5 ways to stay healthy on your next vacation

Spring is just around the corner and you’re probably already starting to plan your spring and summer vacations. Here are some tips to keep you and your loved ones healthy as you’re traveling.

Five tips for members

1. Get all your recommended preventive care before you go. It’s a good idea to have a check-up with your primary care provider (PCP) before you leave town. An annual checkup with your PCP is covered by most Regence plans with no out-of-pocket costs. You should also get any vaccinations and age-appropriate health screenings to make sure you stay healthy while you travel. Login at regence.com to check your coverage for vaccinations and screenings. Many plans don’t cover travel vaccinations.
2. Plan for virtual care while you’re on the road. Whether you’re next to a campfire in Montana, on a beach in Hawaii or hiking the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia, anywhere you have access to the internet you’ll have 24/7 virtual access to a qualified medical professional. Virtual providers can make a diagnosis, create a treatment plan and send prescriptions to a pharmacy near you as needed. Consider virtual care for things like cold and flu, nausea and vomiting, rashes, sunburns, urinary tract infections and allergies. Learn about your virtual care options on regence.com.
3. If you need in-person care, take advantage of our robust provider network. Regence plans include access to the largest network of doctors and hospitals throughout the country — 92% of all physicians and 96% of all hospitals nationwide. All Regence plans come with urgent and emergency BlueCard coverage. Depending on your plan, you may also be able to see local BlueCard providers for non-emergency issues. To find out about your specific coverage, sign in and chat with us online or call us at the number on the back of your member ID card. You can search for in-network hospitals, urgent care centers and providers in almost all U.S. states and territories at provider.bcbs.com.  
4. Make sure you have coverage for international travel. Before traveling internationally, call the number on the back of your ID card to learn about your international coverage. Some plans include a program called Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® Core that can help you find in-network hospitals, urgent care centers and medical professionals at your travel destination. If your benefits don’t include international coverage, you may want to purchase travel medical insurance or medical evacuation insurance through companies like GeoBlue®.
5. Be sure you have enough medication and medical supplies to last until you get home. You don’t want to get partway through a trip and realize you’ve run out of an important medication. It might be a good idea to talk your doctor about switching to a 90- or 100-day supply of your medications so you’ll have plenty to last through your vacation. Changing to a 90- or 100-day supply can also save you money by reducing dispensing fees. If your medication will run out while you plan to be gone, you can call the number on the back of your member ID card. You may be able to arrange to get enough medication in advance to last you through your trip. If you do run out, you could ask your provider to call in a new prescription to a pharmacy near you.

Two more tips for Medicare Advantage members:

• Stay active while you’re on the road. All Regence Medicare Advantage plans include a no-cost fitness program that includes a home fitness kit, exercise programs and more than 1,500 workout videos. The program’s home fitness options can help you get a quick workout in even when you’re at a campsite, in a hotel room or on a cruise ship. Find out more and order your fitness kit by signing in at silverandfit.com. Or you can sign in at regence.com.
• Get help fast wherever you go. Regence Medicare Advantage plans include a personal emergency response system with no out-of-pocket cost. The device makes it easy for you to call for help if you get hurt or need assistance while you’re vacationing. Just press the button on the device and an urgent response agent will respond and send help. It provides an extra layer of support with a push of a button wherever you are, whether it’s on the golf course, on a hiking trail or at the beach. The device is waterproof, so it’s safe to use even in the shower, when you’re kayaking, or out hiking on rainy days. Learn more by calling 1-800-358-9586 and press 1, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. TTY :711.

We hope these tips help you have a fun and healthy vacation. Find more travel tips at regence.com.

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