Are you joining the several million “snowbirds” from the upper Midwest who migrate south to Florida, Arizona, Texas, and other destinations in the Sunbelt? These are not migrating monarch butterflies or sandhill cranes. But our friends and relatives, retirees, and grandparents seeking some respite from the gray cold winters in their home communities.
As you dig out the shorts and sandals, and pack your bags for the flight or pack the SUV for the road trip, consider adding these items that may be critical to your staying healthy and navigating an unfamiliar healthcare terrain during your winter months away.
Essential medical records that can be a hard copy or put on a flash drive (or in the cloud). But beware: Sometimes these drives cannot be accessed so there is no substitute for paper—a list of your medications and dosages, for example, latest blood test results, not a stack of dated medical records.
Insurance cards. This is mission critical. But first, check to see if your coverage at home will be honored by the health system where you will be going. Understand the difference between out-of-network, in network, copays, and deductibles. Ignorance could be a costly oversight. Do this by calling your carrier and asking if your Medicare Advantage plan works in Sarasota or Tucson. Regular Medicare holders may be okay
Plan ahead, locate the local healthcare delivery system and get specific information about whether or not you are covered. You can also call that medical system and ask their billing office. “Do you take My HealthCare Plan?” This is a really big deal. You don’t want any surprises when it comes to medical bills.
Ask your hometown doctor if you can visit with him or her via their telemedicine service on Zoom. Then you can keep in touch even though the doctor can’t examine you. Take a laptop with you or know if you can find a computer (library or friend). Facetime on a smartphone may be an option.
Write down all the usernames and passwords for your patient portal for all the physicians you see. Might be separate portals for your VA, local heart doc, orthopedic doc’s portal, and the portal for your primary care doc. Understand how to manipulate the patient portal and find test results and message your doctor.
Be certain to bring the actual bottles of medications with you and understand that these may not be renewable in the Sunbelt. Call a pharmacy or two where you are going and see what they suggest and whether they accept your Part D plan. And the doctors down there might not be comfortable to write you another prescription. See if your physicians will write prescriptions for 90-day supplies or longer that you can fill via mail order pharmacies. Or arrange to have your kids fill the prescriptions for you at home and mail to you.
Get your vaccinations updated right now before you leave. Flu shots and COVID boosters, RSV and shingles shots. If you’re going somewhere where Zika or West Nile viruses are a danger, such as the Caribbean or South America, you can get vaccinated now. The CDC Traveler’s Health website has up-to-date info on breakouts.
Bring instructions for any medical devices such as your hearing aids or CPAP (and plenty of batteries and charging cords). And bring the portable charger for your hearing aid. Check out some of the excellent YouTube videos on how to travel with your CPAP device, and what to do if there is a malfunction of the apparatus. Keep a copy of your eyeglasses prescription in case you sit on your driving glasses.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, long sleeves. You are vulnerable to the damages of the sun.
Even though you may be enjoying a Florida sunset by the pool and sipping margaritas on the lanai with new friends, do set an agenda for your days in paradise, control your calendar, and turn off devices such as smartphones or you will wander in a sea of electrons. Memory and judgment can be compromised by medications, by stress, by lack of sleep, by alcohol—and by a new environment where you need to establish healthy new routines.
Enjoy your warm winter in good health.
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