Everything You Need To Know About Insulin Pumps
Everyone needs insulin to live. Insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies use and store the food we eat. People with Type 1 Diabetes no longer make insulin and have to give insulin in order to sustain life. People with Type 2 Diabetes don’t use their own insulin well, and over time can have trouble making enough. So, all people with Type 1 diabetes and some people with Type 2 diabetes need insulin. When people give insulin injections, they may take 1-2 injections of a long acting insulin every day and 3+ injections of rapid acting insulin for meals and snacks. The typical person with Type 1 Diabetes could take anywhere from 4-7+ injections a day. Many people currently give insulin through an insulin pen or a syringe. But, there is another option, an insulin pump. An insulin pump delivers rapid acting insulin in two ways. First, the pump is programmed to give you insulin every hour throughout the hour referred to basal insulin. Basal, think “base,” is the insulin your body needs even in the absence of food, it is also referred to as background insulin. This basal rate replaces the long acting injection that you take. Second, is bolus, this is the insulin you take for food or to correct a high blood sugar. If you get basal and bolus confused, think “bowl”, as in you eat out of a bowl, to help you remember bolus is for food. Once you are on a pump, all insulin is delivered through the pump and shots are no longer necessary. Components There are a few things necessary to make a pump work. When a pump is shipped to someone: they will also need to send infusion sets, reservoirs, and possibly batteries, depending on your pump. Let’s talk about each component. Infusion Sets An infusion set is the part that is actually inserted into the body and has tubing that conn Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Should I Get An Insulin Pump?
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the facts Key points to remember An insulin pump can free you from a strict regimen of meals, sleep, and exercise, because you can program it to match your changing schedule. After you learn how to work with a pump, it can make living with diabetes easier. But it takes some time and effort to learn how to use the pump to keep it working properly and to control your diabetes. Using a pump includes checking your blood sugar many times a day and carefully counting the grams of carbohydrate that you eat. Using an insulin pump can keep your blood sugar at a more constant level so that you don't have as many big swings in your levels. People who use pumps have fewer problems with very low blood sugar. Many insurance companies cover the cost of insulin pumps, but they have strict guidelines that you will have to follow before they will pay. Continue reading >>
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Is My Test, Item, Or Service Covered?
How often is it covered? Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) doesn’t cover insulin (unless use of an insulin pump is medically necessary), insulin pens, syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, or gauze. Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) may cover insulin and certain medical supplies used to inject insulin, like syringes, gauze, and alcohol swabs. If you use an external insulin pump, insulin and the pump may be covered as durable medical equipment (DME). However, suppliers of insulin pumps may not necessarily provide insulin. For more information, see durable medical equipment. Your costs in Original Medicare You pay 100% for insulin (unless used with an insulin pump, then you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible applies). You pay 100% for syringes and needles, unless you have Part D. To find out how much your specific test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or other health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like: Other insurance you may have How much your doctor charges Whether your doctor accepts assignment The type of facility The location where you get your test, item, or service Continue reading >>
Health Insurance And Diabetes
Almost everyone with diabetes has a run in with health insurance concerns at one time or another. A quick search of "diabetes" and "insurance" brings up hundreds of forum topics with people talking about their insurance woes. Most people with diabetes either have insurance that won't cover enough of their diabetes needs, like test strips, labs, and doctor's visits or don't have insurance to help at all. If you have insurance, how do you get them to give you the coverage you want and need? If you don't have insurance what other options do you have? There are a couple of things you can do to help insurance maneuvering go smoother and weve listed some of them below. Weve also included some helpful links for further reading. Your physician and diabetes healthcare team will help determine what you need for good control. Be sure to obtain any referrals that may be needed to see specialists, such as an endocrinologists or internist or diabetes educator who specializes in glucose control and handling of diabetes complications. From their suggestions, you want to check with your insurance company to see what they cover, which brands they cover, and what amounts they cover. Find out if you have to visit certain pharmacies for your supplies. Your copay may be lower if you order your medications and supplies by mail. You should ask about test strips , insulin, medications , lancets, syringes, insulin pumps , continuous glucose monitors and any other supplies your team suggests. Also, ask if they reimburse for cash purchases from companies that don't accept insurance payment. Most insurance companies cover insulin pumps and supplies. The pump companies will help you through the insurance process if you contact them. Visit our Current Insulin Pumps page for links. Some insurance com Continue reading >>
Insurance For Insulin Pumps
