Healthcare While RVing With Kids: Be Prepared on the Road

Life on the road has a lot of perks, but today, as I was taking my youngest to a local children’s hospital here in Kansas City, MO, I realized healthcare has the potential to be a bit trickier on the road than I’d realized.

That realization didn’t make me feel good, but it did prompt me to ask myself: what can I do to feel more prepared and knowledgeable when it comes to the well-being of our family? All three of our kids have unique challenges that keep us at a doctor’s office pretty regularly. Nothing that will keep us from traveling—and their hometown medical team has given us their blessing—but still, we go to the hospital a lot, especially with our youngest.

It seems that our littlest wanderer just looks at something and falls over, whacking/fracturing/injuring his body. So having immediate knowledge of nearby medical care is important—and something we need to be better informed on.

So how can we prepare as best as we can for the unexpected?

*Henry broke his collarbone when he was 2. This was his look moment after returning from our frequently visited Chicago Children’s Hospital.*

Know Your Insurance Coverage

We go through the marketplace and thankfully have an insurance carrier that has strong coverage outside of our home state. As we continue to carry insurance through the marketplace, we will always make sure that any carrier we go with has options outside of IL that won’t break our bank.

Make Sure to Have Access to Medical Records for Your Kids

Given the lengthy medical history of our oldest and youngest, having easy access to their medical information—with both their PCPs and all their specialists—just makes sense.

The good news is this has gotten much easier in recent years. Most providers now offer access to medical records through online patient portals or apps, which means you can often pull up visit summaries, medications, and test results right from your phone. If your providers use different systems, it may take a little effort to keep everything organized, but having digital access is a huge improvement over the old days of requesting full paper copies.

It’s also a good idea to download key records or keep a simple summary saved offline in case you don’t have cell service. Some families use apps like Apple Health to store medical information in one place, while others keep a PDF or note with medications, allergies, and important diagnoses easily accessible.

That extra bit of preparation can make a big difference in an emergency situation.

Know Where the Nearest Hospitals Are

As you arrive somewhere new, know where the nearest hospitals are and have them programmed into your navigation if you are in an unfamiliar place. I prefer, when possible, to take my kids to a children’s urgent care or ER if one is available, so I will want to know where both the nearest hospital and the nearest children’s hospital are.

Locate Nearby Minute Clinics and Urgent Care

It’s a nice comfort to know that more and more communities have numerous minute clinics and urgent care centers available, making it easier than ever for minor colds and injuries to be treated quickly—and often at a much lower price.

So tell me, what am I missing? If you are on the road full-time, what are some thoughts or processes you incorporate to make sure you and your loved ones are safe and have care available should you need it?

Thankfully, our littlest wanderer had a minor dislocation of his elbow, and we were on our way in no time—with no X-rays and no post-care follow-up needed. However, we know our little guy, and we know this won’t be the last time he walks the halls of a children’s hospital. He keeps us on our toes!

Staying healthy on the road is all a part of the RV lifestyle, and it isn’t just about the kids. Parents need to stay healthy, too, especially on long travel days.