In regard to shipping, I hate repeating my " 6 months initial stay to see if I can do it" again, but suffice it to say one subject has come up and it regards shipping things to me while I am in Punta Cana. As a person who will be traveling back and forth every 2 1/2 to 3 months for a 3 week visit in Indiana to maintain relationships with my physician specialists and two grandchildren, I am in the process of also scheduling all of my prescription medicines that my insurance company requires be mail ordered (currently to my apartment) as the requirement is that they supply me with 3 months worth at a time.
However 1 medicine which is incredibly expensive is now only shipped to patients a month at a time. I can't say I disagree with this because this medicine is an MS therapy and my position cannot do anything to change this. This certainly doesn't fit in with my plan that I would have 3 months worth of each medicine to take with me on each flight back to Punta Cana. I can easily call in to the company聽 while in PC and request an order sent to my assumed Indiana address which will most likely be my daughters home address and in all honesty where I will likely stay when I come home for those 3 month visits. As this came up, I realized that when reading the State Department website or consular and embassy sites from the DR, it sounds as if one can only enter the Dominican Republic with prescriptions but leave and re enter the US with no more or any different items, other than $800 max worth of merchandise I might have purchased as gifts for such for others with Recieps for proof. My thought for having anything shipped to me, most especially this medicine, was to get a PO Box in PC since I won't have an address while renting my long-term condo and I have found out I am lucky that the Eldorado shopping center has a PO Box availability, something similar to the mailboxes etc. in the US. This is where I need help from those of聽 you experienced with the actual rules which I can't seem to find or understand.聽 聽Also, Planner, please note I went to the website you noted and from what I can read since you are here full time and don't have someone to forward items to you, you utilize the courier company with your own PO Box in Miami to have things you might order shipped to you? I suppose I am considering my daughter to be providing that service for me in regards to my need for that one prescription or the possibility of replacing a wheelchair part. I wonder if I am assuming this correctly?
please let me also add, that another item I have to think about is what would happen if I was to lose the battery charger or even the battery that goes in my foldable mobility scooter, the very item that will allow me to make this wonderful trip. I know I can order a new 1 from the US. I have found out that it is hard to even rent a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair in the dominican republic, and it is incredibly expensive so that option would never work. So with this in mind I am looking for suggestions to::
how to handle having any necessary mail, medicine, perhaps that emergency backup battery or part sent to me while a tourist in the Dominican Republic. I envision government officials in the Dr, opening or scanning packages that come from other countries?聽 I certainly don't say this as someone non trusting or paranoid, It just sounds so much on the side of warnings of types of items that cannot be sent home in advance, taken home from a trip to Punta Cana, especially mentions of prescription medicines, although I think the point was the possibility聽 that they are narcotics. I wonder if I am missing something, over reading something into this. I am getting to that point where I am trying to cover all my bases, not breaking any rules and my daughter who I have slowly shared these plans with will be apprehensive if she feels, as the person forwarding a prescription or two to me that she is doing something illegal or fraudulent.聽 聽I also am anticipating when my first 6 months with that return trip home goes well and I am able to find my intended yearly rental condominium close by and since I will still be making trips back and forth, it seems wise to understand precisely what and why such rules are in place. Any suggestions to websites are welcome but as I have found before it is those of you with years of experience dealing with the different systems in place that can give me the best advice. Sorry about the length of my questions!
Anticipating your helpful and honest opinions,
Leslie