What proof of ownership and value do they need? How long will it take to send out a new pump? If you claim, will it increase your home policy in subsequent years? Our policy not only includes theft and accidental damage, we also cover loss. This is for the pump and any handsets you may have. Whether it is a pump you have had for a while or a brand new pump, our cover will protect you. If your child is the user, we also have no age restrictions. We now understand pump manufacturers will often lend you a pump if you are away on holiday or business so long as you insure their pump. We automatically cover these pumps at no extra charge if your main pump is already insured with us. This is great value since whilst the loaned pump is not being used it is much more likely to be lost or stolen. So long as you are a UK resident, we also cover the pump for up to 90 days worldwide whether for business or holiday. Our policy can be purchased online, we only require the make and serial number of the pump. We do not need any proof of ownership or a valuation for the pump. We collect premiums by direct debit since this is much cheaper than by credit or debit card and we want to keep costs down. You should carefully review the policy documents to make sure the policy suits your need. You can always call or email us if you have any questions. Check out all of the details of who we are in the footer. Insurers are regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority. This insurance is underwritten at Lloyds of London. This also means that you receive all of the normal insurance protections such as being able to cancel at any time. This also means that you receive all of the normal insurance protections such as being able to cancel at any time. Our claims handling team understand what an insu Continue reading >>
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Diabetes Health Coverage: State Laws And Programs
Diabetes Health Coverage State Laws and Programs Diabetes Health Coverage: State Laws and Programs This is a policymaker and consumer guide to state insurance mandated coverage, Medicaid coverage and state-sponsored diabetes programs. It was published 2011and updated material was added January 2016 All state law diabetes mandates and minimum coverage requirements for state-regulated health insurance policies. The tables include the enacted state laws passedsince the firstmandates inCalifornia (1981) and New York (1993). Use links below to go directly to state-based information: State Medicaid diabetes coverage terms and conditions. All Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) diabetes coverage. Contact information and an overview of federal funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to state-sponsored diabetes prevention and control programs (DPCPs). DPCPs represent the front line in battling diabetes in most states. An overview of other state activities and initiatives, such as creation of diabetes coordinator positions in the executive branch to fight diabetes. Federal Health Reform.The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) signed March 2010, has led to changed and expanded coverage termed "EssentialHealth Benefits." Newly Released: NCSL Survey:Diabetes Drug coverage: A new survey of2016 Insurance Plans in 50 states, examining 1) patient access to the scores of diabetes drug treatments and2) results in the 46 states with laws mandating or offering diabetes coverage. NCSL original research, published summer 2016. [Read the report] December 2015: " Diabetes: Addressing the Costs; A 50-State Budget Survey for FY 2014 ." NCSL released its latest diabetes report, taking a closer look at programs and budget appropriations that play a role in con Continue reading >>
Insurance - Typeonenation
Assess your current health insurance plan and new options (e.g., family plan, college plan, employer plan, and healthcare.gov). How do I know whether my plan has a coverage policy? Medicare, Medicaid and many commercial and health exchange plans list their coverage policies on their websites. Some plans make them available to members or participating physicians by request. If you are unable to find your plans coverage policies online, contact the plan by phone and ask the customer services representative for a copy of the policy. If they cannot provide you with a copy of the policy, ask them about their plans coverage of the item or service youre interested in (e.g., continuous glucose monitor (CGM), insulin pump, CGM and pump combinations, sometimes referred to as sensor-augmented pumps or artificial pancreas device systems). You may also ask your physician or his or her staff to inquire on your behalf. Where do I look on the plan website to find coverage policies? Coverage policies are usually listed in the Coverage or Medical Policy section of plan websites. For certain plans, you may need to establish a username and password and then sign into the Members Section to view these pages. After locating my plans listing of coverage policies online, how do I find the specific policy that discusses the item or service Im interested in? Once in the coverage or medical policy section of the site, use the search feature to locate a specific policy. Useful search terms to locate policies may be: diabetes supplies, CGM, continuous glucose monitoring, blood glucose monitoring/testing, insulin pumps, insulin delivery, artificial pancreas, APDS, and durable medical equipment. Some polices may include the actual name of a product. In some cases, the policy containing CGM or insuli Continue reading >>
Unitedhealthcare Chooses Medtronic As Preferred Insulin Pump Provider, Starting July 1
