Tips on Buying Prescription Medicines if You Are Travelling to the USA

USA Travel Insurance: Things to Know About Paying Bills in the US Pharmacy

Imagine you are on your trip to the United States and you just landed at the airport after a long flight. You suddenly feel under the weather and decide to go to the nearest pharmacy. The store owner tells you he cannot give you the medicines unless you have a prescription from your physician.

You just realised that you are in a country where the rules and regulations are quite different from those in India.

By now, you know that unlike in India, even for ailments such as colds, you need a proper prescription from a physician to get medicines in the US. Thus, you must carry basic medicines from India to the USA to treat trivial health concerns yourself.

This article will educate you about how pharmacies in the USA work. But before moving further, we suggest you buy travel insurance for the USA as it is helpful if the malady worsens and you need immediate assistance at a healthcare centre. Keep reading further for information on how does pharmacies in the US work.

How Do Pharmacies in the US Work?

Apart from medicines, drugstores or pharmacies in the US often sell a various of items such as newspapers, magazines, and services like passport photo services. If you need to buy medicine, you must have a foreign prescription in the USA for every medical condition, even for the common cold.

So, how do I get a foreign prescription in the USA? You might ask.

Again unlike in India, consultation with a doctor in the US is heavily costly and requires you to register with a hospital. Once you register with a hospital the licensed doctor will give you a prescription on a security paper and send it to the pharmacy through email. And when it comes to paying the bills, you should carry some cash or make payment upfront as sometimes your travel insurance may not be acceptable. This is particularly true for certain brands of medicine.

Furthermore, the prices of medicines in the country are exorbitant. Thus, you should carry your medications with you whenever you are travelling to the country. Even if you bring your medicines, you still require a prescription or note from your doctor.

>> Check: 5 Things You Should Never Forget While Travelling to the USA from India

Some Facts To Know

• The working timings of all the pharmacies in the US may not be the same. Some are open 24 X 7.
• Some pharmacies may not entertain prescriptions from other foreign countries. Whereas some may give you medicines on an Indian prescription in the USA.
• The staff members working at the pharmacy may not be authorised to give you professional medical advice or medical assistance. Thus, if you are buying medicines on an Indian prescription in the USA then you should consult your doctor about the doses.
• If you buy medicine from a pharmacy in the US, there is no provision to return the same in case you wish to, for health reasons.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the authority responsible for handling complaints related to medicines or medical devices. If you face any adverse effect by consuming a medicine from any US pharmacy, you can call 911 during emergencies. The FDA also ensures that prescription drugs are genuine and safe.

>> Check: Get Vaccinated Before You Travel To USA

Summing It Up

If you are travelling to the USA and have a prevailing health condition, you should consult with your doctor and have a list of medicines to carry to the USA. This way, you can avoid any adverse situations en route.

Prevention is always better than cure. Especially when you are in a foreign land. Thus, we suggest you prevent any financial derailment due to a health crisis by covering pre-existing health conditions in your USA travel insurance. While carrying medicines to the USA can save you from unnecessary expenses at the clinic, USA travels medical insurance saves you from financial derailment if you end up at a doctor’s doorstep.