scott.kat131

Hello ,

I am a 29 year old type 1 diabetic , I have been a type 1 diabetic for 20 years.

I am coming to Australia in December to start a 12 month working visa with the hope of staying a second year. I am slightly worried about what costs I may face being a type 1 in Australia. Does anyone have any idea of the costs involved or can give any advice.
I have two types of Insulin:

Lantas -Glargine
Nova Rapid - Aspart

On top of this I use an Accu-chek mobile with the testing cassette's

Like I say any advice on what costs I will face will be of great help. Also where do I stand on bringing a years supply of insulin with me to ?


Thanks
Scott

Shellyj

No idea about costs but I've heard people talk about these sites to get subsidised equipment.

http://ndss.com.au/en/About-NDSS/Who-is-eligible/

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

You should be ok bringing in the medicine. I took six months worth of epilepsy meds & customs just asked which country I had got it from and if I had a prescription.

alexleeson

Scott

I am diabetic and take lantus and humalog. I am not sure about novolog availability but its the same as humalog anyway - just different makers.

As long as you are British (or other entitled citizen), then Australia takes good care of you.

All you do is get a temporary visitor medicare card. This gives you access to local prescriptions. I pay around $35 for each insulin type each time I get it. If you aren't entitled to a medicare card, then it will be very expensive indeed.

You can only get prescriptions through a GP/endocrinologist and they usually only give one repeat. Its a pain to have to go to the doctor every time $50 cost usually (you get back about $30) - unless you can find a 'bulk bill' doctor where you don't pay anything.

You need to register with National Diabetes Services Scheme to get a card that gives you free needles and discounted accucheck strips - accucheck mobile cassette is about $14 for pack of two. Lancets and antibacterial wipes are at your own cost. Blood tests can cost you $100+ a time and GPs make you do it 3/4 times a year.

Under medicare, you also get 5 free check ups (nutritionist, podiatrist etc) every year.

Not sure how it is in UK - but finding an endocrinologist and getting an appointment - good luck. There is a real dearth of specialists here. I have not been to one for three years because I had to cancel once, and then couldn't get an appointment for another six months. Also, my appointments were less than 10minutes and pointless. You can't even see one privately. But if you get a good GP, then its great.

The other thing to consider is that you are at the mercy of medicare for everything related to diabetes as your private health cover will not include anything related directly to diabetes.

Also to note, I was able to get permanent residency as a diabetic - though I was sponsored by an employer. So if you happen to like living here, it won't pose a problem.

I'd bring a three month supply with you and sort the rest when here.

I made the mistake of bringing a big 6 month supply and in my first month, there was a power outage in summer (it was 45 C.) for five/six hours and everything went bad.

Well I hope this information helps.

Regards
Alex

Gems

Hi,

Regarding medical insurance and Diabetes. This applies if you are Permanent (not sure about temp visa)

My daughter has Type1 Diabetes.
We have a Accu Chek Insulin pump provided by private insurance. (We use HBF but any of them will cover the same)
I pay regular payments of $28 single cover for her and got a pump that costs $8000 after 6months with them. They will also give her a new one in 4years time. (when warranty runs out)

Private insurance will cover you for Diabetes like all other existing conditions there is a 12month waiting period.
However insurance companies have deals with pump companies so we got our after 6months.

I was told by HBF that no health insurance can turn you down in Australia. They have to accept all medical conditions you just wait out the 12months before you can claim.

We have also found the opposite regarding public doctors in WA its been excellent.

Mediswabs are cheap and available in box of 200 at all chemist shops.

I recommend this website for Australian info and talking to fellow diabetics:
http://www.d1.org.au/


Generally we have been impressed with Diabetes care here in Australia.

* If you ring the Australian companies such as Accu-Chek you can often get freebies. eg we got a free mobile meter.

Good Luck
Gems

moneypenny20

When your doctor is doing the bloods form, always make sure they tick the bulk billed box. Most are on the ball and do it automatically, some don't think and you get hammered.

Dreamy

I agree with that - I've never been charged for any blood tests, never mind the HbA1C blood tests.

Gems

We have never been charged for a any blood tests either.
Cant believe anyone would pay $100+ for a blood test
One of my kids had a very specialised test that is rarely done and that was still free.

Gems

Petals

My daughter has juvenile diabetes since whe was 11 and we never had private health insurance. She was looked after by a pediatrician and the hospital until she was 15, then she went to the adolescent diabetic clinic at the hospital until she was 25 where she saw a top specialist, and all other ancillary people. She always got subsidised equipment as its part of the NDSS scheme. All her treatment till 25 was free. Her paraphernalia is still subsidised and she can still go and see the diabetic educator any time she likes.

We chose not to have private health when she was diagnosed because when in hospital they charge gap insurance for a lot of the tests they carry out whereas in the public system its all free. The day she was diagnosed she was put into hospital. If she has gastro or anything like that she goes to emergency and they are wonderful look after her no probs, all free.

Unfortunately she also has brain cancer and all her treatment for that has been free too.

In my view private hospitals are fine for knees and elective surgery but for more serious conditions public all the way.

I have my friend's son to back me there and he is a consultant.

alexleeson

I should have clarified that on a reciprocal medicare card - blood tests are not included. Once I got permanent residency and got the complete medicare card, it was free.

carolinephillips

Some tests are not covered by medicare- I had some genetic testing for coeliac disease, and it wasn't covered, nor was one of my daughter's tests for familial high cholesterol- again, a genetic one. I was stung with the bill about a month afterwards.