Question for QAS or Marty

[Granbonny]

Marty..I'm about to join you for Medicare. I'm running a little low on my cuvettes....and will need to order some more soon....so..Will I have any conflict..who will pay first. Medicare or United healthcare. I have filled out all my forms for Medicare..due June 10th...I would love to hear from QAS...before I order more....They are great to ship them the same day..but, I do not want any surprises..when the bill comes in.... Unitedhealth care has always paid 80% and QAS puts the other on my credit card. Help..I didn't think I would get this old sooooo soon. Should I call Unitedhealthcare or a Nursing Home.. Hey..I just became a NEW Grandmother of 2 beautiful Grandchildren from Russia I don't have the time to worry about the Small stuff..and by the way..How did they (Government know I was going to be age 65 Thought I had lied a lot. } bonnie

 

[hensylee]

Bonnie, you should have an effective date on your Medicare card. That should help you. Does your cuvette co have all the information from the Medicare Card? Call them; I bet they have a toll free #; ask them all your questions so you will know from now on how they will work it.

 

[Blanche]

Bonnie:
I would suggest that it might be a good Idea to have some supplies on hand when Medicare kicks in. That way you are not at the mercy of delivery schedules, etc. One of our members, Sierra Bob, has been doing the medicare routine and sometimes he has to schedule his activities around the times his supplies are sent. Bob has been very helpful to us and was one of the first people who responded to us wa back in March 2001. You might consider PMing him.
Kindest regards,
Blanche

 

[Marty]

Medicare for valvers?

Medicare for valvers?

Bonnie, I was surprised after talking to Brian Woodward at QAS how Medicare runs its program. You have to fill out a lot of paperwork. You do not own the monitor, its sort of on loan. You must test every week and report to Medicare and only then can QAS get paid for the test strip. I did not want to get involved with this and that's why I just bought an INRMeter at a surprisingly good price, Talk to Brian
and he'll tell you in detail how Medicare works. Since you already have a Protime maybe he can get you some help on the cuvettes.Let us know how you do.

 

[Granbonny]

Thanks, Blanche and Marty

Thanks, Blanche and Marty

I guess I had better start making some calls tomorrow. will call Unitedhealth care first...and then call QAS...There is no way..I will change at this time..calling in INR, ect..I will buy them on my own If..Unitedhealthcare will not continue to pay 80%, ect..Yes, Blanche, I plan on calling in for 25 more before I turn the big 65 and we will go from there..I did that in Dec..before the New Year deductions started.. ..Hubby is never sick..but takes b/p meds and Unitedhealthcare still pays for them, monthly.so, I'm hoping that they will consider Cuvettes as a med. Delta's UnitedHealth care is wonderful here in the state of Georgia. Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

P.S. Blanche

P.S. Blanche

I always order my cuvettes during a week that I KNOW I will be here. QAS will tell me when to expect them. Usually 2-3 days by UPS..and my guy knows where I live, ect. I put them right into downstairs fridge.The icepacks are usually melted..but still cool in their box. Do you order Al's from QAS.. Do you know where Sierra Bob's gets his?Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Calls today

Calls today

I found out from Unitedhealthcare..that..Yes, Medicare will be my #1..Primary care....Then my call to QAS..I was told, but, now realize, she did say something about medicare wanting me to test everyweek .but another call back to Unitedhealth care..was told that Medicare could NOT tell me how many times I need to test...Bottom line. I faxed..a copy of my Medicare card to QAS..to be in their files for my next order..I say, next..because I ordered 25 more today from QAS..before I started my calls and before June 1.. ...Time will tell. on my next order...whether Medicare will pay for them or not...Unitedhealth Lady said, if not, she feels sure they will... Since they have for 3 years...... Talk about Do we have any members..on Medicare...that order their cuvettes from QAS????Or.if anyone from QAS..that help out with my questions..feel free to post. Bonnie

 

[Blanche]

Bonnie:
If you want to have Medicare pay for your anticoagulation, then you must go by their rules...and there are many of them. As Marty said, you do not own the machine. You would get another machine to use. They REQUIRE, no if, ands, or butts...that you test weekly and call in your results to a designated place. Also, you don't decide when to get your supplies, they do. And, they won't send you a supply of 25. I believe, but could be wrong, that they send a months supply at a time. That is why I suggested that you have some on hand. Al and I pondered the Medicare for a long time and decided that we would be better off paying for the supplies ourselves, keeping his ProTime monitor which we also got and paid for with the help of Brian Woodard, and having Al's doctor monitor his anticoagulation. If you go with Medicare, you call in your results and leave a voice mail. If you need an adjustment, someone calls you back. For me, that's like dealing with a ghost in a machine. My control needs may be showing here. But, I do believe that it is important to have a medical relationship with the person who is regulating anticoagulation. Al's doctor knows him well and is able to customize Al's treatment.

I contact Medicare every year to see if there are changes in coverage. My last call was in February. They advised that if Al wanted to have Medicare cover him for anticoagulation, we would have to follow all the rules in place. They also advised again that they do not cover just supplies. It's the whole deal of nothing. Al has so many problems that we just could not and would not be comfortable dealing with all of the possible problems and more red tape. Our budget takes a hit, but for us it is well worth it to avoid any hassles.

Best wishes for success in what ever you choose.

Blanche

 

[PJmomrunner]

I don't envy you having to figure out how to manage your anticoag through Medicare, but it sounds like you've got some help.

I just wanted to congratulate you on the new grandkids! Thought I'd also let you know that my son had a new classmate who was adopted from Russia in October of his 4th grade year. She arrived speaking absolutely no english and was completely fluent by the end of the school year. I thought that was absolutely amazing!

Congrats again!

Marty..I'm about to join you for Medicare. I'm running a little low on my cuvettes....and will need to order some more soon....so..Will I have any conflict..who will pay first. Medicare or United healthcare. I have filled out all my forms for Medicare..due June 10th...I would love to hear from QAS...before I order more....They are great to ship them the same day..but, I do not want any surprises..when the bill comes in.... Unitedhealth care has always paid 80% and QAS puts the other on my credit card. Help..I didn't think I would get this old sooooo soon. Should I call Unitedhealthcare or a Nursing Home.. Hey..I just became a NEW Grandmother of 2 beautiful Grandchildren from Russia I don't have the time to worry about the Small stuff..and by the way..How did they (Government know I was going to be age 65 Thought I had lied a lot. } bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Blanche

Blanche

Thank you for telling me about Medicare....so, I will NOT wait before I need cuvettes..With the new shipment coming in..and what I have left..I have a few months..before I call UnitedHealthCare again..and tell them. I feel sure that Medicare will not pay for them.....Will they?, ect...If NOT...I will pay for them on my own...NO WAY..I will change. I know that Al has to check more than me..due to his stroke......$325.00?for 25 cuvettes will be fine with me.....That is about 6 months for me.....My Cardio nurse and I are best friends. I call in my INRto her every 4 weeks. She calls me back the same day........... ..No blood draws, no waiting, no NOTHING...Hometesting is Great. Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Pj

Pj

I'm sure you have seen the bumper sticker that says..Ask me about my Grandkids? They have been home now for 8 weeks......Drew, my Grandson is almost all English ..Age 3 years and 9 months..So Smart... Granddaughter..age 21 months..All English and a great joy to everyone..Daycare workers, ect..Never cries..Loves to dance, ect..Laughs all the time.... ..I thank God every night for their Caregivers in Russia. They were in the Orphanage for the last 1 1/2...years..They are Bio siblings...We are so blessed... Bonnie