[pct-l] health insurance + drugs taken on trail

[richardlcox at gmail.com (Richard Cox)]

I know a few people found some student and travel  health insurance
that was reasonable and short term. It was also high deductable so
mainly catostrophic insurance. Qualifying as a student shoudl be
pretty easy if you are not already.

I had many small issues on the trail but nothing that required a
doctor until it was something that took me off the trail (200 miles
short!) so I think that you only need something to cover really big
issues - and if it is a big deal - hospital, surgury, etc. the high
deductable will not be so important at that point. High
deductible/copay is a good way to get your premiums down and not get
totally screwed.

I hope that was not all obvious. 

Of course that is all short term, the best long term plan for you and
all of us is to VOTE in the election for the candidate that you think
will help resolve the healthcare issues.

PERSONALLY, I LOVE to KERRY my backpack on the trail I kare about
healthkare AND WANT TO STOP beating around the BUSH and choose a
candidate with a plan that makes sense and have already voted
karefully with an absentee ballot, but Vote Your Own Vote! Just Vote.

(sorry for the typos in that last paragraph - my keyboard must be acting up)

Since you said you have access to prescription drugs here is the list
my doctor prescribed for me before the trail in addition to my normal
allergy medicines.

Bounced:

   Cipro (Antibiotic - specifically for a really bad infection - lung
infection, etc)
   Another antibiotic - not a 'cillin drug (anibiotic for more general use)
   Flagyl (antibiotic -  treatment for Ghiardia)

Carried partial prescription bounced rest:

   Epi-Pen (for Allergic reactions - bee stings for me)
   Prednisone (for sustained serious allergic reactions until I can 
reach a doctor)
   Vicodin (pain killer - in case of bad injury)
   Bactroban (antibiotic cream for cuts and abrasions)

This is NOT a recommendation, or medical opinion, but what MY doctor
prescribed for ME. All prescription drugs should be used with care
under supervision and can have serious interactions and side effects.

There's lots of warnings and caveats that go along with each of those
drugs, interactions, dosages, etc. All of that information is
available from some good sources online - and some "Get Drugs Cheap"
websites that I would avoid. Here is one that I have used and has all
of the drugs I listed http://www.rxlist.com/

I think the best plan is to do lots of research on all this, even if
you consult a doctor ,so you understand what you are taking.

And the only thing I used on the trail was a little bit of the bactroban but...
During my hike, Filthy got a stress fracture in his foot the day
before well all went over Forester Pass. He hiked out two days on
Percoset (narcotic pain killer) on a broken foot. The exact reason I
took Vicodin, just in case - to get out of further danger. And a few
people got the big G and ended up taking Flagyl.

-The One
PCT2003

Hike Your Own Hike