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LONG BEACH, Calif., May 22 /PRNewswire/ — Whether your summer travel plans include a long vacation or a short getaway, if you are an older adult there are things you should do before leaving home to ensure a healthy trip. According to Timothy Schwab, M.D., chief medical officer of SCAN Health Plan, these ten tips for seniors apply whether you’re planning to go out of the country or just a few counties away.
1. Discuss travel plans with your doctor. If you are (or recently were)
under a doctor’s care, talk to your doctor to be sure it is safe for
you to travel. Discuss whether changes in food, humidity or altitude
will affect your health or abilities.
2. Plan travel activities with your fitness level and mobility in mind.
travel can be demanding on the body. Changes in food or activity can
worsen existing health problems. Be careful lifting or carrying heavy
or bulky bags.
3. Take a list of your medicines and allergies with you. This list is
important to have in case you get sick or injured. A healthcare
provider may need it to best check and treat any problem. A list
makes it quick and easy.
4. Refill prescription medicine. Of course you’ll bring enough
medication to last the whole trip, but in the event of unexpected
delays, be sure you bring some extra medicine with you.
5. Pack medicines in carry-on bags. If your checked bags get lost or
delayed, you will be prepared.
6. Leave all medication in original, labeled containers to avoid
problems at security checkpoints.
7. Take your health insurance card. It has information you need anytime
you get medical care.
8. Consider travel health insurance. If you think you might need health
coverage beyond your current benefits, check if short-term travel
insurance with health coverage would meet your needs.
9. Make appointments for routine care before you leave or after you
return. Most health plans do not cover routine care outside of your
normal service area, so be sure to take care of that before or after
your trip. Emergency or urgently needed care is usually covered.
10. Find out about emergency care and customs in the places you will
visit. The 9-1-1 system is not everywhere. Before you leave, find out
what to do in case of an emergency. Also take contact details for
U.S. Embassies and Consulates. They can assist in locating medical
services abroad.

“No one wants to think about needing medical care when they’re on vacation,” said Dr. Schwab. “But taking just a few precautionary steps will make a big difference should you need care while you’re away.”
For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare. One of California’s fastest-growing Medicare Advantage plans, SCAN currently serves more than 105,000 members in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura and Kern counties. In Arizona, SCAN offers a health plan for Medicare and Medicaid-eligible individuals and also provides long-term care services to individuals enrolled in the state’s long-term care system in Maricopa County. Further information may be obtained at .
SCAN Health Plan

BALTIMORE, April 29 /PRNewswire/ — Fueled by increasing international business, mission, adoption and leisure trips, travel medicine clinics are among the fastest growth areas in the health care delivery arena. No firm reflects this growth more than Passport Health, the largest provider of travel medicine services in the United States. The health care provider, which counsels 60,000 clients each month, just opened its 160th office.(Photo: )In less than two years the firm has grown by more than 50 percent. International travelers — 33 million last year — can now enjoy the same comprehensive service throughout the nation. Health departments, primary care physicians, and corporate travel managers all refer travelers to Passport Health because they are specialists in travel medicine. “Primary care physicians appreciate the individualized care we can deliver to their patients,” noted Passport Health Founder and CEO Fran Lessans.Passport Health provides destination-specific travel health information and immunizations for international travelers. Clients include major corporations, universities and NGO’s. Three new offices have recently opened in Minneapolis, MN; Columbus, OH; and Vancouver, WA.Lessans said her firm’s growth has been propelled by a growing understanding among international travelers that the right information can prove critical when traveling abroad. “Whether you are traveling for business, pleasure, are doing an intercountry adoption or are on a mission trip, there are some things you need to know to ensure you stay safe and healthy,” Lessans said.Passport Health’s Travel Medicine Specialists administer and prescribe vaccinations and medications recommended by the CDC, WHO, and other world surveillance organizations that constantly monitor outbreaks and other health hazards that affect travelers when they arrive at their destination. Services include a full range of immunizations, travel health information, protective vaccines for a healthy lifestyle, and on-site immunizations for groups and organizations, including flu clinics.Passport Health carries a full line of specialty travel health products including protection kits for malaria, diarrhea, and water purification. Recommended travel vaccines include: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B, Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, Pre-Exposure Rabies and Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis. The company also responds to the community’s need for specialty vaccines that are not necessarily related to travel. Protective vaccines for a healthy lifestyle include Shingles and Human Papilloma Virus (which causes cervical cancer).For more information visit or call 1-888-499-PASS(7277). Media Contact: Jorge Eduardo Castillo 410.727.0556Passport Health