HCC for anaphylaxis

[ChubStar]

I was wondering if anyone knows if we would be eligible for a health care card due to DS1 anaphylaxis allergy. We currently get Carers Allowance and a HCC for a previous condition, but I am about to cancel it as the condition no longer affects him. I would like to keep the HCC however as it means his epi-pens are $5 for 2 instead of over one hundred.

[youngones]

Hi - I'm surprised - I thought that if a kid had diagnosed ana, they got epi pens on the PBS, which should make them no more than around the $25 mark?? I don't know this for a fact, because DD isn't eligible for epi pen yet, but we got adrenaline ampoules on authority script and only paid about $14 for 10ml (her dose would be .65ml of 1 in 10,000 dilution).

I work in the industry and was under the impression that epi pen was now an authority script, so is covered under the regular PBS provided your doctor (not sure if a GP can do this or if it has to be a specialist who gets the initial authority) applies for the authority and while it isn't as cheap as a HCC, you should never have to pay full price for it.

I'd be asking your GP or paed/allergist about an authority script!!

[ChubStar]

Thanks for that info. I have always had a HCC so never had to ask about PBS etc. I just noticed on the epi-pen box that the full price is $185 or something like that. I just assumed that would be the price I would have to pay. DS1 is being re-tested next month so I will ask then about the authority script.

Thanks

[Hokey Pokey]

Well we don't get a hcc and DD 1 has anaphylaxia and we have paid anywhere from $30 - $100 for an epi pen depending on different chemists/states.

[youngones]

Fingers crossed, but I am sure you shouldn't have to pay full price, particularly if your DS's condition is being managed by a specialist, paed or allergist. Good luck with your next test - ours isn't until DD is 12mth and we're hoping she's one of the really lucky ones who grow out of ana, but given some recent reactions to food, we're not really confident.

[ChubStar]

Thanks. DS1 is turning 3 and was diagnosed after an ana reaction when he was 14 months. By the time he turned 2 he had grown out of his egg allergy (which had a worse reaction) but still reacted severely to dairy. I don't think he has grown out of his dairy allergy yet, but fingers crossed.