Planning an upcoming getaway or business trip? Whether close to home or a little further away, traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience. Before embarking on the next journey, it’s important to understand healthcare benefits, coverage, and how to access care — in-person or virtually — should a need arise. Sutter Health Plus members can start by checking their Evidence of Coverage and Disclosure Form (EOC) on the Member Portal for specifics about their coverage and what to do in case of an emergency. Read on for more ways members can access and manage their care when traveling.
Prepare to Travel
Scheduling an appointment with a doctor or clinician to discuss healthcare needs can be helpful preparation. Topics might include creating a care plan for managing a chronic health condition, ordering or renewing a prescription, or scheduling preventive care, such as getting the annual flu vaccine. Members can also ensure they have 24/7 access to conveniently manage their care from anywhere by:
- Registering for the Sutter Health Plus Member Portal to view and print member identification (ID) cards, which contain important contact and billing information. Benefit and copay information is also available on the portal.
- Registering for My Health Online, Sutter’s secure patient portal, to schedule in-person or video visits with a participating Sutter clinician while traveling in California, connect with a care team, or renew a prescription.
Manage Prescription Drugs
Before heading out of town, members can conveniently request a prescription renewal from their provider anytime through My Health Online.
To ensure an adequate supply of prescription drugs while traveling — especially for individuals taking maintenance drugs — members may request a vacation override, allowing them to get up to a 90-day supply early by calling CVS Caremark® Customer Care at (844) 740-0635. One vacation override per prescription is available within a six-month period, and standard cost sharing applies.
Additionally, Sutter Health Plus members have access to two convenient options to get up to a 100-day supply of prescription drugs for the same cost of two 30-day supplies, as their benefit plan allows, through:
- The Retail-90 Program, available at local CVS pharmacies. Find a participating pharmacy here.
- CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy for prescription drug delivery with free standard shipping.
For more information about these options, register or log in to the CVS Caremark Member Portal or call CVS Caremark Customer Care at (844) 740-0635.
Access Care While Away
Convenient, same-day video visits for everyday health needs are available daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and some holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., through My Health Online. Please note that a member must be physically located in California at the time of their appointment to participate in a video visit and may be directed to in-person care, if necessary.
Members also have access to same-day care for common illnesses by visiting any Sutter Walk-In Care location across Northern California. Appointments are encouraged and can be made through My Health Online or by calling ahead. Adults and children 18 months and older are welcome daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on some holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., hours may vary by location.
If urgent* or emergency care is needed, members may go to the nearest hospital or medical facility. If admitted to an out-of-network hospital, members should contact Member Services within 24 hours, or as soon as reasonably possible, at (855) 315-5800. Sutter Health Plus will then collaborate with the hospital and/or providers to make appropriate payment provisions, and, if safe, transfer a member to an in-network hospital. Registered nurses are also available to provide immediate medical information for members 24/7 at (855) 836-3500.
For more information, visit sutterhealthplus.org/members/care-while-traveling.
*When traveling in the Sutter Health Plus service area, we encourage members to access an in-network urgent care facility.
