Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Related Stories
42 Comments
How easy or difficult do you find the overall process of re-filling your insulin prescription? Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Very easy as it is an automatic refill and I receive a notice on when to come and get it.
Rx refill? Easy peasy.
Actual pharmacy transaction? Dante’s 17 levels of hell. ♨️👊
17?
9 circles of hell:
1. Limbo: virtuous pagans and unbaptized children
2. The Carnal
3. The Gluttonous
4. Hoarders and Wasters
5. Wrathful and Sullen
6. Heretics
7. Violent and Bestial (Against neighbors; against self; and against God, Art,and Nature)
8. Simple Fraud
9. Compound Fraud (treachery)
The last three rings have 3, 10, and 4 levels, respectively.
I am reading Canto XXII. Not sure whether they would be in Circle 4 or 8.
Mary Dexter — My typo error. It just feels like 17.
Used to get all prescriptions from Walmart. Have a great relationship with the pharmacist and staff. Recently switched to humalog cartridges for the InPen. They don’t have them so I get them from mail order. So far all working well.
Loaded question. I use an insulin pump and became Medicare-eligible over 7 years ago. Insulin, when used in a pump is covered under Medicare Part B under Durable Medical Equipment (DME) rather than under Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage. Because of Medicare reimbursement practices, providers are paid different amounts for the very same insulin depending upon where Medicare covers it. Because providers receive a greater amount under Part D, many providers will refuse to cover insulin under Part B. (I had this experience with Publix Pharmacy here in Florida). Walmart has been covering my insulin under Part B but sometimes tries to cover it under Part D which would result in a much higher co-pay for me. For the past few years, it’s been pretty smooth sailing for me to get my insulin under Part B via Walmart….not so, several years ago. After I pay my annual Part B Medicare DME deductible ($230 in 2022) my insulin OOP is $0.
I’m still using Part D, $55 every 3 months.
My insulin comes from CVS/Caremark in the mail every 90 days. The only time I have problems is when the prescription has to be refilled after all the prescriptions run out. Sometimes it takes a while for the communication between my doctor’s office and CVS. But, overall it is “somewhat easy.”
I get mine through Walgreens because they will bill Medicare for part B insulin. Sometimes getting Medicare approval for the prescription can take quite a while. Same with the Dexcom G6 sensors and transmitters.
I used to get mine through Walgreens until Covid and loss of pharmacists and techs. Then they were unable to take the time it takes to get approval every three months from Medicare—by phone, and so long wait times. There is still a shortage where I live so I just pay no more than $105 every 3 months.
Insurance requires that we use Express Scripts for our son’s insulin. We get a ninety day supply auto shipped , but we do have to stay on top of it. “Auto ship” is not always so automatic.
Obtaining a refill from the Dr. is easy. I send a request via My Charts.
Having Walmart pharmacist fill it correctly at the right price is close to an 1 hour or more waiting at the counter. They never ever get it right.
Same. Getting script or refill from md is easy. Getting it filled correctly at the right price at CVS is near impossible😡
Kaiser sends me six bottles in cold pack box when I request it. $20. No problemo.
I put other because it depends on the situation. When I was working I had no problem at all. Since I’ve moved and with my new endocrinologist sometimes he will not refill my expired prescription until I see him. This can be quite frustrating. And also since I’ve been on Medicare it has gotten more challenging with cost
It’s difficult in that when they charge over $250 per vial! Hopefully the $35 cap will become a reality.
It’s easy as far as my provider goes. It’s always the insurance portion.
Getting insulin during my first year on Medicare was exhausting until I found a mail order supplier capable of dealing with Medicare Part B. Now the only major hassle is coping with the requirement for endo visits every 90 days in order to have Medicare coverage. With endos in such short supply, I’m very sorry to have to waste their time.
I said somewhat easy, but I have found it nearly impossible to find a pharmacy will to provide insulin under Medicare Part B. Under Part D it is costing me more than $150 per month.
The only problem I encounter (except for price) is that the insurance company keeps changing po.icy on how much can be dispensed at a time. Instead of the 3 months specified in the prescription, I am often allowed only 6 weeks worth of insulin (I was told this is because it is so expensive) and I have to return and hope that I am allowed a second dispersal in the same 3 month time frame. It always works out, but takes considerable effort energy and angst.
