical visits. If you and your family are relatively healthy, that means coming home at least once a year for annual physicals, screenings, dental cleanings, vision tests, and other preventative care.
Opt For National or Multi-State Healthcare Facilities
When deciding on a primary care physician or other healthcare providers, try to stick to organizations that offer services nationwide or in multiple states. That way, if you need to visit a doctor or hospital while you’re out of town, your records can be electronically accessed from the database. This approach eliminates the need to wait for a doctor or hospital in another state to release your records.
Fill Prescriptions At National Pharmacies
Having immediate access to prescriptions is essential and difficult for full-time RVers, particularly those who use a local pharmacy. The most practical solution would be to switch your medications to a national pharmacy like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Walmart. That way, your information is in their electronic database, and you can get prescriptions filled faster. Also, most national pharmacies accept a discount card for prescriptions so you can save money.
90-Day Prescriptions
Another way to ensure access to the medicines you need is to request 90-day prescriptions from your primary care physician. Ultimately, you’ll get 90 days’ worth of medication, so you don’t have to visit the pharmacy as frequently.
TeleMedicine
Thanks to modern technology, visiting the doctor and other healthcare professionals is easier. Many healthcare facilities offer telemedicine options to their patients. You can book appointments and visit the doctor through video conferencing software. Since the appointment is with a doctor in your hometown, the visit is covered by your insurance. The doctor can review your files, send correspondence, perform visual tests, and fill prescriptions virtually, so you don’t have to travel for miles to get what you need.
Healthy Lifestyles
Last but not least, full-time RVers and their families are encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles while on the road. Ensure that you’re eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing stress by doing things that make you happy. If you have existing medical conditions, take your medicine as prescribed, keep up with your doctor’s appointments, and follow your health plan efficiently to ensure things don’t take a turn for the worst.
RV living has many advantages, which is why many people are interested in giving it a try. Be that as it may, it’s not a lifestyle you should consider on impulse. It requires a lot of planning and preparation to ensure that your experience is stress-free, safe, healthy, and fun. If you have concerns about healthcare as a full-time RVer, use the advice above to ensure that you and your travel companions have everything you need.
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