Key takeaways

  • Planning ahead is crucial to ensure you have enough medication for your trip, as prescription refill schedules may not align with your travel dates.
  • If your prescription refills don’t cover your travel period, you can contact your insurance provider to request a vacation override, which allows early access to medication with proper documentation.
  • In situations where you run out of refills or medication while traveling, you can consult a healthcare professional for a new prescription or explore options like prescription transfers at pharmacies, even internationally.

When you’re going on vacation, there are lots of things to remember: your passport, your luggage, your keys, and, importantly, your medication. You’ll also need to think about your medication plenty of time in advance of your trip to make sure you’ll have enough to last you.

In some cases, the timing of your prescription refills will line up with the dates of your trip, but this isn’t always the case. If this happens, there are steps you can take to ensure you have enough of your medication to take with you.

In general, when you’re prescribed a medication, you can only access a limited amount of it at any one time, especially if you’re prescribed a controlled substance like opioids. This limit typically varies by state, insurer, and the medication you’re prescribed.

A 30-day supply is very common, although some states and insurers now allow 90-day supplies of medications, particularly those for chronic health conditions like high blood pressure. This is often sufficient for most people, but in some cases, you may be traveling for longer than that, or you may not be due for a refill before you leave.

In these cases, you can contact your insurer to request a vacation override. This is where your insurer will allow you to access additional amounts of your medication if necessary, as long as you provide documentation of your trip dates and you have enough prescription refills to cover the travel period.

You can also pay out of pocket for the medication you need, meaning you won’t need insurance approval. However, you will need to have enough prescription refills available.

If you’ve run out of prescription refills, you can speak with a healthcare professional about getting more of your medication. They can prescribe more if you need it.

If it’s close to your travel date, it may be helpful to use an online care service. This is where you can speak with a healthcare professional via an online video or messaging platform, without the need for an in-person appointment. In many cases, you can pick up your prescription the same day.

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It’s important to be prepared with all of your medication before you go on a trip, but there may be some unexpected cases where you run out of medication while you’re on vacation. In these cases, what to do next will depend on where you’re traveling.

If you’re traveling in another state within the United States, you will typically be able to go to any pharmacy and request a prescription transfer, which allows you to use a new pharmacy to fill your prescription. If you usually use a chain pharmacy, you can go to one in the same chain, and you won’t need a transfer.

If you’re traveling outside of the U.S., you can go to a pharmacy. In some cases, your medication may be available over the counter (OTC). If you have your prescription to hand, the pharmacist may be able to dispense the medication, and in serious cases, you can visit a local hospital or urgent care to access your medication.

In these cases, you’ll likely have to pay for your medication and any doctor visits out of pocket, although it may be covered by your travel insurance.

The best way to avoid any issues during a vacation is to be prepared before you go. To make sure you have enough medication for your trip, consider the following:

  • Check local laws: Many destinations may not allow you to travel with more than a 30-day supply of medication, and you may need to carry your prescription with you.
  • Check what you’ll need: Look at how much medication you’ll have left when you leave for a trip and think about how much you’ll need to take. It may be a good idea to take a little extra in case of emergencies.
  • Consider getting travel insurance: Travel insurance can be a good option in case you need any medical care, including medications, while you’re traveling.
  • Keep medical information accessible: It may be helpful to have a list of your medications easily available, including information on their dosages and what they’re used for. If you’re traveling abroad and the exact medication is not available, a healthcare professional may be able to recommend an alternative.

When you’re planning on taking a trip, consider your medication needs. You may need to get more medication to ensure you have enough while you’re traveling.

If you still have prescription refills available, you can speak to your insurer to access a vacation override to get more of your medication. If you need a new prescription, reach out to a doctor, either in person or online.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.