Suggestions for low cost checkups?

I normally have my PM checked every 6 months, but it has been over a year now and I really need to get the battery level checked, if not just for my peace of mind.

Short story is my wife, son and I are living with the inlaws while I look for work, and have no income to pay for a PM checkup.

Any ideas to help me through this tough transition? Once I secure a job as an RD, the hospital insurance should cover it, but who knows how long it will be until I find a job!!

Thanks in advance to all for taking the time to reply.

6 Comments

true...

by gkannon77 - 2012-01-16 01:01:53

I had a cardiologist but we moved after finishing school. SO now I am looking for either a cardiologist, health department or some facility that has the ability to test my PM.
Mind telling me the cost for just the interrogation?
Maybe I can call a cardiologist here and ask for just that.
Although there will be all the initial visit fees etc...

Thanks for the idea.
I wonder if Medtronic has any agent or reps with suggestions. Hmmm.
Any other ideas?

checks

by Tracey_E - 2012-01-16 07:01:02

I don't see the dr when I go for a pm check, just the St Judes rep, and $275 is billed to my insurance.

Medtronic has reps that do the checks, but only through a drs office or hospital. Last resort, most any emergency room can do it, but that's obviously the most expensive way.

Can you get Medicaid in the short term? Good luck getting insurance and new coverage!

Call in device

by idoni - 2012-01-16 11:01:47

I have a device where I can call in from home or any land line... ask if they can set you up that way, and then if there is an issue, you can go from there... the device was free to me. I have a meditronic pacemaker...

idea..

by sam78 - 2012-01-16 12:01:51

I'm not sure where you live however.. even though you havent seen someone in a year are you still "in" with a cardiologist? I ask because you might call their office and see if you could just get your pacemaker interrogated instead of actually seeing the doctor. Where I am, I can go for a pacer check up and if there is a problem then I would have to see the doctor but if my readings are fine then I just get charged the interrogation charge which is MUCH less than the doctor fee!!! Just an idea.

Hospital PM Check

by Ginnysmom - 2012-01-17 04:01:29

I would suggest you call your nearest hospital and find out if they do pacemaker checks. Recently I was performing some work at a hospital and had an incident in which I wanted to have my pacemaker checked. I was out of state, so I contacted the head of the cath lab department and he arranged for Boston Scientific to come in for me. There was no charge for this check. However, if there is a charge from the hospital for this service, tell them you're a self pay patient without funds. They may ask you to apply for medicaid, and if you are denied then they can cover your charges with a financial assistance application. If you are not denied medicaid funds, then you'll have some breathing room for your entire family. The financial assistance application, i.e. charity, allows the hospital to legally absorb the cost of the check up. Situations like yours are exactly what these funds are set aside for at every hospital in the country.

Makes sense

by gkannon77 - 2012-01-29 06:01:39

Ah, good points.
275$ is more than I have in my account, as embarassing as that is to admit. But hopefully they wouldn't charge me the medicaid price.
I contacted a cardiologist in the area, and they said they would call me back, of which they have not.

The telephone unit was given to me at discharge, but I never used it: (see my earlier thread where I asked for input on the device and cost- it was predominantely a negative experience it seemed, so I returned it)

I will contact the cath lab and see what they say. I applied for medicaid prior, and was denied. Now, however, I have married and had our first child.
My 13 month old son is on the Florida medicaid program, called the Sunshine State Health Plan, so hopefully that will make a difference now.

Do you think that will make a difference, should I reapply?

Thanks for all the support folks, I will reply here when I find a solution as to provide helpful info for others in similar situations.


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