Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community 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 Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Yes, Edgepark. They are covered by my primary insurance, Medicare, and my secondary insurance, Empire New York State United Health Care insurance programs.
I order through pharmacy. I use the Omnipod 5 system and the DASH system previously. Using the pharmacy has saved me quite a bit of money and is much easier to facilitate an order.
I wish I could order mine through DME but Omnipod 5 is by prescription only costing me $500 per year in expenses. When it was under DME I paid nothing.
I was considering switching from Tandem to Omnipod but changed my mind quickly when I learned it was a considered a prescription (and would cost me money out of pocket) and not DME (which is covered by my insurance).
My Insulin Pump infusion sets are almost the ONLY things covered by my Pharmacy Benefits when ordered through CVS/Caremark mail order pharmacy, but despite their website giving me prices and my having obtained my infusion sets through them for nearly two years, if I call CVS/Caremark Pharmacy, their phone staff will absolutely insist that they can neither obtain or sell any Insulin Pump supplies, yet they DO stock and provide my Tandem Autosoft XC infusion sets with a $70 copay for 90-day supply.
I had to select “OTHER” since I can get my Insulin Pump infusion sets through my Pharmacy Benefits from CVS/Caremark, but I need to order my pump cartridges directly from Tandem through my DME benefits.
Beginning this year, my Omnipod supplies are available through my pharmacy benefits. CVS Caremark supplies them. I order from a DME provider for my Dexcom supplies.
We don’t call them Durable Medical Equipment suppliers in Canada, so I don’t really know how to answer the question. I have to order mine through Diabetes Express, a specialty pharmacy that acts as Tandem’s distributor in Canada.
I get my Dexcom G6 that way currently, but I order my pumps and insulin through a military pharmacy (I retired and got dx’d afterwards). If/when I switch to G7 I may see if I can get them thru the pharmacy as well.
When I was diagnosed with T1D 5 years ago my Endo suggested using SOLARA Medical Supplies. In the first year the service was up and down but then they got their act together and now they are very efficiently about sending supplies. I get Tandem pump supplies and also Dexcom sensor supplies from them. I am on Medicare. I buy my test strips wherever the price is good. Lately eBay has been my go to.
Mostly no problems. There have been screw-ups (shipment of cartridges but no insertion sets) and delays (failure to realize 3 months had passed since previous pump supply order, shipment of a Dexcom transmitter 4 days after previous one stopped working).
I order directly from Medtronic/MiniMed, but they are paid for by our NHS (National Health Service), which is financed via direct taxation of all working people who earn more than a threshold as put out by our Government. (I live in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.)
Since Insulet has not been able to get the Omnipod defined as DME under Medicare regulations, they now tell everyone how great it is to be able to get it through Part D plans. It puts you in the donut hole about January 2nd AND means that your insulin isn’t covered under Part B either.
I used to get my pump supplies through a DM supplier, but that became more expensive and more complicated (less efficient and reliable) than getting it from my local pharmacy. Now, I solely get the supplies from my local pharmacy.
I switched to the OmniPod5 four months ago. It’s available thru Pharmacy benefits, so I get it a my local pharmacy. But my Dexcom G6 CGM is paid thru DME, so I’m assigned to a company that supplies that.
I have to do this with my current insurance. I hate it! On my previous insurance, I could just go to the pharmacy, but this policy doesn’t allow that. I’d take the pharmacy over mail-order any day!
Currently using Medtronic and I get everything directly from them. I am trying to switch to Tandem & Dexcom and I know I will have to use a DME supplier for Dexcom but I think I can go directly to Tandem for the pump/supplies.
My insurance has carved out some/all?DME and has Express Scripts, the PBM, handle it. So, I have to order from Express Scripts. It is a HUGE problem because they don’t understand that issues can arise occasionally so one MUST order a few more than the allotted number of supplies/day in case an issue arises and one has to throw away an unused supply . I ask my physician to order more than the normal 90 days supply so I have extras on hand – otherwise the PBM tells me “it’s too early to reorder” when I run out before day 90 and then I spend HOURS on the phone trying to get up their management chain until I can get to someone who will approve an override. It is a nightmare! I dislike having Express Scripts handle DME for this reason.
I order direct from Tandem.
Yes, Edgepark. They are covered by my primary insurance, Medicare, and my secondary insurance, Empire New York State United Health Care insurance programs.
All of my durable medical equipment is paid in full by my insurance companies.
I use Tandem X2 pump with Control IQ, and Dexcom G6 sensors and transmitters.
All of my durable medical equipment is paid in full by my insurance companies.
I order through pharmacy. I use the Omnipod 5 system and the DASH system previously. Using the pharmacy has saved me quite a bit of money and is much easier to facilitate an order.
I have always received my pump supplies from Medtronic.
