What to do if you run out of medication on vacation?

Alternatively, you can follow a few simple steps:
  1. Find a nearby pharmacy that's in-network with your health insurance.
  2. Call the pharmacy and explain the situation.
  3. Call your home pharmacy and ask them to transfer your medication.
  4. If your home pharmacy won't transfer the prescription, call your primary care provider.




If you run out of essential medication while on vacation in 2026, the first step is to contact your prescribing doctor back home to see if they can send a digital copy of your prescription. If you are traveling domestically, a major pharmacy chain (like CVS or Walgreens) can often transfer your file to a local branch. If you are abroad, a U.S. or home-country prescription is usually not valid; you will need to visit a local clinic or hospital to have a resident doctor write a new, local prescription. Do not have someone mail medication to you, as it is often seized by customs. Check with your travel insurance provider, as many "Premium" policies in 2026 include concierge services specifically to help you locate reputable local doctors and cover the cost of emergency prescription replacements.

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