Protime 3

[Granbonny]

Am I the only home-tester..still using the old Protime 3?Mine will be age 5 soon...3 months after my surgery..My insurance paid for it/cuvettes until I turned age 65...I was so happy with it..stiil am.. so talked to QAS and decided just to buy outright my cuvettes from them..No hassle from medicare.. I order twice a year..25 cuvettes and tenderlett's....all iI need ..since I am in range mostly everytime I test. I truly love it..recharging quickly..when the battery light comes on low......Yes, it may be heavier than the new ones..but since we don't take long trips anymore..just sits on my den desk.....First few years..had to be sure and be home..since suppilies were packed in dry ice.Last few times..they are not packed in ice..but still keep them in veggie container. Easy to get them..I let them sit out for a while before I use them.....QAS is wondeful when I call for replacements. have me on their computer. Takes all of 5 minutes to order and here when they say..like 2 days later. Bonnie

 

[Blanche]

Bonnie:
Al's been using his ProTime5 since March 2001. Right now it's being used with direct current because the self-enclosed battery is out of juice. We purchased the monitor with our own funds and have had to pay for the supplies all these years. Now that there are two of us using it, it looks like a new monitor is in our near future.

Our doctor was using the CoaguCheck for a few months before the strip problem happened. He has sent his CoaguCheck back. He is now using the INRatio, which his nurse likes a great deal. We are going to visit with the Clinic nurse later this month and see if Al can use the INRatio by himself. If so, I plan to order a new machine on the same day.

Regards,
Blanche

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Bon

Yes, I do think you're one of the few left using Protime.....how many more are out there? Would be interested to find out......hmmmm, maybe we should do a poll????? Wow, we got rid of ours years ago....and now have both the Coaguchek and the New INRatio monitor. The INRatio beats them all hands down. Blanche, you'll love it bigtime!!!

Regards.

Ev

 

[catwoman]

I have a ProTime 3. Other than a battery repair under warranty @ 12 months, no problems. I had a 24-month warranty on it.
Battery was last recharged in February. Will probably need to recharge it in July or so.
I have United Health Care now, but will be covered by Aetna starting Jan. 1, 2008. I don't know what Aetna's coverage is, but I'll be finding out very soon.

When the ProTime 3 has to be replaced, I'll probably opt for an INRatio, due to smaller size.

 

[Christina]

Protime 3 & 5..

Protime 3 & 5..

Hi Bonnie,

FYI....I've had my Protime 3 (I can use 5's as well) since January 2001 and have had it refurbished twice during those year. The last time just a few months ago. For me it works like a charm and right now I don't see a reason to spend money and buy a newer one. There's always going to be newer stuff available. I just recharged the battery last week and haven't had to do that since it was sent back to me after the refurbish.
I bought the Protime machine out of pocket and have to pay for my supplies as well. My insurance is PacifiCare (HMO) and they refuse to pay for anything. I buy my supplies (25 cuvettes) twice a year through Raytel and that works for me.
I test about once a week, sometimes once every two weeks depending on my numbers that week.

 

[Granbonny]

I did a search on VR.Com and found there are quite a few of us old timers..I think Robthatsme has one.......Question..At my age, IF my Protime did go bad..I would have to pay out of pocket for me another machine..I was just wondering (none of my business)..but for those of you..who just didn't like the Protime..for some reason..did your Insurance buy you another new machine or did you have to pay for the new one yourself...what does a new INRatio Cost these days?..........B/T/W..it took all of 5 minutes to get a full charge on mine this a.m. first time having to charge it in a few months. Bonnie

 

[Karlynn]

Bon - you can have it refurbished if it goes "bad". Right now the coast is around $375. I had the choice of doing that or getting a new machine. I jumped ship and got the INRatio.

 

[Granbonny]

Just for the record..When I turned age 65..I went on medicare ..I did some research to see if they would buy my supplies. yes, but many rules..like you have to test once a week and call into someone?they will also buy the machine..same thing..if approved..but same thing..calling in, ect. that's why I went to hometesting years ago..I did not want to have to answer to anyone..other than my clinical nurse...and she only wants me to call her once a month. .........so, I just pay for my own supplies. From QAS.........Bonnie

 

[QAS Lance]

Hello

Hello

Bonnie,

Give me a call sometime, as I would like to talk to you about your options. I think you and I have worked together for years, so I would like a chance to chat. I can be reached at 800-298-4515 ex 2865. Thanks!


Lance Visnich, QAS

 

[Joe]

Grannybon: I have a protime 3 , which I just received in April of this year.
My machine is provided thru medicare , apparently one has to have a mechanical valve and travel quite a distance to receive clinic testing to qualify for one. I was making a 130 mile round trip to my coumadin clinic . I understand my supplemental insurance picks up the cost of supplies. Don't know that for sure!
The machine is provided thru QAS and I believe is rented by medicare.It was not a new machine but I am sure it was refurbished by QAS.
The machine functions very well for me. My biggest problem in the beginning was getting enough blood in the cup. This site helped me over come that problem by suggesting I warm my fingers up prior to lancing. Kind of a pain to do but it works. Medicare does require weeky testing and calling the results into an automated # at QAS.
Personally it is no big deal to me to call the results in or to do weekly testing.
It is great to be able to home test and know what your INR is each week.
Best wishes to all. JOE/MO

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Bonnie,

You are correct! I still have my original Protime(5). I first started using it in April of 2001, and still continue to test weekly. It has provided me with years of reliable readings, and I have never had a single issue with it, in fact the battery still works. I compare the results against a standard lab test every year, and my Protime is still extremely accurate when comparing the results against the lab. It has traveled with me extensively, both domesticlly and internationally, hassle free!

My latest issue has been with BC/BS. They stopped paying for my cuvettes, and said that I had to be re-qualified. I told them that they had all my records, and infact all my doctor visits, CT, and all other claims for my heart valve replacement and on-going management of that. Well, 6 months and many, many phone calls later.. they re-qualified me, and paid my now 6 month old claim. BTW... Lance at QAS was extremely helpful to me during this time.
In fact, her suggested that since I had to go through the whole process again, I should also consider going for a new replacement unit, noting that my original one is now getting rather old.

After all the hassles with BC/BS.. I think it's time for me to do that.. Just get a new one and be done with it, especially now that they have all my updated records. (just hate to give up one that works so well.. ya know..the old saying.. If it aint broke Don't fix it!)

As for my original Protime, it is the 5 channel model, and other than getting the nervous jitters when I first started home testing, it has, and continues to be Mr. Reliable"!

Happy Monitoring!

Rob

 

[Karlynn]

My latest issue has been with BC/BS. They stopped paying for my cuvettes, and said that I had to be re-qualified. I told them that they had all my records, and infact all my doctor visits, CT, and all other claims for my heart valve replacement and on-going management of that.

They just wanted to make sure you hadn't had your valve removed secretly and were just testing for the fun of it!

I love insurance companies. Getting my new machine was relatively painless. I got a case manager/nurse who was fully behind home testing, understood it from a patient perspective so I didn't have to jump through any hoops and explain things like I had to in the past. I'm just hoping that by the next time I'm in need of a new machine the US will have caught on to the fact that people that home test cost insurance companies less money - which is the bottom line.