Actionable Healthcare Information for Travelers – Shared From 14 Years “On The Road”…
I’m preparing this post on Jun 24, just 5 days after my second “significant medical event” in the past seven years. This one was not an emergency, but it had to get fixed. I’m presently recuperating from Open Hernia Surgery conducted last Thursday (June 19th.) My normal activities, kayaking, swimming, bicycling are all “on hold” until the impacted area (where the surgeon cut) heals and strengthens. I’m still very careful with how I move and where I travel.
Bottom line: The hernia is gone, I’m healing nicely, and I’m walking (this is allowed!) 2-3 miles each day.
I’m sharing all this as I know there are other travelers out there, some living full-time in an RV camper and perhaps even traveling solo. Most have one thing in common – they want access to affordable, quality healthcare when and where it is needed.
In the following paragraphs, I will share the coverage I have and have had that gives me “peace of mind.” I also share when medical care was needed, how I sought the right care for my needs at that time. As a traveler, when a ‘medical event’ involves surgery, you will also need a stable place to rest and recuperate.
Planning for a non-emergency medical procedure as a solo RV traveler
I’ve been a full time RV traveler for years. I have no true “home-base.” Early on when I started my journey, I decided I needed to create a relationship within a few communities and RV parks. I accomplished this by staying for prolonged periods of up to 6 months in a few communities over the course of my travels. Those communities and the contacts within created an “almost home base” situation.
I would include McCall, Idaho; Anaconda, Montana; Parowan, Utah; Rigby, Idaho; Emmett, Idaho; and Vernal, Utah among the locations I’m comfortable spending a few months.
When I realized the hernia I’ve been “carrying around” needed medical attention, I sought a consult in September 2023. This was shortly after I enrolled with Medicare. (I will be detailing an emergency medical event in my days PRIOR to my medicare days later in this post.)
Medicare for RV Travelers – certain decisions REALLY matter!
As soon as I was eligible for medicare in July 2023, I enrolled. When presented with the myriad of options available, and after careful research, I chose traditional medicare and a Supplemental Plan (Medigap plan G) with Medishare. Medishare is a Christian Health Sharing provider. I explain the various Medicare options and detail my thought process and choices HERE.
As an RV Traveler, my choices centered around a few major issues:
- I did NOT want to be forced to go to a “primary care” (Internal Medicine) doctor for a referral to a specialist
- I DID want to ensure I could be treated in ANY state within the United States
- I DID want to know that ANY facility (which is MOST) that accepts Medicare would treat and cover me
- I DID want a plan that would LIMIT my costs and NOT run the risk of “run-away” medical bills
In my research, I concluded the ONLY way to ensure all of the above is to enroll in traditional Medicare; NOT medicare advantage! Medicare advantage is also known as “Part C”. Along with traditional medicare, I enrolled in Plan G Supplemental (medigap) coverage. With Medishare (my supplemental plan), I know my annual cost is limited to a $500. deductible. There is also a monthly fee charged by Medishare (or any Medigap provider.) Medishare informed me that upon enrolling, their fee would be just over $100 per month for the first 10 years. After age 75, the fee adjusts to $150 per month. There is no “inflation clause” so it can’t grow beyond those figures.
After evaluation of several offers, I chose Medishare for my Supplemental (Medigap) Coverage
Knowing the wisdom of locked in rates, I decided that Medishare was a FAR better deal than I could obtain from any other Medigap provider. To date, now about 2 years into this coverage, I’m 100% satisfied with all aspects. To my knowledge, prices and plans have not changed since I signed up with Medishare. You can learn more about Medishare HERE or call my rep, Andre at 800 772 5623 x 2364. Please do tell him you read about him and Medishare in this post!
Bottom LIne: With traditional Medicare and a Medigap Plan G from a supplemental provider, ALL bulleted points above are adhered to. This means when I need a dermatologist (common for those of us who got MORE than their share of sun as a youth!), I can contact dermatologists directly and secure treatment. No referral, no primary care doctor, no state limitations, and known annual limits on personal medical expenses. Yep, I’m happy!
A Travelers Quandary – Who and Where to treat a “medical event”?
I KNEW I had a hernia and I KNEW it had to (at some point) get repaired. So, knowing I could go almost anywhere and select any doctor who accepts Medicare (again, this is MOST doctors), I had choices.
Where to treat and who to treat? As an RV traveler, I knew I had choices and options!
I mentioned earlier the communities I believed that could serve me as a temporary home base. The community needed to be safe, small enough to allow for easy travel (if necessary by foot) throughout town, yet large enough to have sufficient “infrastructure.” Vernal, Utah fit the bill as well as or better than the other communities on my list.