Filling an insulin prescription should be as easy as buying milk, once one is correctly diagnosed ( a process that still takes too long for many who develop autoimmune diabetes as adults). What makes the process difficult reflects the increasing stigma and misinformation. The worst is the mistaken belief that T1 is little kids and everyone else is T2 which can be reversed with diet and exercise. So doctors cancel or refuse to renew insulin prescriptions. Attempts are made to micromanage down to the last drop. Pharmacies don’t keep enough in stock. Paperwork isn’t filed in a timely manner.
So sad that there is still misinformation about adults developing T1D. That’s why I always say that diabetes should be treated by an endocrinologist and not a general physician. Hope is not an endocrinologist that gives you a hard time.
Yearly I have to make my dr and druggist get the right information and then usually not a problem just time consuming depending on how fast they get together.
Getting the prescription isn’t a problem, getting my insurance to cover it under Part B or D is impossible.
Does anyone understand the insulin act? Is Medicare Advantage plans supposed to cover ANY insulin for $25 a month? Even if it’s not on their formulary?
Easy once you find a pharmacy that understands DME billing.
Being old & using pump, it is free & EZ. Use CVS at Target
Refilling it is easy; paying for it not so much!
What for years was automatic has now become more difficult because my endo is so overwhelmed with patients. Getting the prescription billed correctly is a completely different story. For 7 years I was getting my insulin thru a nearby Walgreen’s because that specific pharmacy had a tech who handled Medicare Part B billing. Medicare is my secondary insurance, so it took knowledge + attention to detail to file the claims correctly. All of that changed 5 months ago when that pharmacy had a complete staff turnover and that knowledgeable tech no longer worked there. The pharmacists who had learned from her how to file the Part B claims were also gone. Very fortunately I had extra insulin and was able to search for another pharmacy. After being turned down by several independent pharmacies who don’t do Medicare Part B billing, I asked the small pharmacy at a grocery we shop at. The pharmacist said she was willing to learn the billing process as long as I was patient, Since I’m not desperate for insulin I was able to do that. In addition to insulin I switched my other 4 prescriptions and my spouse transferred 6 prescriptions. Since then, as long as the pharmacy has the time to order the Novolog, no problems. I’m grateful that pharmacist was willing to learn how to use Part B billing and was permitted to do so by her employer.
Very easy. I live in Canada so no prescription is needed. I buy it at any pharmacy.
Another Medicare recipient here. Have been using Walgreens for years, now, after striking out with CVS and all independent pharmacies about billing to Part B. Each 90 days, first order refill, then call the Walgreens medicare number, confirm what pump and date of last endo visit, wait for them to say they’ve overwritten the order, and then call pharmacy to say to bill to medicare part B. Always a problem when a new pharmacist.
Expensive (Part B) but easy
I at a loss for you comment about Medicare Part: B” (I’m on an Insulin Pump for over 55 years). For me is Zero dollars. Can’t get any cheaper.
The hard part is getting to and from a site that can fill it the nearest location is 25 miles one way and they do not ship and in the winter the roads aren’t always driveable for a car
I’ve been getting my insulin from a CVS at Target for quite a few years. The pharmacist and all the rest of the staff knows we’ll how to process my claims thru part B.
If you use a pump it is the way they should do it.
I have Medicare and a secondary enhanced insurance plan that covers the Copayment. . My nurse practitioner is very good about writing the prescriptions so that I get enough insulin. CVS texts me when it’s time for a refill.
It took me a couple of years to get the right pharmacy but it works fine now.
I get it through mail order. Sometimes the address can be difficult because we move between two different places.
None needed for Wallmart Relion Novolin 70/30….
Right now it’s easier than before because I’m using the generic brand of insulin, which is considerably cheaper and easier to refill, but I’ve had my share of troubles in the past.
CVS Caremark’s mail order app makes it easy. They notify me it’s ready for refill, I click Refill and Confirm. Done!
My only refill problem I have is when the pharmacist/doctor doesn’t put the Medicare Part “B” code on the refill. The Bill is almost $3000 dollars.
I chose neither, but what I really mean is- annoying! If our life depends on insulin, and they haven’t found a cure, shouldn’t it just automatically auto-renew unless a doctor raises the prescribed amount?
When I used Novolog it wasn’t an issue, but now that I use Fiasp the pharmacy never has it in stock and I usually have to wait a week to get a refill. Sometimes that is cutting it pretty close.
Insulin is filled through Part B Medicare. Had difficulty when using Walgreens, switched back to Walmart, no issues now, easy to refill.