Whether at home, traveling for a business trip or enjoying a vacation, it’s important for members to know when and where to access care. As people navigate their busy lives, the need for healthcare can arise unexpectedly and knowing how to manage their health on the go becomes essential. Before hitting the road, members should understand their healthcare benefits and how to access care if needed.

Setting up Digital Connections

Members can set up 24/7 access to conveniently manage their care and coverage from anywhere by:

• Registering for the Sutter Health Plus Member Portal to view and print member identification 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.

Managing Medications

Members can request prescription renewals through My Health Online prior to their trip. 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. 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 select pharmacies, including 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.

Accessing Care While Away

Sutter Health Plus members have access to in-person, same-day and video visits while traveling, as long as they are in California. Read the Convenient Care flyer for more information on the right level of access to fit one’s health needs. 

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.

Learn more about member benefits and coverage while traveling by visiting 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.