Page 61 - Norco Patient Orientation Handbook e-book

Traveling with Oxygen

There are some very important things to consider while traveling with oxygen. We at Norco want to make sure
that your trip will be a success and will do our best to assist you wherever possible. Please feel free to contact
our customer service department as soon as you know that you will be traveling. Here are some things to
consider when traveling with oxygen:

• Plan as early as possible. This will help prevent any unexpected last minute delays. It is best to contact
Norco 3 weeks ahead of time to arrange for your travel oxygen equipment to ensure that we have the
equipment available to meet your specific needs. If you are traveling outside of a Norco service area,
we will provide for you an FAA approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) that will operate on 110
volt A/C, 12 volt D/C, or batteries. The POC is the most popular choice for patients that travel with
oxygen because of the lightweight design and versatile power options.

• How will you get there?
¾ Car Can you carry enough oxygen? (Liquid Oxygen or Cylinders) Store cylinders in well-
ventilated areas. Do not store cylinders in your car and always open your car windows
when traveling with a cylinder.
¾ Train Will they let you carry on your oxygen?
Do they have someone to assist you in loading your oxygen?
¾ Plane Most airlines will allow an FAA approved portable oxygen concentrator (POC) to be used
on the plane. You will need to let your ticket agent know that you are on oxygen. Will
there be a lay over during your flight? You will need to arrange to have oxygen during
your lay over.
¾ Ship Some shipping lines will let you bring your own oxygen onboard ship. Do not forget
about the travel time to and from the ship. Are you staying over night off the ship? If so,
you will need oxygen for the off ship stay. Will you be traveling off the ship during the
day? If so, you will need portable oxygen for the day trips off the ship.

• How long will it take to get there?
You may have to alter your route to replenish your oxygen supply.
Do you have enough oxygen to cover any delays like road construction?

• Costs of oxygen while traveling are ultimately yours. Norco will do what we can to help.
¾ With proper advanced notice, we may be able to obtain a discount for your service.
¾ Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance companies do not pay for traveling oxygen. Norco may
help with a portion of the cost of traveling oxygen. It is very important that you notify Norco in
advance of your trip so it can be determined if Norco will assist with any of the charges.
Norco’s assistance will be limited to the daily rate for each day traveling. Contact your local
Norco branch for a more detailed explanation.
¾ If Norco does assist in the cost of your travel oxygen, it will show as a credit on your Norco
account.
¾ Failing to notify Norco in advance of your trip may affect our ability to help you with your
Oxygen needs and could result in delays and higher costs to you.