By Adam Brown and Kelly Close Insurance company UnitedHealthcare has chosen Medtronic as its preferred insulin pump supplier, starting July 1, 2016. Once the policy goes into effect, adults (18+ years) with United insurance will only be covered for a new Medtronic pump – eliminating patients’ ability to get a Tandem, Animas, or Roche pump. (As we understand it, Insulet is excluded from this decision.) The policy does not apply to children 18 years and younger, or to United Sierra Health, Life Commercial, and Medicare Advantage plans. Read the full details here (page 7). If you are currently on a non-Medtronic pump and have United insurance, this news has no immediate impact. Your pump supplies will be covered as long as your pump is under its four-year warranty and still functioning properly. Once your pump goes out of warranty and/or breaks, however, you will be required to switch to a Medtronic pump. If you currently have United insurance and plan to switch to a non-Medtronic pump soon, you will need to: (i) change to a new pump before July 1; (ii) change insurance companies; or (iii) work with your provider to convince United that a non-Medtronic is best for you (generally, this means filing an “appeal”). If you currently have United insurance and do use a Medtronic pump, or you plan to get on a new Medtronic pump soon, this news might bring faster paperwork processing, less administrative hassle, and potentially lower co-pays (United has not confirmed this). To be the only pump offered by United, Medtronic presumably offered a meaningful price discount. In this case, we’re not sure if any of those savings will be passed on to patients (all plans are different, but we haven’t been able to learn anything from United). Exclusive agreements are very common i Continue reading >>
Insulin Pump Therapy
Insulin pump therapy can give you the better control you want for your lifestyle.1, 2 Technology for Joy & Jake What Is Insulin Pump Therapy? An insulin pump is a small device about the size of a small cell phone that is worn externally and can be discreetly clipped to your belt, slipped into a pocket, or hidden under your clothes. It delivers precise doses of rapid-acting insulin to closely match your body’s needs: Basal Rate: Small amounts of insulin delivered continuously (24/7) for normal functions of the body (not including food). The programmed rate is determined by your healthcare professional. Bolus Dose: Additional insulin you can deliver “on demand” to match the food you are going to eat or to correct a high blood sugar. Insulin pumps have bolus calculators that help you calculate your bolus amount based on settings that are determined by your healthcare professional. Buttons to program your insulin LCD screen to show what you are programming Battery compartment to hold 1 AAA alkaline battery Reservoir compartment that holds insulin A plastic cartridge that holds the insulin that is locked into the insulin pump. It comes with a transfer guard (blue piece at the top that is removed before inserting the reservoir into the pump) that assists with pulling the insulin from a vial into the reservoir. A reservoir can hold up to 300 units of insulin and is changed every two to three days. An infusion set includes a thin tube that goes from the reservoir to the infusion site on your body. The cannula is inserted with a small needle that is removed after it is in place. It goes into sites (areas) on your body similar to where you give insulin injections. The infusion set is changed every two to three days. An infusion set is placed into the insertion device and wi Continue reading >>
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Insulin Pump Insurance
Country guides for people with diabetes travelling abroad Browse test strips and get online VAT relief Join 250,009 people in the Diabetes Forum If you qualify and get hold of an insulin pump on the NHS, you will be expected to insure it. Insulin pumps are expensive items and whilst you may be able to insure your pump under your home insurance policy, its best not to make any assumptions. For those whose insulin pump is not covered under an existing insurance policy there is a UK company that specifically offers insulin pump insurance. Insulin pumps typically cost between 2,000 and 3,000 so it would be very risky to choose not to insure your pump. If a pump develops a fault and the pump is within its warranty then the manufacturer should cover the cost of repair or replacement. However, a number of other problems can occur such as: Accidental damage - e.g. being dropped or trodden on Being lost - e.g. in transit on holiday or when removed to play sport Being stolen - this has been known to happen Is there a specialist insurance policy for insulin pumps? A UK company called Insurance4InsulinPumps comes recommended and offers to settle claims quickly. Is my insulin pump covered by my home and travel insurance? It is possible that home and travel insurance may cover your pump but as it is such an expensive item, not all insurers will cover it. If your home insurance covers your pump, you will need to check which eventualities are covered, such as whether incidences at work or otherwise away from home are included. How much should an insulin pump be insured for? The NHS generally recommends that insulin pumps are insured for 3,000. Which type of insurance policy should be chosen? Ideally, look for comprehensive cover to ensure theft, loss and accidental damage are included Continue reading >>
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Asknadia: Getting Anthem Health Insurance To Cover Medtronic’s 670g Insulin Pump Supplies
This column is a request from people and families living with Type 1 diabetes, that is dealing with an insurance company that refuses to adopt industry standards, by paying for insulin pump supplies like their competitors for a medical device upgrade. The upgrade from the Medtronic 630 G insulin pump and supplies to the 670 G pump, offers no additional cost to the insurance company. You can support your fellow Type1’s by calling and emailing the press people from both companies; requesting a resolution for the long list of families who are caught in an administrative snafu which is not being addressed. The Anthem press person is Olga Gallardo and you can reach her at 818-201-5682 and the Medtronic press person is Janet Kim and you can reach her at 818-403-7028. Dear Nadia: Anthem is the only national insurer not covering the new Medtronic 670G system, which is a major step forward in diabetes management. As you may know, Medtronic promoted the system through its Priority Access program, which urged families to pay nearly $4,000 from their own pockets to get the 670G system first. Because Anthem refused to cover the system, Medtronic now won’t ship the 670G systems to these families who purchased the system because Anthem won’t cover the supplies needed for the system. Medtronic requires a letter from Anthem saying it will cover the supplies – a request that Anthem customer service reps and supervisors don’t even understand because the 670G is not on their formulary. Families usually just go through the appeals process to get Anthem to cover the supplies, they can’t: They have no denial of coverage because Medtronic won’t ship them the 670G system. With no new system, there are no new supplies and no denial to appeal. Whether Anthem subscribers can get the Continue reading >>
