Medicine

[Sparkles2013 9]

Hi Everyone!

Hopefully some can help to assist me! I am sure i am not the first person to be in this situation!

I am currently prescribed to two medications by my OB/GYN. Will i be able to transfer this prescription to an american pharmacy after i obtain my visa, or will i have to find a physician in the US to give me a prescription?

Any guidance would be much appreciated!!

[Dohan 133]

You first need to see an OB/GYN in US and then they would either prescribe the medicine or something equivalent. I am not sure that same meds would be available because surely the regulations vary across the border. Hope that helps.

[michela21413 7]

In reguards to your health....I am sure they will....just maybe you should google all local medical clinics to where you will reside and call then ask....but most chances if all elses fails the e.r. wont deny you...take your perscribed bottles there and the will ensure you follow up at a local clinic. Good luck

[michela21413 7]

Oh e.r.s are a drag here, take a book.....and only of those meds are super important...if they are over the counter they will let you know

[Cathi 5,621]

you cannot transfer a prescription to the US. You will need to see a physician

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You will need to see a US doctor and get a US prescription. It doesn't need to be an OBGYN. Talk to your OBGYN in Canada and see if he/she will prescribe a minimum of a 90 day supply for you which should provide you with sufficient medication to cover the time it takes to get an appointment with a new doctor in the US.

Contrary to reports, depending on where you are moving to in the US, you may end up waiting to see new doctors in the US, especially specialists, for at least as long as it took to get in to see a specialist in Canada, if not longer. It took me more than 3 months to get in to see my new endocrinologist here but fortunately my new family doctor who was available with a 2 week wait was able to write prescriptions for my medications before I ran out.

Check with your husband's health insurance plan - they may restrict you to going to doctors in their network and they may have a preferred provider already listed. If your husband already has a family doctor or primary care provider (PCP) you may be able to get your prescriptions from him until you get set up with a new OBGYN.

Medical and health care system in the US is vastly different than in Canada. You will spend a good deal of your time dealing with insurance and financial paperwork before and after every appointment.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Kathryn41

[Sparkles2013 9]

Thank you all so much for your help! I really appreciate it!

[AmyWrites 593]

Basically everything Kathryn said. First figure out your insurance and what they will/won't cover and their in-network providers. Some insurance companies have websites that allow you to look up which doctors take which plan, for example my insurance http://www.cigna.com/web/public/hcpdirectory After that, start calling PCP's or gynos in the network depending on the meds, and explain the situation you have. I found a doctor who was willing to just make me an entirely new prescription for my meds and it was easy.

[Jawaree 717]

You are allowed to take 2 mths meds from your country with your name on labels,

also u will be wise to travel with the overseas prescription as back up for customs

you will find a new doctor in the US who will treat U see the meds u r on 7 treat U

accordingly

please note US will not fill overseas prescriptions

Edited July 6, 2014 by Jawaree

[kehills 217]

You can also consider looking into a local Planned Parenthood, depending on what your insurance status and income levels will be. (This is an especially nice stop-gap if you want to take time to find a good doctor you bond with and can keep for a while.)