Health Care for RVers: Managing Chronic Conditions on the Road
10/18/2024
Two of the many questions potential RVers ask before they hit the road full-time are ‘”what are the options for health care for RVers, and how do I manage my chronic conditions on the road?” These questions aren’t asked lightly, and the answers are different for each person.
If you have a condition such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, or something else, managing your health issue can be complicated. Remember, though, it doesn’t necessarily have to keep you from enjoying your RV adventures. You might have to do life in the RV differently.
The first step to managing your chronic condition is to consult your doctor and have a health travel plan. You must also ensure you can get the prescriptions you need on the road.
Let’s dive deeper into health care for RVers and managing your chronic condition on the road.
Preparing for RV Life with a Chronic Condition
Preparing for RV life with a chronic condition can be as simple as knowing you have a place to fill prescriptions or more complicated preparations, such as making sure you always have electricity for medical devices. Some might also need to consider supplies or medicines such as insulin or a dedicated storage place for medical equipment.
I have several chronic conditions that require me to take a pill every day. There have been a few places we might have wanted to work camp, such as Alaska, but finding a CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart nearby wasn’t possible. The nice thing about these stores is you can usually find one on about every corner in every U.S. city. It’s easy for the pharmacy to pull up your information and get your prescription filled, making health care for RVers much more convenient.
Preparation to manage your chronic condition on the road can also involve consulting with your doctor or healthcare team. Creating a health-related pre-trip checklist can ensure you have backup equipment, such as portable oxygen tanks or a backup power supply, to get you through a crisis.
Finding Health Care on the Road
Finding health care on the road can also be a deterrent to managing your chronic condition. As with the prescriptions, if you are in a remote location, you might need to drive several hours to locate a physician’s office.
Health care for RVers can be even more challenging if you’re dealing with a complex medical history—finding a new provider willing to take on those complexities isn’t always easy. I don’t know about you, but explaining my long medical history isn’t something I want to do very often.
My husband worked for Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, this past summer. The company has its own medical facility, which sees employees and their spouses for a minimal charge–$30 for the employee and $35 for the family member. I fell and was able to get some medications pretty quickly.
As I said earlier, prescription management can generally be easy. If you take something that might be harder for a pharmacy to fill, you might need to make some calls ahead of time. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve counted out pills to time with a certain stop on the road.
Emergency Preparedness for RVers
With the recent hurricanes, you might be thinking about emergency preparedness, even if you live in a less-vulnerable area. Emergency kits should contain items such as a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, and much more. Your own kit should be customized for you. It could include extra EpiPens, glucose tablets, prescriptions, a blood glucose monitor or blood pressure monitor, and even extra contacts and contact solution.
Make sure you research where and how far the nearest urgent care centers are before you arrive at a new location. If you like to boondock, it would also be appropriate to have GPS coordinates available for your current location to direct emergency services if necessary.
Local people would also be a good source for finding a doctor or health care facility. Be sure to check out local emergency facilities when you arrive.
Daily Health Care Tips for RVers
Staying healthy on the road doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but you do have to make some effort to plan and prepare. You also need to stay motivated whether you have a special diet, you want to exercise consistently, or you just need to make sure you take your meds every day.
If you plan to exercise in your RV, keep in mind your storage space for equipment and your space to stretch out. Outdoor exercise is always great but not always an option in inclement weather. Try exercise routines that use your body weight, such as squats, push-ups, or lunges. Yoga or Pilates will help keep you fit without any equipment.
If you want, choose kettlebells, hand weights, or resistance bands that don’t take up a lot of room. Of course, outdoor activities such as hiking or biking are great exercise options as well.
Managing Health Crises Far From Home
If you have a chronic illness to manage, you might want to consider how you could manage a health crisis away from home. You might want to stay near larger cities, so you have access to doctors or hospitals if an emergency occurs.
Create a crisis plan that you can use if a problem happens. Make sure you keep updated medical records and share your medical info with your travel companion and close family.
If an emergency happens, first call 911 if the situation warrants it.
Make sure you have researched health care providers, urgent care centers, or emergency rooms before arriving at your destination. You can also make a plan with your hometown physician for a telehealth call to assess the situation. Update your healthcare team when the crisis is over. If you can’t talk to the doctor, many healthcare centers allow patient access through email and apps.
Health Care Options for RVers
When it comes to health care for RVers, the Affordable Care Act marketplace is one of the best options. You can compare options based on your income and needs and even find options for nationwide providers. Having national coverage means you don’t have to be in your home state to be covered. This is great for those who freelance or don’t have company health insurance options.
You can also choose plans that offer telehealth appointments or out-of-state care if needed.
When it comes to Medicare, most plans are nationwide, but Medicare Advantage Plans may only cover providers within your plan’s network and service area. Some plans offer non-emergency coverage out of network at a higher cost, so it’s important to review the details.
With the Open Enrollment period approaching for both the Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare, now is the perfect time to assess your health insurance needs. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss the chance to secure or update your coverage. Here’s a quick overview of the upcoming enrollment periods:
Enrollment TypeDatesCoverage BeginsHealth Insurance MarketplaceNovember 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025January 1, 2025Medicare Open EnrollmentOctober 15, 2024 – December 7, 2024January 1, 2025
Wrapping Up Health Care for RVers
Traveling with a chronic illness might take some extra effort, but it should not keep you off the road if you can proactively manage your health issues.
Make sure you:
Talk with your healthcare team before you travel.
Keep your doctor and others updated on your condition on the road.
Make a plan for healthcare services away from home.
Plan for storage of any medical devices.
Take note of Open Enrollment dates to review your coverage and sign up.
Create an exercise routine and/or a diet strategy that you can stick with.
If you would like to reserve a stay with us and enjoy the Williamston, Greenville, Washington and Eastern NC area please give us a call 252-943-1699 or visit our website: Treeside RV Park
To reserve a spot, give us a call 252-943-1699