Got approval

[olefin]

Yesterday QAS called and said I had been approved by Medicare and Blue Cross insurance for full coverage for weekly testing. Said a nurse would be by within a week or so with the equipment and training.

I was surprised Medicare acted so quick for I submitted the forums to my Cardiologist and QAS on Monday Jan., 26.

 

[Bina]

Excellent, good for you!

 

[Ross]

Excellent! Your going to be so much happier home testing. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[olefin]

Excellent! Your going to be so much happier home testing. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Wife has said that all along but most time I never had a problem. We live only about 4 miles from my Cardiologist and needles were never a problem to me.

I decided in December when I got out of control it was time to try home testing. Especially when we were leaving on a 10 day cruise.

Sure would been great back when we had a motorhome and was on the road most time. Back then I had a prescription from my Cardiologist that I took to the local hospital where ever we were. The prescription call for them to give me the INR results. If it was out of control I called him.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Sure would been great back when we had a motorhome and was on the road most time. Back then I had a prescription from my Cardiologist that I took to the local hospital where ever we were. The prescription call for them to give me the INR results. If it was out of control I called him.

So how did you get your INR tested when on the road?
Did you have to go to an ER?
Or did you find a Coumadin Clinic to go to?
What was the total cost of getting tested on the road?
Did your insurance cover it?

Just Curious,

'AL Capshaw'
]

 

[Karlynn]

Congratulations!

 

[olefin]

So how did you get your INR tested when on the road?

Hi Al,
I went to the local hospital outpatient labs. Flashed my prescription, every place was more than glad to accommodate. We travel for several years.

Did you have to go to an ER?

Never.

Or did you find a Coumadin Clinic to go to?

I've never heard of a Coumadin Clinic?

What was the total cost of getting tested on the road?

Sorry, can't remember the exact cost but no place was unreasonable. Some were only a few dollars.

Did your insurance cover it?

Actually, at that time, I didn't any insurance. I had previously used up my maximum lifetime benefit when I had AVR for I had major complications. No insurance company in the USA would touch me at any price. This was due to having had AVR. So I didn't have any insurance until I was eligible for Medicare, then I could also get Blue Cross supplement coverage.
I was very lucky, for I stayed healthy and had no more major medical problems.

 

[Eva]

Good for you. Enjoy and good luck. I am still waiting for me since late December.

 

[Blanche]

You are going to love home testing....even on the road

You are going to love home testing....even on the road

Olefin:

Al and I both tested today. It took about 20 minutes, from beginning to end, for the both of us to test. You sure can't beat that for time saving. I've said it before and I will say it again...I can't even get the car out of the garage in 20 minutes.

The most important thing, at least to me, in the increased security that the monitor gives us, especially when our INRs are out of wack.

Kind regrds,
Blanche

 

[Cris N]

Great news. I'm sure you'll love the convenience.

 

[Cris N]

I am curious - with Medicare/BC do you own it or is it a lease? Do they cover the strips at 100% or is there a co-pay for them?

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Thanks for the informative responses Dayton!

I've always wondered how to go about getting an INR after-hours and I'd never heard of using "outpatient labs" at a hospital. That's Good Information. Thanks again.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[olefin]

Good for you. Enjoy and good luck. I am still waiting for me since late December.

Eva, hope you get approval soon.

The most important thing, at least to me, in the increased security that the monitor gives us, especially when our INRs are out of wack.

Blanche, That's exactly why I decided to go with it. In December mine got out of control and in a few days we left on a 10 day cruise. It sure would have been nice to had a monitor. I kick myself for not having one years ago. My wife wanted me to buy one after having AVR.

I am curious - with Medicare/BC do you own it or is it a lease? Do they cover the strips at 100% or is there a co-pay for them?

Cris, not sure about owning the meter, I'll have to check with Medicare. When QAS called they said to keep the box and if I stop using it so it could be return to them? Sounds like a lease but no sure they leveled with me. My mother-in-law had home health care for several years. After she passed away my father-n-law had several pieces of equipment to dispose of. Hospital bed, wheel chair, lift for raising her out of bed and other things provided by Medicare. Of course Medicare had paid in full for those items. One of the suppliers said some of the equipment was suppose to be returned to them. Father-in-law didn't return them, he gave it to people that needed them. Companies sometime will tell people things that are not true.

Yes, Medicare covers the full cost of the strips and everything. It doesn't matter to me if Medicare doesn't pay everything for that's the reason I carry Blue Cross Supplemental insurance. Like normally Medicare pays 80% of hospital and doctor bills and Blue Cross steps in for the remained. Also I don't pay any deductible, co-pay or fill out any insurance papers. All any health care facially needs is a copy of my Medicare and Blue Cross cards.