Travel to Europe with PD

[lmunyan]

I just started PD a few weeks ago and of course have many questions that I cannot seem to get answers to. I have trip coming up in several months to Austria and Italy and I'm trying to find out the specific procedures and costs associated with that. All I have been told is to call Baxter.......... My questions are:
Do I pick up the PD solution at a warehouse or do they deliver to hotel?
Do I need any special tests done before the trip?
Will the airlines accept my PD machine as carry on?
What will my costs be, and does medicare cover what y personal PPO does not cover?
If anyone has answers to any of these, please respond. thanks

[KelseyAtDaVita]

Hi Imunyan, thank you for reaching out here! I was able to get some answers for you. We recommend that you work directly with your unit PD RN and Social Worker because different providers have policies that may be different from each other. We also recommend contacting your insurance carrier or work with your renal social worker to contact your insurance for you. You can also contact the dialysis supply vendor to determine the timelines for notification of international travel, which can be up to 2 months prior to travel. Your local National Kidney Foundation (NKF) may also have tools for travel and tips on their website. I hope this helps, thank you!

[p1m2oster]

We recently took a trip to New Zealand and Australia. The only way this was possible was with the diligent wonderful work of Gina at DaVita Guest Services. She was able to arrange treatments throughout the 2 countries. A 3 week trip of a lifetime. Gina found great facilities and as the Angel of our trip, she was WONDERFUL!!!

[KelseyAtDaVita]

We recently took a trip to New Zealand and Australia. The only way this was possible was with the diligent wonderful work of Gina at DaVita Guest Services. She was able to arrange treatments throughout the 2 countries. A 3 week trip of a lifetime. Gina found great facilities and as the Angel of our trip, she was WONDERFUL!!!

Hi p1m2oster, thank you for sharing such a great experience! I'm so happy to hear that Gina was able to help you travel, especially internationally! Would you be interested in participating in a Google+ Hangout DaVita will be hosting in May that focuses on traveling and dialysis? I will send you a direct message as well. Thank you!

[lmunyan]

thanks Kelsey and p1m2oster. I have spent two months trying everything I could to get information. The "social worker" and "insurance specialist" at the chandler, AZ DaVita know nothing about nothing and have provided zero guidance. I tried every online tool I could find and I called Baxter - no help.
I looked on DaVita online and finally found the guest services number. I will give it a try. Hope I have as good as luck as you had. Thanks again

[KelseyAtDaVita]

thanks Kelsey and p1m2oster. I have spent two months trying everything I could to get information. The "social worker" and "insurance specialist" at the chandler, AZ DaVita know nothing about nothing and have provided zero guidance. I tried every online tool I could find and I called Baxter - no help.
I looked on DaVita online and finally found the guest services number. I will give it a try. Hope I have as good as luck as you had. Thanks again

Definitely reach out to the DaVita Guest Services team. You're also welcome to speak with a local FA. Please reach out if you have additional questions or concerns!

[lmunyan]

I watched the recent forum discussion on travel with dialysis put on by DaVita guest services. Thought I had the solution to my questions, because guest services was supposed to provide all kinds of wonderful help. Well, I'm still going in circles. My last ditch effort was to call DaVita guest services, which I just did. They said: Call Baxter, call the airline, talk to my local PD people AND get on the internet and find a facility (somehow!) and then let DaVita know which facility and they would contact them.
1. I've tried Baxter - they do not deliver to Austria - end of conversation
2. I've talked to the airline - no idea if I can take my PD machine as carry on - can't get it in a case small enough.
3. I've talked to local DaVita "social worker" and "insurance counselor" - do not know anything.
4. I have researched the internet for facilities in Austria. I've emailed them and received no response.
Normally, I am a very patient person. But, after three months of research, I have discovered that evidently a) no one has ever travelled internationally with PD, or b) the wonderful service they received from their "DaVita team" and guest services was vastly different from my experience.
I have no idea how to work out the logistics of what is supposedly an easy experience - international travel.
Is there anyone within the 100,000 dialysis patients in the US that can give me any concrete help?
Thanks

[KelseyAtDaVita]

Hi lmunyan, I'm so sorry you've had a difficult time finding the necessary information for international travel. I'd recommend reaching out to the DaVita Guest Services team again and ask to be directed to someone who specializes in international travel. They should definitely be able to help you and get your questions answered.

[Rugby11]

Did you ever find any help for your trip to Austria?

I took a long trip to Austria a couple of years ago so if you are still looking, I can help.

[sra113474]

I, too, have found that my dialysis "team," especially the social worker and the insurance liaison, know absolutely nothing about anything, travel or local. They never seem to know what they are doing. Although my PD nurse is very nice, she is a scatterbrained mess. They keep telling me that arranging travel is "easy," but I don't believe it, so I just stay home or go places where I can pack everything I need in the car.