Access To Medications, Devices And Supplies & Your Rights
What is Diabetes Canada’s position on access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies? People with diabetes should have timely access to medication, supplies and medical devices that can improve their immediate quality of life and that may decrease the likelihood of future interventions which are often more costly and less effective. Federal, provincial and territorial governments should commit to the development of an effective formulary system (or systems), which is (are) mindful of products providing the best outcomes based on sound medical evidence and which do not create additional barriers to access. New products with proven efficacy should be listed in a timely fashion. Read Diabetes Canada's full position statement on access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies, including background and rationale. What is Diabetes Canada’s position on the cost of diabetes medications, devices and supplies? Federal, provincial and territorial governments should commit to a strategy such that the cost to the individual of diabetes medication, supplies and medical devices, as well as the costs associated with diabetes-related complications, are not a barrier or a burden to managing the disease. Read Diabetes Canada's full position statement on the cost of diabetes medications, devices and supplies, including background and rationale. Will my diabetes drugs and supplies be covered? Whether you are covered by a private, employer or public health plan, you cannot assume all your drugs and supplies will be paid for. Each provincial, territorial, private, and employer health plan has its own “formulary” of medications and supplies, which is a listing of drugs and supplies covered by the plan and on what conditions. Do I qualify for public drug coverage? Provincial Continue reading >>
Insulin Pump Vs Home Owner's Insurance
View Poll Results: is your pump covered on your home owner's insurance do you have an insurance policy for your insulin pump? i'm not talking about medical insurance or manufactur-covered repairs. this would be for lost, stolen, run over by a car, etc. D.D. Family T1 since 1991. Both children (13 and 11) also T1 Im in the UK but when I rang our home insurers to say the children were now using pumps, I was told the policy covered the pump without my having to pay any excess. Some people over here have had to pay a small extra premium on their household insurance to cover their pumps. D.D. Family Adult-onset Type 1 since 11/2008 Having the Omnipod, the PDM itself costs less than my homeowner's deductible. The 5 months of pods they sent me, on the other hand, are quite expensive. I'll have to double check that they're covered in case of fire or theft. I'm getting visions of crazed out-of-work pod people breaking into my house to steal supplies. Having the Omnipod, the PDM itself costs less than my homeowner's deductible. The 5 months of pods they sent me, on the other hand, are quite expensive. I'll have to double check that they're covered in case of fire or theft. I'm getting visions of crazed out-of-work pod people breaking into my house to steal supplies. I have a zero deductible for my pump as a listed item. Deductibles for listed items are diff than the reg policy. The other reason for having it insured is it will be covered if I inadvertantly break it, loose it, or misplace it. I have it on our jewelery umbrella - it's a few dollars a year and covers replacement if I drop it in a lake or leave it in a park. D.D. Family T2 for 24 years, pumping 3/07/07,no complications Coverage was not available from my insurance, at any price. Mine is covered for a few dollars extr Continue reading >>
Does Health Insurance Cover An Insulin Pump?
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism (the body's way of digesting food and converting it into energy). There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications. Continue reading >>
Indiana State Department Of Health
Indiana Insurance Indiana Legislation of Diabetes Insurance Coverage Medically necessary treatment for diabetes, including medically necessary supplies and equipment. For example, blood glucose monitors, blood glucose test strips, insulin, syringes, insulin pumps and accessories and oral diabetes medications. Diabetes self-management training, which includes: One or more visit(s) after receiving an initial diagnosis of diabetes. One or more visit(s) if it is determined by a physician or podiatrist that there has been a change in your condition or that a change in treatment is medically necessary. For example, you have been able to manage your diabetes with meal planning and now must begin oral medication or insulin. One or more visit(s) for re-education or refresher training ordered by a physician or podiatrist. Anyone with diabetes (insulin or non-insulin using) and elevated blood sugar as a result of pregnancy or other medical conditions. Must be covered by insurance, Medicaid or the state health plan to qualify. If unsure of coverage, contact your employer's human resource department to verify coverage. When does coverage take effect? Coverage for IC 27-8-14.5 takes effect when your insurance policy is renewed. 1998 Legislation. Do I need a prescription? Written order from a physician or podiatrist for medically necessary supplies, equipment and/or self-management training. Self-management training must be provided by a licensed health care professional who has special training in diabetes management. What to do if my claim is denied? Verify you have appropriate documentation to get reimbursed (i.e., physician order). Ensure your health plan is not self-funded (which would not be covered under this bill). Resubmit your claim with a letter of explanation regarding you Continue reading >>
