auntieginzy

so am I right in thinking that for prescription meds you get the prescription from the doc and then the meds at Target or wherever?

Jerseygirl

I think it's illegal to receive prescription meds in the US without a doctor's physical examination/consultation. I think one exam/consult per year is required.

I cannot imagine any doctor in the UK prescribing meds for longer than a 1 year period without actually seeing the patient...it would be most unethical and dangerous for the patient.

Jerseygirl

Yes...or you can go to your local pharmacy but sometimes Target/Walmart/Costco are cheaper. Some of us have meds insurance...we do and we get most of our meds through the mail via the insurance company.

Have you arranged healthcare insurance cover?

Stoutbanana

No. But they don't like giving you meds when you are out of the country. There is no difference to being ill in the UK to being ill anywhere else in my book! Anyway I have to go back within the next month and I don't really want to spend the $500 they told me it would cost in the local pharmacy for one of the two meds I take.

Jerseygirl

You are joking!! There is a huge difference in being ill here and the UK...especially if you don't have healthcare insurance.

Stoutbanana

I am still under the care of a UK doctor but if I change to being under a US doctor then I would get my meds here.

Jerseygirl

How can you be when you are no longer a UK resident?

Stoutbanana

I am staying here on a esta and unable to get a prescription because I don't have health a US health number.

Jerseygirl

We are discussing meds for US residents...not visitors.

There is no such thing as a US health number. Besides there must be hundreds...if not thousands of visitors to the US everyday who get sick and see a doctor...who in turn writes them a script for meds.

So if you are only in the US for a max of 90 days why didn't you bring 3 months worth of meds with you?

SanDiegogirl

You can take your prescription (talking about a US one here) to any pharmacy but both Target and Costco have pharmacies in their larger stores.

The drugs tend to be cheaper in these box stores, however, if you don't have health insurance to cover medications you are still at risk for a hefty charge.

I still don't understand how you have sorted out the medical insurance before you get here since you are not coming over with jobs.

sir_eccles

If you really need a prescription and don't have a doctor you can go to a CVS Minute Clinic (other Urgent Care drop in clinics exist too). They'll take your credit card and in return examine you and get you a prescription (maybe). You'll be paying everything out of pocket.

Jerseygirl

I seem to remember someone posting a while ago whose parent came here through family sponsorship without insurance. Although the son had lived here for years...he hadn't realised that his parent would not be able to get healthcare insurance without it costing an arm and a leg. Their health took a turn for the worse and it all got very messy.

Stoutbanana

My doctor gave me two months for my first stay and when I asked for three months for my next stay they refused...even though I have been on these meds for five years.
I enquired at the CVS and Mesalazine for a month would be $500 and the other was $300 for a month.

sir_eccles

Well there you go then, I think you've just managed to disprove your own point.

Stoutbanana

What I meant was that whilst I am living in the UK I pay for a pre-payment card for the year that enables me to get meds for the whole year every month. Just because I spend a couple of months in another country my doctors seem to think this means I become ineligible to take three months with me and that is what I meant by it should not matter where I am ill.

When I get married I will be able to get meds through my wife's medicare plan and pay.