So DD also going abroad for second semester, and is on prescription meds for a serious illness. I talked to her doctor who doesn’t know if we can get her Insurance to pay for a 180 day supply vs. 90 day so she can take her meds with her. Anyone have experience in how we go about this?
@preppedparent , my D takes anti-anxiety meds, and just went to Argentina to study abroad and was only able to take a 90-day supply with her, per insurance rules. However, we also read that having more than a 90 day supply of anti-anxiety meds would be a red flag at customs… We researched ahead of time on travel forums (well I did 
) and we became assured and confident that she’d be able to just make an appointment with a doctor while there and get a prescription. During her orientation, she spoke to one of the study abroad program staff, and was given the name of a doctor who speaks English and treats non-residents. She hasn’t seen the dr yet, but was told by staff this was a common prescription there and reassured it would not be a big deal. I hope it’s not.
Meanwhile, I am visiting her in late November and the pharmacy accidentally sent us her next 90-day supply.
so I was going to take that to her… But now, she’s decided to come home for Christmas, so she’ll be able to take it back with her.
The study abroad program told us, though, under no circumstances should we mail her the medicine there. She would have to have it Fed-Ex’d, and held at the airport in Buenos Aires - Then she would have to hire (and pay) a customs broker to go with her to the airport to pick it up and “negotiate” getting her meds from Customs. !!!
Seems like it will be easier for her to just see a doctor there.
I realize different countries have varying regulations and laws concerning prescriptions and drugs, but I hope this info helps.
@mstomper, I hope everything works out for your son going to McDaniel.
Well, my D is actually coming home for Christmas!!! Yay! I am still visiting her in November, in Buenos Aires, but changed the dates around on my award flight there and back, and also booked her a ticket back with me
She will fly back in early February.
It’s a long story but basically, we’d assumed she’d be staying with her host family through the semester break in Dec/Jan/Feb. We were never given any information that said or indicated otherwise… Well, this is not the case. She and the two other students who are year-round (the others all there for the semester only) were told after they arrived in Buenos Aires that they would be on their own over the summer (which is our winter). The other two students and their families were also surprised to hear this. The brochure had really been worded in a way that really seemed like they’d stay with their host families all year. But it was vague and never actually said this, kwim? We should have asked for clarification, but… I think we would’ve come up with the same decision, for her to return home briefly, then go back.
Thankfully, I’ve been hoarding airline miles and I have enough to fly her home and back for 2nd semester. When I suggested she do this, she agreed!
Her host mother had offered to let her stay there for the summer break, for a nightly fee. (It was comparable to the cost of a hostel or guest house.) But when D discovered the other two year-round students were also going home for the holidays, D was not thrilled about staying there and not knowing anyone… She also didn’t know what she was going to do with herself, and my husband and I couldn’t justify paying for her to be there just to hang out… I was also worried about her being lonely and depressed… I think she was too. She seemed relieved when I suggested she just come home for the holidays and then fly back before the 2nd semester starts.
Other than this unexpected turn, she seems very happy in BA and with the program there. I think she might be a little disappointed she couldn’t stay the whole year, uninterrupted, but she said she’s also fine with coming home for a bit to touch base with us and her friends.
@mstomper, I’m glad to hear your update. Hope all goes well with your son and his next steps in returning to school.
My S and his roommates all paid up in time to move in last Monday as planned. The apartment is nice and well located. I’ll be curious to hear how the cooking and cleaning goes, but S is probably not going to share much on that. So far classes seem fine. That’s about all we’ll get out of him until Thanksgiving, lol.
@BeeDAre, I’m glad your D gets to come home over break. My older S stayed overseas last winter and we sure missed him over the holidays. That study abroad program really should have made your daughter’s situation more clear. How awful for parents to need to adjust plans at this point in time.
It’s hard to believe this is year three. Those who already looked up graduation dates- you’re really on the ball! I hadn’t even thought of that yet.
