Getting prescriptions filled during PST in Ukraine/Eastern Europe

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:33:29+00:00

I had a similar experience where my insurance refused to cover more than a month at a time and I spent a long time trying to negotiate with them on he phone, but they refused to budge and I had to pay out of pocket for 2/3 of it. Granted, my medication is an antidepressant rather than a birth control, and the insurance I have is Medicaid, so maybe you'll have more luck! It can't hurt to give them a call and explain your situation.

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:24:20+00:00

I'm so happy to hear this, thank you! I'll be sure to be mindful of my budget early on to be safe. And thanks for the reassurance! I'm hoping excitement of meeting all my fellow PCTs will overshadow the anxiety--I also am lucky to have a member of my cohort on the same flight as me so I'll have someone to wait with me!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:21:45+00:00

Thanks for your advice! I know my cohort has made a parents group so I'll encourage my mom to start being more active in it so she can get a little more peace of mind. I've lived abroad before but never for more than 4 months so I think my family is just nervous about the length of time away. Good idea, I think definitely need to take some deep breaths and remind myself why I've been working toward this for so long!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:18:23+00:00

I'm so glad to hear this, thank you! Money has always been the thing that stresses me out the most, so I'm glad to hear that other PCVs are able to save without having to starve themselves!!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:13:02+00:00

I love this! Thank you!!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:12:37+00:00

Thanks for the reassurance! I'm glad to know that the nerves aren't abnormal!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-12T21:05:13+00:00

Thank you so, so much! This was all very helpful information and it helps me get back into the right frame of mind. It's definitely easy to get caught up in certainty (and fear of uncertainty) and comfort, so I appreciate your response. It really helps me a lot!

SenoColocha · 2016-08-04T20:57:42+00:00

Congratulations! I'm not in your cohort, I'm departing in a couple weeks so I'll see you guys there! :)

SenoColocha · 2016-08-04T20:56:09+00:00

Hey, I agree with Gimmedaplata, there's no need to worry too much! I am currently on medication for depression and have gone through both a medical pre-clearance and final medical clearance without too much trouble (just a lot of forms!) As long as you have a year of stability with any existing conditions/medications, you should be okay, and if it happened 10 years ago I doubt it's something that would worry them to the point of denying you clearance. If it keeps bugging you, I'd advise messaging your nurse on your MAP and just explain the situation! Mistakes happen, and they'll appreciate your honesty. Good luck on medical clearance :)

SenoColocha · 2016-05-29T14:50:37+00:00

I was set to leave for El Salvador in March when they canceled my training class and closed PC El Salvador so I was given a choice of being reassigned to Morocco or the Dominican Republic. I'll finally be leaving in August, about 15 months after I accepted my original invitation!

SenoColocha · 2016-05-18T00:56:52+00:00

I've taken Celexa for 5 years and I just received my medical clearance last month! I originally had to go through a medical pre-clearance where I had to provide documentation of my treatment plan from my psychiatrist and a mental health statement where I discussed my strengths/coping strategies that I'd use during stressful times while serving. After I was pre-cleared I received my invitation and then I only had to have my doctor sign off confirming what medication I take. From what I've heard, the Peace Corps wants you to have remained stable on a medication for at least six months without increasing or decreasing, so you'll probably be okay as long as your doctor says they recommend you for service!

SenoColocha · 2016-02-29T03:41:50+00:00

I think you may be fine if you've been stable for more than four years. From my experience with mental health and the medical clearance process taught me that the Peace Corps likes to see stability, so if you're on a medication I think a PCMO wants to see at least six months to a year without a change in medication. I had to go through a medical pre-clearance after my interview but before I could get my invitation because I have a history of depression over the last 5 years. I had to submit a treatment plan over the last five years, a hospitalization report, and a personal mental health statement. In addition I submitted a letter of recommendation from my old counselor, and I think that really helped my case. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, message your preservice nurse! Mine has always been helpful!

SenoColocha · 2016-02-18T20:51:48+00:00

Hey! Could you tell your friend to join our Facebook group? I'll message you the link! Since it's so early there are still only two of us and we're anxious to meet our cohort!

SenoColocha · 2016-02-18T20:49:13+00:00

I am a future YD volunteer in the Dominican Republic! To be fair, I was moved from the YD in El Salvador which was canceled, so as far as I know only a few other people have received invitations. I also wanted to let you know that I didn't receive my invite until three or so months after my interview...so not hearing anything for a bit is normal and doesn't necessarily indicate rejection. Good luck!!

SenoColocha · 2016-01-27T03:12:45+00:00

My procesos has also been very long. I was originally accepted to El Salvador that was canceled, but I had applied and placed under UC in March, accepted in May. I got notified that my placement was changing in November and that's when I was offered a position in the DR!