I then looked into hospitals and doctors in each region that had modern facilities and excellent reputations. In my research, I found Ashley Regional and Dr. Trevor Mathis in Vernal, Utah. I first met with Dr. Mathis in September 2023. At that time, I had some preliminary tests done and made a face to face assessment of Dr. Mathis. I then shelved the surgery until now, June 2025.
Given the decisions I made in July 2023, medical coverage and location were not issues. Ashley Regional (as with most hospitals) accepts Medicare submits all bills to Medicare and Medishare. All I pay is the relatively small annual deductible and Medishare’s monthly fees.
Why Vernal Utah for Medical Care and Treatment
Vernal Utah and Fossil Valley RV Park offer the advantage of being a relatively small, extremely safe community. Yet, Vernal is large enough to have a good hospital (actually two!) Further. Blake, the owner of Fossil Valley has become a friend. He even made himself available to pick me up last Friday when I was released from the required overnight hospital stay. Again, I built a relationship with Blake and his campground as I’ve stayed on several occasions over the past number of years. As I became more familiar with Vernal, I even joined the Elks through the local chapter!
Additional considerations ultimately included the fact that Fossil Valley is directly across the street from Smiths Grocery. Further, the RV Park is within minutes of several restaurants. I was even able to walk to the hospital the morning of my surgery! The walk was an invigorating early morning stroll requiring only about 20 minutes.
A MAJOR and Emergency Medical Event while RV Traveling PRIOR to my “Medicare Years”
In February 2019, while RV Camping for the winter in Hoback, Wyoming and ski instructing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, I had a heart attack. At the time, I was on bare-bones “catastrophic” medical insurance. These are plans with high deductibles (in my case $10,000. per year) and require seeking doctors in their network.
In my case, the catastrophic plan was offered by Medishare. I chose it in lieu of a state Obamacare plan. Because a heart attack is an emergency event, Medishare immediately waived any concerns about “in network providers” and treated all bills as “covered.” They even negotiated with providers on my behalf to reduce medical bills. I’ve since learned that there’s more honest pricing at an Egyptian Bazaar than what is presented by most medical providers!
Bottom line: If you’re on the hook for a medical bill… NEGOTIATE with them!
Had I not required emergency treatment, under the Medishare plan, I would have had to in advance search for a provider within Medishare’s PHCS-PPO network. Again, this is for those YOUNGER than 65 years of age. The PHCS-PPO network offers many providers within each state. I was able to receive treatment in any state and I did not need a referral from a primary care physician.
Other than the one “medical event”, I never had cause to seek medical care for anything significant in the years I held this Medishare program.
The Power and Importance of Good Health
Next month I will turn 67. I’m on ZERO prescription meds. My heart attack was completely the result of eating poorly for 20+ years prior to the “event.” I have since dropped about 60 pounds (and maintained it.) My high blood pressure, high glucose, high triglycerides and high insulin levels are ALL GONE. I take NO MEDS, no beta blockers, no statins, no ‘nuthin!
I encourage YOU to strive for the same. It absolutely CAN be done. I will gladly share with anyone who reaches out to me the changes I made over the past 6 years – all of which are VERY achievable.
Moving Forward – Upcoming RV Travel Plans and Upcoming Posts…
I’m under “orders” to take it easy (which for me still includes about 3 miles of walking daily) until the surgeons work heals. By early August, I fully expect to be 100%. This means I can return to cycling, kayaking and swimming daily. In fact, I may be just a couple of weeks from resuming laps in Vernal’s aquatic center!
Once I return to my ongoing journey, I plan to head for Saratoga, Wyoming (great hot springs and kayaking opportunities), Casper, Wy. to see friends, and then Montana. Winter will likely see me in Northern Idaho – but more about ski season when temperatures begin their annual slide.
Until then, and while I recoup, I will continue sharing my explorations in the San Rafael Swell and around Cathedral Gorge SP in Nevada with Isaac, then Goldfield, Austin, Eureka and Southern Idaho after we headed out on our own journeys. Isaac is destined to become one of the youngest Commercial Pilots. He has an amazing drive and is 100% focused upon his goal. We met as ski instructors at Brian Head (about the only good thing from the winter up there!) and I saw his capabilities as he worked with students of varied ages and skill levels.
It’s RV’ing season… NEED ACCESSORIES?
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Timely and important news – Gold and Silver are poised to impress even the skeptics…
Gold and Silver are likely to retain their value as the greenback slides. The State of Florida recently acknowledged gold and silver as LEGAL TENDER – this goes along with several other states who have done the same. And you wonder why I keep buying Goldbacks (in addition to other specific forms of gold and silver.) Want to know what a goldback is? Check the video below…
To learn more about Goldbacks and perhaps purchase some, go HERE to my preferred vendor. I keep a stash on hand… just incase!
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Al,
Great content! This is so helpful. Thank you.
Kevin
Thanks Kevin!