Australia treatment

Hi Franseeley,

I can't help you with your query but you could try emailing Diabetes Australia who may be able to help, here is their website:

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

Franseeley said:

Hi all!

New to this and hoping someone can give me some advice!

Looking to move out to Australia on a year working visa. As I'm from the UK I understand I can sign up to Medicare which provides me with subsidised treatment. However I am struggling to work out the cost of the diabetes products with the subsidy? I use humalog insulin cartridges for quick acting, and lantus for my basal. Plus I presume the cost of testing strips. Does anyone know how much these items cost on the Medicare system?

Thanks


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Have a look here:

http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/NDS ... NDSS/FAQs/

http://www.d1.org.au/starter-kit/how-mu ... -cost.html

Hey there,

I am just wondering how you managed to get on with this? My boyfriend is type 1 diabetic and requires insulin 4 times a day, were hoping to go to Australia for a year on the temporary work visa.

I have contacted Diabetes Australia and they said he is covered by the reciprocal health care scheme and should get discounted prices for his insulin and testing strips. But, I havent managed to find out if he is definitely eligible, how to apply and what the costs actually are so we can factor them in!

Any advice is welcomed!

Thanks

Hey,
I am Australian so I can help you out with some questions. I'm not sure how things work in the UK so I'll explain it from scratch. I'm not 100% sure on how you go about registering with Medicare. In order to get the discounts on any products you need to register for the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS). This is done through a state Diabetes organisation. That processes doesn't take too long. I'm not sure how it would work for you but for Australian's our GP has to fill in a little part. I did know someone from the UK that just had to supply a copy of their passport and that was enough. I would try contacting a state Diabetes organisation, like Diabetes WA, as it's them that will be doing the actual registration and they are generally friendlier. If you can't get answers I can make my own enquires for you.

I use the Accu Check Mobile and pay around $14-$15 for 100 strips. I think other Accu-Checks are about $7-$8 for a box of 50. I haven't used other brands recently but I think they are all similar in price. You can purchase as much as you want. Most pharmacies will give it to you, they may limit you depending on their stock level.

All needles are free. To get discounts on insulin you have to be registered with Medicare. You need a script from a GP to get any insulin, discount or not. I can only talk for what I'm on; I'm on Levemir and Novorapid penfils. Here you get 5 boxes with 5 vials and that cost around $40.

Other products like ketone strips of any sort are not covered but both the test or the urine strips are about $15.

If you do join Medicare you can get rebates back on your doctor’s appointments. A standard appointment with my GP is $70 but I get around $37 back. I just saw a new specialist and the first appointment was $250 but I got $220 back. To see a specialist you will need a referral from your GP in order to claim it.

Hopefully I've helped in some way. If you want to know anything else feel free to ask.