Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sue MacLennan on August 9, 2010 at 5:05am

I just creeped your profile and if you're still in Toronto, you won't have to pay for a pump. :)

The "Assistive Devices Program" in Ontario pays for insulin pumps for T1 diabetics as well as a $600/quarterly (every three months and you'll need it) payment for supplies. I've had my pump for almost two years now. You have to have an endocrinologist and diabetes education centre. I go to the one at Trillium.

To answer your question, $6,500. But don't buy one if you don't have to! :) If you or anyone else reading this thread wants to email me, please feel free! bxrgurl@yahoo.com

Permalink Reply by Sue MacLennan on August 9, 2010 at 5:08am

I also meant to mention that there is no "means test" for this funding. You don't have to have a low income to qualify. Everyone is covered!

Permalink Reply by Jeleis Nolan on August 9, 2010 at 8:30am

Lol I wish they had that in Alberta. We have to pay for it because they consider it a "luxury item". Luckily I am one of the very very few here that have insanely awesome coverage thru pacific blue cross and every penny of anything diabetes related is covered, including travel expenses. Not many here are that lucky. Any parents I know in Alberta have had to pay 100 percent of their childs pump because the healthcare here considers it a "luxzury item". Funny how they consider a life support machine "luxury".

Permalink Reply by chirag k mehta on August 9, 2010 at 8:56am

so your whole expense is being taken up by the insurance company. so for that you must be paying high premium on your insurance.....is it a private insurance company ?

Permalink Reply by Jeleis Nolan on August 9, 2010 at 11:36am

We don't pay a penny. We used to have to pay Alberta healthcare but they took that away January 1st(I think that was date not positive tho). Our company's head office is in BC and so our insurance is thru them. The job pays for itself with all the money we save on prescriptions and supplies. When pump time comes we already looked into that and it's 100 percent covered as per Pacific Blue Cross and we don't pay ANYTHING. We are very lucky and with two diabetics if we didn't have that kind of plan then we would be absolutely broke every day. We pay about 600/month and my youngest isn't on insulin yet because he is at very beginning stages of diabetes. We just monitor sugar and test 8 times a day once a week. Once he is on insulin I imagine it will spike to about 900-1000. Not sure how someone would personally get on that coverage but it is worth looking into. Our plan works that for prescriptions we have to pay then send receipts in and on Dentist/ eyeglasses/ anything else we have to find company that direct bills, which hasn't proven very hard. I just wait till my check from last supplies comes in to go get more supplies. Works good.

Permalink Reply by chirag k mehta on August 9, 2010 at 2:32pm

sounds good its really helpful for you. diabetes is really a disorder which cost you more than anything else...... :)

Permalink Reply by Nakita on August 9, 2010 at 6:21pm

Can anyone apply for this insurance? I am with Manitoba Blue Cross.

Permalink Reply by Sue MacLennan on August 9, 2010 at 3:35pm

I really hope ALL provinces get with the program here! Insulin pumps ought to be considered essential for T1s but also T2s who are on injections! Ontario doesn't fund pumps for T2s yet but I hope they do soon...

Permalink Reply by Nakita on August 9, 2010 at 6:20pm

I hope coverage comes for T2's as well. I am on an insulin pump and it cost me 7500.00. I got mine last August and I live in Manitoba. I am paying them on a monthly basis, which is very good of them, but at 156 and change it is still steep. Pharmacare and Blue Cross cover 80% of the supply cost. I have tried everything to control the diabetes, not endo thinks I'm a 1.5 type. I was on intensive injection program but that didn't help either. The pump is helping but I think I need more twicking and understanding of how it all works. Nice to have found a Canadian site.

Permalink Reply by Jeleis Nolan on August 9, 2010 at 8:45pm

what is 1.5 type? are you type 2? What is the intensive injection program? I thought all diabetics are on intensive injections except insulin resistant type 2's? Is there a type I haven't heard about, if so I would love to learn more about it. You kinda peaked my interest.