Australia Specific Question

[Magic8Ball]

One for the mechanical aussies out there....

I have medibank private blue ribbon extra cover and want to get my hands on a home INR testing machine asap after surgery.

Do you have to get these through the cardio, through the medical fund, or direct through the reseller and then claim through your fund?

I want to monitor my own INR at the same time as getting the hospital and local quack to do it so i can have confidence to become less dependant on frequent trips to get this done. I'd like to always test weekly regardless an i've read that the gp will tend to reduce you to monthly after a while.

Any feedback from auzzies who have got their own home monitor would be great.....i don't assume that they deliver them before surgery incase you don't make it through...

 

[aussiemember]

Hi Magic,

I have the same Medibank Private cover but haven't had my valve surgery yet so can't help you. However, I am really interested in the answer also and I was wondering if Medibank Private have given you any indication as to what your out of pocket expenses will be for the actual surgery?? Including surgeon, anaesthetist, etc. BTW their help line is pretty good usually so perhaps you could ring them and ask them about the INR machine??

 

[johnM]

Perhaps Roche could offer some advice



Roche Diagnostics Australia Pty. Ltd.
31 Victoria Avenue
Castle Hill, NSW 2154
AUSTRALIA

Customer Service (Australia)
Fax: 1800 066 598
Telephone: 1800 802 409



ICC Technical Support (Australia)
Phone: 1800 645 619

Head Office
Telephone: +61-2-9899 7999
Fax: +61-2-9634 2949

 

[aussigal]

Try here for a start...
http://www.roche-diagnosyics.com/products_services/coagucheck_xs.html

Its around $900 . You would probably need a letter from Cardio ,GP or Surgeon and you might be able to get a rebate thru your ancilliary/extras insurance but dont bank on it as these are only new and may not be on insurance lists yet. You would also be required to do some learning about INR and Warfarin/Marevan. I personally think every user of this drug should learn all they can about it, makes it easier to control levels when you understand how it works.

Now bear in mind these machines are very-very new in Aus. and hardly anyone has one. It will take a while for it all to come together and for us to catch-up to our USA friends. I havent even heard of them available for private patients over our side of the country yet...just in Sydney from what I know.