How-To (Or How-Not-To) Refill Prescription Meds While Traveling

We had a solid Plan A.  Before we left on our trip, we had our 90-day supply of prescription meds, plus we even received from our discount prescription provider, Medco, an additional 90-day supply through their "travel" program.  Usually, they would not release more than a 90-day supply; however, they will for travel purposes.  Instead of carrying around a 6-month supply of meds (very bulky and takes up precious backpack space!), we decided to have someone mail the next 90-day supply to us while we were in Argentina for 3-weeks.  Genius, right?  Well, not so genius when...

Health Insurance Options - Our Final Decision

This is a follow-up blog to our previous post on health insurance options titled, Maintaining Health Insurance During a Career Break.  Who Knew  There Were So Many Considerations.

Since December 2011, a friend of ours (thank you, Craig!) - after reading our previous post - told us that we may indeed qualify for COBRA, contrary to some information we found in an article posted through Meet, Plan, Go - Travel Health Insurance Providing Credible Coverage: Why You Need It, and Where to Find It.  In fact, the United States Department of Labor provides a comprehensive online FAQ page that answers a lot of questions we had.  It discusses qualifying events, eligibility, and continuation of coverage.

After contacting our respective employers, we found out that Mike's COBRA would cost $400/month and Akiko's COBRA benefits would cost approximately $500/month to maintain.  Okay..."slightly" expensive, but we weren't going to rule it out just yet.

Without knowing the status of Mike's leave-of-absence request, and the COBRA plans being financially undesirable, we continued researching private health insurance plan options.  We were pleased with the service that we received through the online 'clearinghouse' of major health insurance providers at eHealthInsurance (www.ehealthinsurance.com).

Maintaining Health Insurance During a Career Break. Who Knew There Were So Many Considerations!

Although we feel our travel insurance would be adequate while traveling, what happens if one of us needs medical attention and we are sent back to the States?  Unfortunately, travel insurance typically ends as soon as you land on U.S. soil.  A more likely scenario is upon our return where there is a vulnerable period where the travel insurance will no longer protect us, yet we may not be employed in order to qualify for employer-provided-healthcare.  Even if we did find employment, there may be a pre-existing condition clause with a waiting period on that policy.  Either way, we would be uninsured when we return to our “real” lives – something that makes us very nervous. 

One way to avoid being uninsured when we return is to maintain continuous coverage in the States during our absence.  Sounds easy enough, but apparently it’s very complicated.  A couple of excellent blogs have helped highlight some of the complexities with health insurance in the States.  Both blogs are available through the Meet, Plan, Go website.  They are both, a “must read”:  TravelHealth Insurance Providing Creditable Coverage and HealthInsurance for American Travelers.   Frankly, we hadn’t even thought about needing to maintain health insurance in the States while we travel, but after reading these blogs, we definitely think that is the way to go. 

Let us break it down for you.