[Diabetes-Talk] Oh insurance mess!

[TALey at ups.com]

Jamie, 
Keep working on it, you will eventually get used to the new Vibe menus too, I'm sure. 
Quick question, are you using the Dexcom 4G or the 5G? I'm using the 5G and can calibrate my Dexcom twice a day right through the Dexcom G5 Mobile app on my iPhone.
Tom


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 3:21 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jamie Gurganus <jamielgurganus at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Oh insurance mess!

Veronica,

      I'm so sorry to hear this.  I think you should appeal this decision, since it is the only pump that is the most accessible for the blind.  After
18 years of using Accucheck pumps, I was forced to find another pump when Roche decided to stop distributing their pumps in the U.S.  After visiting with my diabetic educator, playing with the three available pumps and finding the Diabetes Talk site to ask other diabetics who are blind, I came to the conclusion that the Vibe was the best option.  I also use a Dexcom, but I don't have it paired with the pump.  I like using the iPhone Share app that allows me to know what my blood sugar is.  Pairing it with the Vibe would be useless for me and would mean that I would have to input blood sugars in to both the Dexcom and pump to calibrate it twice a day.  I'm lucky that my kids are accessible every morning and night to put a blood sugar in to the Dexcom, and I didn't find a need to also use the pump for a receiver.  My insurance company did not have any issues with me getting a new pump, since my Spirit pump's warranty had expired a year ago.  I did have to provide a month's worth of blood sugars showing that I tested at least four times aday.  Isn't that crazy?  Anyway, I sure hope you can appeal and argue your case for the Vibe.  It really is a shame that insurance would keep you from obtaining the only pump that a blind person can use with limited sighted assistance.  I'm just two weeks  in to using my Vibe, and I'm still struggling to learn how to do what I used to do so easily on my Spirit.  I am fortunate to have two teenagers living with me to help me when it doesn't do what I wanted it to do.  But, I can easily give myself a bolus using the audible bolus feature.  Even though the Vibe doesn't have audible beeps to let me know that I've depressed a button, the buttons do make a slight click sound once you press them.  So, that part is nice.  It is just learning how to blindly navigate a whole new set of menus.

Good luck, and please consider appealing the decision.  You shouldn't have to go back  to injections after being on a pump.

				Jamie


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 1:04 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Oh insurance mess!

Hi everyone!
I just found out that my insurance company denied coverage for the Animas pump. Oops! This is what's wrong when the patient isn't involved in filling out any of the forms. I had tried to get the Vibe and I'm pretty sure that they denied the coverage because of the Dexcom half of the pump, which I wouldn't need. Hahahaha, you fools, I already have it. But my endo couldn't lift a little finger and say on the forms that I had the Dexcom and wanted this pump because it was more useable by me. I can actually kind of do a correction bolus on the Vibe, but definitely not on the Ping. And forms being returned numerous times drew the process out so that I now have only a couple of cartridges left. Yikes! My endo told me just to go off the pump.
Yeah right! So now I'm trying to get supplies for my Cozmo and hope that my
50 dollar E-bay wonder hangs in there for awhile. I was really hoping to do the pump switch now, rather than in a couple of months when I'm scheduled for a surgery that will mess up my life style for quite awhile. And later this week I'm supposed to get a steroid injection which means I'll go through my last couple of cartridges faster too. 
Of course, were I sighted none of this would be going on because this isn't the pump I'd be getting. Anyway, I know there isn't anything any of you can do but I appreciate you letting me rant a bit in the hope that I might get another idea. But it's multiple factors here. Insurance companies are, well, who they are. Doctors are in a hurry and just fill out forms without attention to the person they affect. 
And the other stupid thing, ummm, ahem, this one was mine! Two weeks ago I traveled and took my backup pens with me. I accidentally left them in the hotel refrigerator. And when I called the hotel, nothing. Oops! So boy am I stuck for now. Let the fun begin. Sheesh!
Veronica


"Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
To learn more, visit:
http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
                Veronica Elsea, Owner
Laurel Creek Music Designs
Santa Cruz, California
Phone: 831-429-6407




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