Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ruth on October 4, 2012 at 8:54pm

Hi everyone,

Just found this group...nice to see there are some of us seniors pumping.

I've been on a pump for 10 years now, but when I hit 65, I had to go through all the tests to get Medicare to cover my supplies. One tip if you're going to be taking the C-peptide: make sure your blood sugar level is fairly low when you have the blood drawn. High blood sugars will affect your C-peptide and you'll test too high to qualify for the pump. Don't ask me the science...someone did tell me, but I just can't remember the details. Suffice it to say that on the morning of my first test I woke up high, took the test, and flunked it. When I retook it with a BG of 90, I passed with flying colors. I think Medicare requires that your C-peptide tests at below 1.5, and I tested the second time at 1.2.

The other thing that Medicare requires is a one-month log proving how many times a day you're testing your blood glucose if you want more than 4 strips a day. And they require you to submit a new bg log every six months. I test 8-10 times a day, and they finally approved me for 8 times a day. I think they took the lowest common denominator, as there are times when I need to test the 10 times, but they didn't approve that many.

Good luck with Medicare - I don't think Medicare itself is that much of a problem, but Medtronic seems to have some difficulties billing them, and they've screwed up my orders/billing several times already. I actually had to get Medicare involved to straighten out one bill (got a really super rep at Medicare...much nicer than the ones I was dealing with at Medtronic.)

Ruth

Permalink Reply by Carole on October 17, 2012 at 1:39pm

I also have a question regarding Medicare since I start Nov 1. Where do you order your pump supplies. From reading this discussion it appears that Medtronics is covered by Medicare but people are not necessarily happy with the service they receive. I have gotten the recommendation of 'Neighborhood Diabetes' from another group I am on, but thought I would check here to see where people order supplies and if they like their supplier.

Carole
LADA for 36 years, pumping for 16 years

Permalink Reply by Lou A on October 17, 2012 at 3:20pm

I have been on the pump for about five months. When I called Medtronics to ask about the pump and medicare they referred me to Liberty medical. I have not had any problems with Medtronics or liberty medical since I started. Liberty even went to bat for me because I needed the monitor to alert me when my GB gets low.
Between medicare and my gap ins. I have had no out of pocket expenses.

Permalink Reply by Carole on October 17, 2012 at 7:22pm

By the monitor do you mean CGS - if so you are the only person I have heard of who has gotten that paid for by Medicare. Who do you have Gap Ins with and do they or Medicare pay for the CGS (if that is what you were referring to)

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