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Home hemodialysis away from home
Traveling if you are active on a transplant waiting list
Some home hemodialysis patients make arrangements for
in-center treatments while traveling to avoid having to pack up
their machine. Some patients travel with their machines and
equipment and simply perform their treatments at their convenience as they do at home.
You should inform your transplant coordinator about your
travel plans. The coordinator will help you decide whether to be “on hold” during the trip or whether you would
be able to return within a reasonable amount of time if a
kidney becomes available. Arrange to be contacted in the
event a kidney becomes available.
Even if you do your own treatment, it is important to know where
the closest dialysis center is where you could go for assistance.
Let the center know when you will be in the area, and ask if they
would be willing to provide medical assistance if needed. Carry
complete medical information with you. Remember that most
dialysis and equipment companies have toll-free numbers for
assistance 24 hours a day. Carry these numbers with you.
Insurance during travel
Peritoneal dialysis away from home
Traveling is often easier for peritoneal dialysis patients because
they are not dependent on the availability of a dialysis unit. Peritoneal dialysis patients still need to plan ahead and arrange for
back-up medical care for their trips, as do hemodialysis patients.
Typically, this would mean contacting a dialysis center in the area
that provides home dialysis services and asking for the on-call,
after hours number should a problem arise. The center may request a copy of your medical records in advance. In any case, you
should always carry a copy of your records with you as well.
PD patients should carry enough supplies for the length of
the trip, plus some extra supplies in case of problems. It is
possible to arrange for delivery of supplies to your destination for longer stays. Make sure these supplies have arrived
before you leave on your trip. PD patients also need to plan
for adequate clean space where they may do their exchanges while traveling.
If Medicare is your primary insurance coverage, Medicare
will pay for 80 percent of your treatment costs within the
U.S. and its territories. You will be responsible for the remaining 20 percent not covered by Medicare. If you have
secondary insurance, it may cover this 20 percent. Check
with the transient center about their policy on this. Most
state Medicaid programs will not pay for treatment outside of your home state.
If you have commercial insurance as your primary insurance,
yo may need to request a letter from your insurance company
stating they will pay for your treatment at the destination dialysis center. Some commercial insurance will pay for dialysis
outside of the U.S. Transient dialysis centers will often call and
verify this coverage themselves. Be sure to allow enough planning time to make these arrangements.
A doctor’s fee may also be charged by the transient dialysis
center. Be sure to ask what portion of this charge will be your
responsibility.
Don’t forget:
ALWAYS HAND CARRY ALL MEDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT
HEALTH DOCUMENTATION WITH YOU.