I wish I could order mine through DME but Omnipod 5 is by prescription only costing me $500 per year in expenses. When it was under DME I paid nothing.
Same for my daughter, we just switched to the dash where before was paying nothing and now $40 a month cuz its considered a prescription and not dme
I was considering switching from Tandem to Omnipod but changed my mind quickly when I learned it was a considered a prescription (and would cost me money out of pocket) and not DME (which is covered by my insurance).
My Insulin Pump infusion sets are almost the ONLY things covered by my Pharmacy Benefits when ordered through CVS/Caremark mail order pharmacy, but despite their website giving me prices and my having obtained my infusion sets through them for nearly two years, if I call CVS/Caremark Pharmacy, their phone staff will absolutely insist that they can neither obtain or sell any Insulin Pump supplies, yet they DO stock and provide my Tandem Autosoft XC infusion sets with a $70 copay for 90-day supply.
I had to select “OTHER” since I can get my Insulin Pump infusion sets through my Pharmacy Benefits from CVS/Caremark, but I need to order my pump cartridges directly from Tandem through my DME benefits.
I order directly from Tandem online.
Beginning this year, my Omnipod supplies are available through my pharmacy benefits. CVS Caremark supplies them. I order from a DME provider for my Dexcom supplies.
We don’t call them Durable Medical Equipment suppliers in Canada, so I don’t really know how to answer the question. I have to order mine through Diabetes Express, a specialty pharmacy that acts as Tandem’s distributor in Canada.
I get my Dexcom G6 that way currently, but I order my pumps and insulin through a military pharmacy (I retired and got dx’d afterwards). If/when I switch to G7 I may see if I can get them thru the pharmacy as well.
My local specialist pharmacy supplies me with my DME
When I was diagnosed with T1D 5 years ago my Endo suggested using SOLARA Medical Supplies. In the first year the service was up and down but then they got their act together and now they are very efficiently about sending supplies. I get Tandem pump supplies and also Dexcom sensor supplies from them. I am on Medicare. I buy my test strips wherever the price is good. Lately eBay has been my go to.
Yes, CCS is my DME supplier.
I order through a national Scottish ordering system which then orders the supplies from the manufacturer.
Not by choice. TANDEM no longer ships direct for supplies. My current supplier is much better than the last one.
I use Byram. So far no problems!
Mostly no problems. There have been screw-ups (shipment of cartridges but no insertion sets) and delays (failure to realize 3 months had passed since previous pump supply order, shipment of a Dexcom transmitter 4 days after previous one stopped working).
I’ve had no issues either;)
I order directly from Medtronic/MiniMed, but they are paid for by our NHS (National Health Service), which is financed via direct taxation of all working people who earn more than a threshold as put out by our Government. (I live in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.)
I order directly from Medtronic
Using Medicare as a secondary insurance allows no other options. I use Edwards HCS for Tandem and Dexcom supplies.
Since Insulet has not been able to get the Omnipod defined as DME under Medicare regulations, they now tell everyone how great it is to be able to get it through Part D plans. It puts you in the donut hole about January 2nd AND means that your insulin isn’t covered under Part B either.
Re Insulin for OmniPod 5 – depends on how your prescription is written.
I have just switched to Omnipod 5 and can get both my pods and cgm through pharmacy mail order.
I used to get my pump supplies through a DM supplier, but that became more expensive and more complicated (less efficient and reliable) than getting it from my local pharmacy. Now, I solely get the supplies from my local pharmacy.
I switched to the OmniPod5 four months ago. It’s available thru Pharmacy benefits, so I get it a my local pharmacy. But my Dexcom G6 CGM is paid thru DME, so I’m assigned to a company that supplies that.
Other. I have an HMO and order my supplies directly from the manufacturers.
Local pharmacy.
I have to do this with my current insurance. I hate it! On my previous insurance, I could just go to the pharmacy, but this policy doesn’t allow that. I’d take the pharmacy over mail-order any day!
Currently using Medtronic and I get everything directly from them. I am trying to switch to Tandem & Dexcom and I know I will have to use a DME supplier for Dexcom but I think I can go directly to Tandem for the pump/supplies.
I use the Omnpod 5, which Medicare does not consider DME. So my answer is no. However, Blue Cross covers it under the mail order pharmacy benefit.
My insurance has carved out some/all?DME and has Express Scripts, the PBM, handle it. So, I have to order from Express Scripts. It is a HUGE problem because they don’t understand that issues can arise occasionally so one MUST order a few more than the allotted number of supplies/day in case an issue arises and one has to throw away an unused supply . I ask my physician to order more than the normal 90 days supply so I have extras on hand – otherwise the PBM tells me “it’s too early to reorder” when I run out before day 90 and then I spend HOURS on the phone trying to get up their management chain until I can get to someone who will approve an override. It is a nightmare! I dislike having Express Scripts handle DME for this reason.