[Diabetes-talk] getting started with Medicare

[Joy Stigile]

Hi Alan,

I called Medicare for my suppliers. I never tried to do it on line.   I took down just the first four names for each.  I found only two companies actually carried my testing supplies and one of the companies never returned my calls.  The first company I called about my Insulin gave me quick service and carried my syringes, so, I am ordering from them.  You will be charged the same price no matter which company you pick.  Though, I would try to pick one that is in your state because the shipping time is shorter.  I never had that option but you might.  I don't think you will be able to get all of your supplies from one company.

Warmly, Joy


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As a new Medicare enrollee, I'm looking for guidance on the best way to set
up my diabetic supplies ordering for minimal ongoing effort before asking my
endocrinologist for new prescriptions. I want to do everything with a mail
order provider since online ordering and mail delivery is so much easier. I
would also prefer to only use one mail order provider to make things easier
for my doctor for submitting the prescriptions for my diabetic supplies and
other medications.

 

I use an insulin pump so as I understand it, all my diabetic testing
supplies as well as my pump consumables and insulin will be covered under
Medicare Part B. I also have supplemental MediGap and Part D drug plans
through AARP and UnitedHealthcare.

 

Since the mail order provider used by the AARP Part D plan is OptumRx, I
assume I'll need to check them out for my diabetic supplies coverage if I
only want to use one provider. Is the easiest way to do this through the
Medicare website? I have an online Medicare account already set up. I'm just
not familiar with where to go to find the available mail order pharmacies
which are enrolled in Medicare and which accept assignment. I'm coming from
the employer group insurance world where everything was done with one
supplier and users had to set up online accounts with them and I'm trying to
duplicate that in the Medicare world. I assume that once I've settled on a
mail order provider, that I'll need to go to their website and set up an
online account.

 

Any recommendations on how to accomplish my goal will be greatly
appreciated. If anyone has advice on what to avoid or why what I'm
considering might not make the most sense, I'd welcome that too. I know one
of the first orders of business is to ensure that my supplier stocks the
test strips and insulin pump consumables I use. I just need some direction
on how to start researching this online.

 

I apologize for the cross-post to more than one list but hopefully there is
not much subscriber overlap. Thanks in advance for any guidance that you can
provide.

 

Alan Lemly

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