Just wondering how Canadians travelling in the U.S. deal with filling drug prescriptions while there. We spend 5 or 6 months in the U.S. during the winters and can't always take enough medications to last that long. How do others handle this? Also, will Canadian drug insurance companies cover prescriptions filled in the U.S.?
VeeDub
2006 Carriage Cameo LXI F35FD3
2006 Ford F350 Dually
I think you will find it is illegal for a US pharmacy to fill a prescription from other than a US doctor. I ran into this when I moved to MI from ON in '92. Pharmacist told me he would lose his license if caught.
I suggest you bring your Cdn Rx and present it to a US doctor and ask if he will write the equivalent.
Alternative is to inquire if you can pre-order six months of prescriptions from your home pharmacy. As long as they are not date sensitive it should be OK.
Or could they mail you a refill after 3 months or so?
Can't answer the insurance question, but I doubt it would be covered.
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
If you "winter" in the southern states anywhere close to Mexico, consider crossing the border one more time. They're not so fussy about who wrote the prescription and they'll be a fraction of the cost.
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
ReadyBrute tow bar, and Demco base plate.
I will second the Mexican Pharmacy Route! Not only will they fill a prescription, but if You happen to run out or lose your Meds , They will write You a New Prescription!
Obviously You need to Know what You are Taking and the correct dosage!
You will find that the Pharmacies in Algodones are Very Helpful in assisting You , Luigis ( Purple Building) have always provided Quick and Accurate delivery of everything that We have required!
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
While self-paying for prescriptions my wife and I used to get ours from CanadianDrugstore.com to save money. Look them up on line and then call or email to see if they will fill yours while out of the country. Maybe they or some other Canadian online drug store can help you.
Filling prescriptions here would be a shock after paying Canadian prices. You would be astonished at what we pay.
vwsportbug wrote: Just wondering how Canadians travelling in the U.S. deal with filling drug prescriptions while there. We spend 5 or 6 months in the U.S. during the winters and can't always take enough medications to last that long. How do others handle this? Also, will Canadian drug insurance companies cover prescriptions filled in the U.S.?
We take all of our medications required for 6 months accross the boarder, still in their orginal containers. We fill out the OHIP travel form and request 6 months supply of all medications about a week before we travel. We deal with Wal-mart (they have the OHIP travel forms on hand). If you have a lot of medications, you need to be very pro-active in this process (lists and checking).
OHIP, after filling out the form, allows you get two / 100 days worth of drugs when travelling.
Canadian drug insurance companies will pay for prescriptions filled in the U.S. You have to claim from OHIP first and then submit to the insurance company. It is not likely they will pay for any prescriptions that are not as a result of an emergency. We claimed for an emergency clinc visit and prescription to OHIP and in the end gave up and claimed the amount on income tax.
Your doctor will have to issue your prescriptions for more then the regular 1 or 3 months. This should not be a problem in most cases.
Bob
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Just had a conversation with My doctor! He will write a prescription and a letter, to cover the quantity required for up to 12 Months!
As Long as the Prescription Drugs don't Upset the US Border Guards and the Letter of Explanation from Your Doctor is in order You should have No Problem!
We have never been asked!
First, check with your pharmacy for a six month supply. We get 6 months
with no problem, and they are paid for by our insurance here in Canada.
Our doctor writes our prescriptions for one year in two 6 months supply.
When you are in the US, check the pharmacy at WalMart, there is a list of
800 or so prescriptions that they fill for a flat rate of $4.00. You don't
have to worry about submiting it to insurance for that price. It is a 30
day supply. It might be worth it to get an American doc to write you
a prescription if your meds are on the list.
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