22 Comments
Do you pay completely out-of-pocket (not processed through any insurance) for any of the following? Select all that apply.
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Not Applicable as I live in the UK where all of my diabetes-related medical supplies are paid for by our NHS (National Health Service), which is financed via direct taxation from all working people.
Other because I bought Baqsimi before COVID lockdown because I was afraid no one would be available to answer a desperate 911 call from my wife. I live in what was then a hot spot- but not now, because we have had effective local and state leadership, unlike many states. People here understand that a mask is a public health tool , not a political endorsement. Baqsimi was not covered, so I bought it. Peace of mind is of great value.
My job may pay poorly but we have the best insurance. Relatively low copays, no deductibles, so far everything I’ve needed has been covered…
Test strips, since use of the Dexcom G6 obviates the need for them. Really? Ask the question sometime of T1D’s of what do they do when one or many sensors fail. (っ＾▿＾)💨 Also, pay for cotton balls, alcohol, skin wipes, alcohol pads, glucometers, trips to the MD, parking, tolls, glucose tablets. The insulin technically cannot be labeled “completely out-of-pocket, but the co-pay is so prohibitively high that it might as well be . . . . . . 😭😭😭💰💰💰
I’m on Medicare (an Advantage plan) so my CGM supplies are covered 100%, and my pump supplies are 80% covered. I haven’t had to buy test strips for years as I had a huge oversupply (from old insurance). The last time I purchased a new pump it was only $200 so pleased with that. My highest cost has been insulin (again, an 80% coverage for a very high priced medication), but the new law limiting it to $35 will help there.
Express Scripts is my PBM so they are problematic with strips. They only allow OneTouch Verio which is garbage. I’ve been buying Choice strips from Amazon and they are the same price.
All my supplies are either covered by insurance or able to pay for with FSA except for alcohol swabs.
I am fortunate to have good coverage on pump and CGM supplies but “peripherals” like alcohol, tegaderm, emergency glucose and tape are out of pocket. I once tried to get reimbursement for pump batteries but was told that only the amount exceeding the over-the-counter price was covered.
For a while after changing health pans (we moved) I paid out of pocket for my Dexcom. I had been Dexcom’ing for years and really valued evverything about it. After about 3 years, the new health plan covered Dexcom. I pay out of pocket for meter and strips. Can’t use the meter covered by health plan (reads higher than actual on people with chronic anemia – that is disastrous – correcting high bg’s I wasn’t experiencing).
I live in a civilized country, Italy. Like most European countries, health items are paid by National Health Service, that is by all taxpayers. In this way, health care is not a privilege for affluent people.
I did a couple times in 2020 for pump supplies & G6 sensors because the supplier I chose to use through my Medicare Advantage Plan messed up my orders repeatedly and I was left with nothing for months. So out of pocket via Tandem on a limited fixed income.
Glucose tablets/smarties or other hypo supplies, yes for supplemental alcohol/syringes for pump problems, supplemental test strips.
I pay out of pocket for barrier wipes, overlay patches, alcohol wipes, etc. Insurance covers everything else.
Glucose meter test strips. I have a CGM Medicare and supplemental won’t pay. Also I purchase glucose tabs, alcohol wipes, IV prep pads, and clear dressing film to make my own over patches when needed
Thankfully my insurance pays for all this
For several years I paid for my sensors but I got coverage when Medicare approved the Dexcom CGM. Right now strips are not covered because of the Dex G6 I use them only occasionally and I ’m still using supplies I had from before. Dexcom is providing the overlay patches for free. You just have to call them and request them (packages of 10 each) monthly.
I suppose N/A means No to all? That’s what I chose.
Lately I found that I could get test strips on Amazon without prescription and totally out of pocket cheaper than I could with my copay at the pharmacy. I will be changing to pharmacy by mail which may be cheaper but not sure about the test strips.
I checked other because all of the products mentioned are covered completely or in part by my insurance. I have original Medicare plus a United healthcare supplement. At first when I started the G6 a year ago apparently Medicare was not covering strips anymore according to Dexcom. A little later in the year they indicated that they would send me some test strips for free. Then I changed my supplies to come from United States medical mail order, And they are also able to send me at least 200 test strips every three months. However if I want the contour next test strips I buy them out of pocket At Amazon because those are not part of the formulary’s.
I pay out of pocket for Baqsemi with a RX at CVS, and I get Skin Prep and IV3000 patches for pump use w/o a RX directly online with Amazon Prime. Everything else related to insulins, pump and cgm supplies is covered by my insurance.
All of the supplies and visits listed are covered by my insurance. I chose other as there was not a no. N/A meant to me I did not need these. I pay for prescribed polyethylene glycol 3350 completely to help with digestion/constipation. If this is not used my appetite and food intake is null.
I don’t use my meter that much, so it’s less of a hassle to just buy the strips and pay out of pocket.