Question about Part D (Wellcare, perhaps?) and traveling....

[2017ish]

I was inspired by the "300% Premium increase" thread to start looking into Part D (I'll start medicare 1/1/25).

Amazed that Wellcare Part D would be "free" and I'd pay nothing for my present drugs if bought at the proper pharmacy. But, our travel schedule/frequency presents a question....

Has anyone dealt with getting "early" refills on prescriptions when you are going to be traveling for 2-3 months? Is Wellcare (or other Part D insurers) flexible in dealing with that?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Trooper]

Great question and I'll look for other to respond. I am assuming Wellcare's preferred pharmacies don't have locations where you travel?

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I get 90 days all the time. I noticed 180 were also available. I have WellCare $0 Part D plan.

 

[AudiDudi]

I've had Wellcare for several years. Initially I used Walmart but they got dropped as a preferred so I switched to Safeway. No issue in transferering prescriptions between stores. As I recall, Costco is also a preferred with Wellcare. On a 90 day 'script, I can usually fill about 13 days early. I'm on the 50¢/mo plan so I just sent them $6 in Jan.

I usually wait until the 1st week of Nov before I make any decision - one year the prices looked good in late Oct and then changed in Nov. to the tune of about $400.

 

[MichaelB]

I was inspired by the "300% Premium increase" thread to start looking into Part D (I'll start medicare 1/1/25).

Amazed that Wellcare Part D would be "free" and I'd pay nothing for my present drugs if bought at the proper pharmacy. But, our travel schedule/frequency presents a question....

Has anyone dealt with getting "early" refills on prescriptions when you are going to be traveling for 2-3 months? Is Wellcare (or other Part D insurers) flexible in dealing with that?

Thanks in advance!

No early refills, but when we are away from home we do have prescriptions filled easily at our travel destinations using a different branch of our preferred pharmacy (Costco). We also do that with Walgreens and CVS.

 

[2017ish]

No early refills, but when we are away from home we do have prescriptions filled easily at our travel destinations using a different branch of our preferred pharmacy (Costco). We also do that with Walgreens and CVS.

How about international travel? On your own?

 

[2017ish]

Great question and I'll look for other to respond. I am assuming Wellcare's preferred pharmacies don't have locations where you travel?

Next year, we have a trip with over two months between Bhutan, Nepal, and Indonesia. And are just starting to plan 4-5 weeks in Madagascar, followed by at least three weeks in Namibia...

Will need to have adequate drugs before departure.

E.T.A.--obviously are talking about first world problems here.

 

[Trooper]

Next year, we have a trip with over two months between Bhutan, Nepal, and Indonesia. And are just starting to plan 4-5 weeks in Madagascar, followed by at least three weeks in Namibia...

Will need to have adequate drugs before departure.

E.T.A.--obviously are talking about first world problems here.

Yeah probably won't find a Costco nor Walgreens in those locales.

Sounds like a great trip!

And not necessarily a FWP, if those drugs are life sustaining!

 

[fosterscik]

We have wellcare and DW needed an extra month of one prescription for our current trip (we are on a liveaboard in the Banda Sea with starlink acess on the boat). we had to call wellcare for a travel exception. it was very easy. No need to involve a doctor or our CVS pharmacy. The approval was forwarded to our CVS and was filled the next day.

 

[2017ish]

We have wellcare and DW needed an extra month of one prescription for our current trip (we are on a liveaboard in the Banda Sea with starlink acess on the boat). we had to call wellcare for a travel exception. it was very easy. No need to involve a doctor or our CVS pharmacy. The approval was forwarded to our CVS and was filled the next day.

Thanks! BTW, which liveaboard? Banda sea is on our list of Indonesia destinations if we get tired of diving Rajah...

 

[Trooper]

(we are on a liveaboard in the Banda Sea)

BTW, which liveaboard? Banda sea is on our list of Indonesia destinations if we get tired of diving Rajah...

LoL. The first thing I focused on in fostercik's post was the diving too.

We need a dive thread. I'm headed to the Philippines in a few weeks.

 

[fosterscik]

We're on the Pindito. It's Captain Edi Frommenwiler was one of the early pioneers of diving in the Raja and Banda sea area. An incredible source of knowledge about dive sites and the wildlife here. We've been snorkling with whales (Sperm and dwarf Blues) and had some incredible experiences. It's an older traditional Indonesian boat (built by Edi form ironwood and teak in the early 1990's - he has a fascinating video on youtube documenting the construction). I highly recommend the boat and cruise.

 

[2017ish]

We're on the Pindito. It's Captain Edi Frommenwiler was one of the early pioneers of diving in the Raja and Banda sea area. An incredible source of knowledge about dive sites and the wildlife here. We've been snorkling with whales (Sperm and dwarf Blues) and had some incredible experiences. It's an older traditional Indonesian boat (built by Edi form ironwood and teak in the early 1990's - he has a fascinating video on youtube documenting the construction). I highly recommend the boat and cruise.

Trip report when you are done?! (Or, if you do undercurrent reports, we'll see it there....)

We were fortunate enough to spend 10 days snorkeling with Humpbacks in Tonga, on the Naia, in 2018. Sperm whales and Pygmy blues (not to mention everything else in the Banda) is enough to make us seriously consider that trip.

 

[Trooper]

Trip report when you are done?! (Or, if you do undercurrent reports, we'll see it there....)

Or Scubaboard