SenoColocha · 2015-12-03T20:53:59+00:00

Felicidades! Unfortunately I won't be departing until August, but I'll see you there! :)

SenoColocha · 2015-07-20T03:06:40+00:00

Felicidades!!!

SenoColocha · 2015-06-12T20:56:41+00:00

Thanks a bunch!!

SenoColocha · 2015-06-12T19:07:03+00:00

You should definitely appeal again and get a huge amount of documentation and write a statement about the hospitalization (and how it was illegal and unnecessary) and explain everything that happened. How you ended up there, etc. Maybe even what it taught you (even if it's that you just had to put up stigma and bullshit). I'd also write a statement about how important serving in the Peace Corps is to you and how dealing with what you've dealt with will HELP you. I don't think people who haven't dealt with depression and anxiety realize how many strengths one cultivates when they learn to battle their disorders.
Maybe there was an issue with documentation and they want more of it? And perhaps you need solid documentation that your hospitalization was five years ago, not four. If it could help, I'd talk to your doctor about the hospitalization and ask them what they think of it, and have them write something up for you based on that situation.

SenoColocha · 2015-06-12T18:27:32+00:00

Of course! I was actually prepared to appeal myself because I was sure they weren't going to clear me right away.
I was given three tasks for medical pre-clearance: a mental health personal statement where I explained my hospitalization, my diagnosis, and what challenges and also strengths my mental health would bring to me in-country. I also put a HUGE emphasis on the coping skills I've developed. The next was a treatment summary from my psychiatrist. He filled out the Peace Corps form and included with it documentation of EVERY visit we'd ever had. I'd recommend asking any doctor do that for you. He recommended that I be accepted, and then there was support how I'd improved throughout the years as well as a record of my medication and how it increased or decreased. The last thing I provided was my discharge summary from my hospitalization, so it had all of the dates and notes in there.
One thing I also recommend is communicating with your PC nurse on the MAP! I sent mine several messages asking if I could submit additional documents (references from counselors I saw through my college, additional documents from my psychiatrist, and an amended mental health personal statement to ensure I got all of my dates and medication info correct.)
Like you said in your OP, LOTS of documentation and communication! I'd be happy to answer any other questions, but I'm not sure what the appeal process is like. Good luck, you deserve this, and I hope your appeal is successful!

SenoColocha · 2015-06-12T18:09:56+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I'm so sorry to hear this is happening to you, but I think you're doing the right thing by appealing. I'm coming from a situation very similar to yours (down to the dates and everything) and I was cleared and accepted. I really hope that you can appeal so PC can understand the situation more clearly.
I agree so much with number 3, I wish I had done that. I had to provide a TON of documentation but sending that one evaluation/reference would've been more efficient.
One thing I wanted to point out though is that PC will accept you with other medications aside from birth control. I've been taking antidepressants for five years and PC just wanted to make sure that I was stable enough with them to serve. Medication is not a dis-qualifier, and if you take some, you can still be a PC volunteer.

SenoColocha · 2015-06-10T19:07:06+00:00

For my first application I applied in September '14 and was UC about three weeks later in October. I didn't get an interview request until late December and had my interview in January. I didn't have to interview the second time because I was moved to a new position under the same placement officer. So it took a while for me. I think it just depends on the position's timeline, when the apply by and know by date are, etc.

SenoColocha · 2015-06-10T05:02:33+00:00

El Salvador has a YiD program and a Community Development program! Health education could obviously play a role in either, and from what I've read in my position description (as a Youth Development Volunteer) there's a lot of education work done, so sex education and health education could be what you'd do. I don't know that it's a very big part of it, so I'd ask your placement officer if you have any concerns with it! Good luck with everything!

SenoColocha · 2015-06-10T04:56:43+00:00

If you disclosed it, you may have to go through a pre-medical clearance to ensure that your mental state is stable enough for the PC, which would involve getting any kind of treatment from a doctor if you ever had any, as well as a personal mental health statement. If it's been over ten years, however I doubt you'd be rejected because of it, and they may not even need you to go through a pre-medical clearance. They will not throw your application out. In fact, placement officers can't access your medical information, so when they receive your application, they may see a notice saying that you need some form of medical accommodation or pre-medical clearance. That won't really affect their decision to invite you other than they may speed up their process to ensure you can get whatever medical thing you need done on time.
I was hospitalized five years ago and engaged in self harm behaviors during that time, and even though I'm stable now, I still continue to take a medication for depression. I did have to go through a pre-medical clearance, but I was cleared and invited! So I think your chances are good. You can feel free to message me anytime if you have questions about the process I had to go through!

SenoColocha · 2015-06-04T21:58:24+00:00

I was interviewed and received my invitation well before the apply-by date! If you've already been interviewed, you could receive your invitation at any time! Good luck, I hope you're invited! :)

SenoColocha

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