When one of my family members became ill with a nasty stomach virus while we were in Vail, we weren't only worried about her getting better; we were also worried about the rest of us catching it.
Ironically enough, we had noticed an Alpine Mobile Physicians outside a nearby hotel earlier in the week. When our patient was getting worse instead of better, we decided to give them a call. Doctor Raniolo was in our hotel room within half an hour, checked her out, had prescription medicine on hand to take care of the symptoms, and even followed up the next day to see if she was better.
That's one option for medical care on a trip, but when you're traveling, a trip to local doctor, an urgent care center, or even an emergency room are options as well. How do you figure out where to go for help when you're sick away from home? What's the easiest way to get to a doctor who can help?
Call Your Health Insurance Company
One of the best places finding health care when you're on vacation to start is by calling your health insurance provider. There should be an 800 number to call on health insurance card. You may be able to talk to a nurse and you can verify what out-of-network coverage you have. Be sure to bring both your health insurance card and prescription drug card with you whenever you travel.
Ask the Front Desk or Concierge
It can be hard to know where to go when you're not feeling well and you're not familiar with the local area. If you're staying at a hotel ask the front desk or concierge if they have a list of local physician and urgent care centers. They can also direct to the local emergency room if you're really ill.
They can most likely arrange transportation, as well, if you don't have a car.
Mobile Physician Services
We had never used a mobile physician before, but for service, you can't beat it. You don't have to leave your hotel or condo, you don't have to sit in a waiting room, and you get personalized health care services.
As Doctor Raniolo said - if it's a question of losing three or four vacation days waiting to get better or getting medicine that can help knock out the symptoms to save your skiing days, it's not much of a decision to make to call the doctor.
You'll have to pay upfront for many in-home services and your insurance company may not reimburse you for all the expenses. However, if you have travel insurance that may cover some of the expenses.
Documentation for Reimbursement
Be sure to keep all the paperwork you're given, because you'll need to submit itemized bills for reimbursement to your health insurance provider and your prescription drug provider.
Ask at the Pharmacy
Sometimes, if you're not sick enough to need a doctor, a pharmacist can suggest what over-the-count medicines can be helpful. That was especially useful when I was in Switzerland, because the pharmacist spoke fluent English and was able to give me the European version of what I needed.
Bring the Basics
I always bring a supply of medicine with me when I travel - for headaches, coughs, colds, stomach disorders, etc. That way, I have basics covered and I'm prepared for minor illnesses. I can't count the number of times that stash of over-the-counter medicine has come in handy.