@psychmomma I didn’t look up the date. It cake across my school’s list Serv in an email. I could’ve gone a while longer without knowing . I’m still adjusting to the fact that DS19 will be graduating this year. :))
@psychmomma I did look it up but only because we may have two on the same weekend to figure out. I am guessing that most schools have that date available at this time. It was the notice from the HS that prompted me to look up DS16’s grad date. We are several hours away so could be challenging.
Thanks @BeeDAre My student is on immunosuppressants, so I don’t think it would be a red flag to have 6 months of meds with her. I do worry that her condition can worsen dramatically without it. We might have to make an overseas trip in the middle of her stay. We were going to bring her in Dec and pick her up in June, but we may need to take a trip in March. I have heard that DHL is a carrier that will take and deliver medicines of all kind abroad.
@preppedparent
I have had some scripts for expensive medication and chose to use a discount through GoodRX.com and pay cash. It was cheaper than the insurance copay on the scripts. Can you believe that tetracycline is $1200 thru insurance and $140 with GoodRx discount.
Thanks @momofsmartdancer I too have asked her doc to write a 6 month supply and consider paying out of pocket which could be around $1200 out of pocket. ouch
My D studied abroad this past spring. We had the pharmacy (or maybe my D) call the insurance request an additional supply of a prescription med to last the semester as I recall, and the insurance approved it. Hopefully you can get an approval as well. It’s easier that way. Also check if the medication is legal in the country your student is traveling to. Some things on prescription here are OTC in other countries, other things are not legal at all. It’s best to be sure.
My D also got really sick while studying abroad in Eastern Europe. She was well cared for by the medical professionals there and got great support from her program, but was being prescribed things we weren’t familiar with (and DH is a pharmacist) with labels not in English or even a related language. Local pharmacists were not English speaking. Lots of confused googling of strange names of medications. It was not our favorite part of her study abroad experience. Make sure you understand the procedure for getting care and utilizing whatever insurance your student is using while studying abroad, so if it comes up you and your student know what to do.
@mstomper, wishing the best for your son. My oldest had pretty severe psych issues throughout college, but really did do better in the ongoing academic environment. Therapy and meds were a must for her, and I was a pushy mom, making sure that those things were occurring in her location, even when she was overwhelmed by all the scheduling. There was a lot of handholding through those early adult years, but we got her graduated. The good news is that she is really doing exceptionally well now…all the work and the pushing paid off.
In these situations you are never 100% sure you are doing the right thing, but I encourage you to keep plugging along.
@Parentof2014grad , excellent advice! Our experience with our oldest studying in Turkey and having a psych issue was an absolute nightmare, in part because she and the school did not understand her insurance options. She ended up in a locked unit in a hospital for the indigent, with shared beds and a hole in the floor for a toilet, not to mention forced injections of medications that were completely inappropriate for her.
Deja Vu. Hurricane evacuation in progress. DS16 is on his way home .
Was thinking about your DS. Ours is waiting to see if campus will close (he’s on the Eastern Shore in MD). If they do, he’s heading home for the weekend. We haven’t seen him since early August so it will be nice if he’s back for a few days.
@carolinamom2boys
Glad to hear that your son will be safe :).
Just went through the process of D signing the lease for an apartment for her senior year. She goes to a university that I saw was featured in an article listing schools that had the highest discrepancy between price of a home and the rent that students pay. Her room & board scholarship is for $10,300/ yr. However, just the rent alone for the apartment will be $10,800 next year (with parking). I am glad she has chosen to live in an apartment for only one year of college. This year she is staying in sorority house and it is actually saving us money because the housing is cheaper and she does not have to pay additional dues while living there.
S talked with the person in charge of transfers this week. She told him that normally she wouldn’t recommend that a student with his college grades apply, but his situation was different. He’s going to set up a visit with a personal interview. If he decides to apply, and is admitted, he automatically gets a 25k scholarship just because of what I do for a living.
Good luck to your son @mstomper
Just dropped S off at airport for his return to campus. Move in today, relax on Sunday, and fall classes start on Monday. It was great having him home for a few weeks. Very proud of him.