Early replacement of battery pack

I am reading a question by another member asking whether Medicare will replace the battery of her/his Pacemaker early. I'm pretty much in the same boat....my battery is at the end of it's life. I had my regular pacer check two weeks ago, I have 3-12 months left on the battery. We have a Summer home in Washington State that we go to starting in May, normally returning in late October. My Cardio is going to request Medicare to allow an exception, but I'm not holding my breath that this will happen. I don't expect "special" treatment by Medicare, they have a set of rules regarding this procedure, and I'm willing to stay at our Winter home, which is where my Cardio doctor is, until the battery trips. With the responses that I'm reading to other persons inquiry about Medicare replacing the battery before it has tripped, I'm guessing there isn't anyone out there who has had Medicare agree to replace the battery early.

2 Comments

Early replacement of battery pack

by Sunnydaze - 2014-04-22 12:04:14

Thanks for your comment Dizzy. I'm not in the Elective Replacement period yet....the Cardiologist estimate is 3-15 months until that happens, I have NO doctors up in Washington, and since we hope to sell our Washington Summer home this year, I don't want to search out doctors. I should have done that years ago, but the lazy days of Summer keep us busy, and it was the furthest thing from my mind. Everything I read says that UNTIL I go into the Elective Replacement mode Medicare won't replace the battery, does anyone know if that's correct? This will be my first battery replacement, what are the symptoms when the battery does go into Elective Replacement mode? I've heard it makes an audible sound, is this right? I have a Medtronic dual lead device.

Did some homework

by Sunnydaze - 2014-04-24 08:04:53

I talked at length with two reps from Medicare. Until my pacemaker kicks into elective replacement it's just a waiting game. My Cardio has been a little laid back, in my opinion, with my pacemaker care...he isn't the doctor who did the implant, that was done in So. California. I have a Medtronic Carelink monitoring device, I've asked several times to have it set up, I was told that would get done, so far, three years later, that hasn't happened. I did speak with my Cardio's nurse after I talked with Medicare yesterday, she was going to relay my message, and concerns to my doctor. I will follow up if I don't hear from him. I don't want to get caught in a situation where my Cardio replaces the battery, but Medicare won't pick the bill.

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I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.