By Sal & Rebecca, The Tin Can Travelers – We use affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link, we may receive a small compensation at no cost to you.

 

If you have a health condition that requires prescriptions, then you know that receiving medications while full-time RVing can sometimes be a bit challenging. It’s certainly not enough of a challenge to bring my travels to a halt, but there are aspects of this lifestyle that can complicate things. And a different address every month, week and sometimes day, for example, would definitely qualify as one of them!

In 2016, I (Rebecca here) was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroditis. For anyone who doesn’t know, Hashimoto’s disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid. In other words, my body doesn’t recognize my thyroid as my own and attacks and kills it. And at this point, my thyroid is dead. Rest In Peace, little thyroid. Unfortunately, that means my thyroid no longer produces the hormones necessary to coordinate many of my body’s functions and, as a result, I take medication daily.

 

Receiving Medications On The Road

Sal and I have been full-time RVers since the beginning of 2018. Obviously, once we started batting- around the idea of ‘taking it on road,’ I was a little concerned about how I would manage this. Thankfully, over the last few years, I’ve acquired a few reliable ways to receive my medications while full-time RVing regardless of where I am in the country. I started out with just one!

Since our location changes so frequently, the method in which I receive my medications does as well. The three delivery methods I use are listed below, and they all work, but there are some things you need to know about each. There’s even one delivery option I try to avoid if at all possible. So, let’s start with…

Campground Delivery

If we’re staying at a campground that accepts packages for its campers, and those packages are delivered to and managed by office staff, then I’ll have my medications sent there. However, if packages are left outside or in an unsecured space, I won’t. And there are two reasons for this.

First, my medications have temperature requirements, so being outside in extreme weather would cause them to expire. Second, my medications could be stolen… and this actually happened! Having my medications stolen wasn’t just an inconvenience. It also cost more money to have a second order delivered and created a HUGE delay in that delivery. So needless to say, campground delivery (if packages are stored in an unsecured area) is the method I try to avoid if possible. Lesson learned!

 

General Delivery

What’s General Delivery? General delivery is when you have your medications, or any package, sent to a post office near you. Simply call the post office and ask for their General Delivery address and then provide it to the sender.

General delivery is a great way to work around any obstacles (like the campground scenario) when it comes to receiving your medications while full-time RVing. As a matter of fact, I almost prefer this method over any other. I especially like the fact that I can have my medications delivered to a post office in an area I’m not even in yet. General delivery is a fantastic “mobile address!” As long as you know where you’re going, your medications can actually be there waiting for you upon arrival.

So, what’s the downside to general delivery? Well, there are two. First, there won’t always be a post office within close proximity to your location. I’ve had to drive thirty and forty miles to pick up deliveries in the past. And while that may seem a little inconvenient to some, I actually think having a “mobile address” is anything but.  And second, post offices will only hold your packages for a certain number of days before returning them to the sender. So, make sure you know how many days that is. Otherwise, general delivery is a wonderful option for receiving your medications while full-time RVing.

 

Mail Forwarding Services

If you’re a full-time RVer like us, or even a frequent traveler, you should have a mail forwarding service whether you’re taking medications or not! RVers need a safe place for all their mail to go, and medications are no exception. We use MyRVmail and highly recommend them.

Having your medications sent to your mail forwarding service is the safest thing you can do if you don’t know where you’re going to be. Lots of us usually know what state we’re traveling to, but not all of us know exactly where we’re going to “park it.” Additionally, many of us aren’t in one location long enough to receive anything mailed. These are a couple of great reasons to have your medication sent to your mail forwarding service, but also another great way to receive your medications while full-time RVing.

Pharmacy

I use Express Scripts, through TRICARE, to order and dispense my medications. And because they’ll ship to anywhere in the country, I think they’re ideal when it comes to receiving medications while full-time RVing. If you’re active or retired military and unfamiliar with the service, acquaint yourself. It’s a fantastic way to receive medications while full-time RVing!

 

You Can Never Have Too Many Options!

I use that phrase a lot. That’s probably because I’ve learned over the years just how true it is. It’s even truer for those who can’t afford a break in consistency or reliability. Maintaining optimal health requires us to take our prescriptions as ordered, and having options that accommodate our ever-changing situation is the only thing that makes it all possible. Receiving medications while full-time RVing doesn’t have to be a deal breaker! If you have another method for receiving medications while full-time RVing, please share!

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