[Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.

Mon Mar 11 01:58:55 UTC 2019


Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 10, 2019, at 8:51 PM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I didn't used to struggle with or be nervous about filling cartridges until I switched to Medtronic. It's been incredibly difficult and tedious for sighted people to fill them, and I have even less luck. I never had problems with Cosmo or Animas, but with Medtronic, I do, and it's not just me. Kudos for anyone, sighted or blind, who fills Medtronic's cartridges with ease, but that's not been my experience so far.
> 
> Options are definitely good.
> 
> Bridgit
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 5:53 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
> 
> Hi Jamie. All paws crossed that Humana will do the right thing and cover the G6 for you. Boy, we shouldn't have to fight this hard just to take care of ourselves.
> And I'll be happy to share the cartridge-filling wisdom with you and anyone who wants it. After all, someone gave it to me. Maybe I'll have a stab at writing it down. 
> Funny how attempts at doing something have such violent language, isn't it. Have a shot at something, take a stab at something. Boy, our language is killing me. <laughing!> Stay tuned!
> And of course, if any of us don't feel comfortable filling a cartridge or any other little thing, we sure deserve options. Diabetes management has to work for each of us as individuals, not just in a way that's easier for the clinic staff, or the way one other person does it. Okay, rant over. <grin>
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 1:40 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: Jamie Gurganus
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
> 
> Veronica,
> 
> 
> You will have to write to me and tell me how to avoid bubbles then. 
> 
> I was able to get the G6, because my Medicare was supplemented by my now ex-husband’s Blue Cross Insurance. I started being covered by Humana on March 1.
> 
>    Jamie
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 10, 2019, at 3:26 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> What I've been told is that Dexcom will start coverage in April. For 
>> G5 users, they will automatically upgrade when it's time for a new transmitter.
>> As for how I got on the VIP, honestly it was because I made so much 
>> noise and found their Medicare rep. I also got word to my local Dexcom 
>> rep and made sure my endo had all of my paperwork in. I doubt you 
>> could get on the program now because it's so close. I was told back in 
>> January that I was on the program but I didn't assume it was true, 
>> given how everything else was going.
>> And yes, the people who have been getting the G6 covered have been 
>> getting it because either they were on certain Advantage plans or 
>> their supplemental insurance covered it. I still can't believe what it 
>> was that we all waited for, though.
>> As for cartridges, I have always filled mine without assistance and 
>> when someone has looked, no bubbles. They're pretty easy to hear. It 
>> turns out to be a good thing because there's no way I could prefill 
>> the syringes for the Omnipod. I'm glad that this wasn't a new 
>> experience for me along with every other aspect of using this pump.
>> But I think anyone who wants prefilled cartridges should always be 
>> able to get them, if the pump in question uses them. Oh, and credit 
>> where credit is due. It was Ed Bryant who really taught me, over the 
>> phone, how to avoid getting bubbles. I then made some adaptations to 
>> work with the Disetronic pump and the trainers liked it so much that 
>> they wrote my instructions into the manual for all users. I actually 
>> saved that manual, which has a braille label on it saying, Thanks Ed Bryant.
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 11:26 AM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>> Cc: jamielgurganus at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
>> 
>> Thanks Bridget!  I'm hoping Midwest can still fill mine.  It sure has 
>> been nice receiving a weekly supply of cartridges for all of these 
>> years.  I keep them in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator  and 
>> just have to grab one when I need a new one.  I always have a surplus, which is nice.
>> 
>>               Jamie
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of 
>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 1:16 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
>> 
>> Jamie,
>> 
>> I used to fill my own cartridges, but I've found that with the 
>> Medtronic resevoirs, they are incredibly sensitive to air bubbles. 
>> Sighted people have a lot of difficulty filling them, so I'm no longer comfortable filling them.
>> I usually have a sighted family or friend fill several at a time. But 
>> the difficulty they all have, including my nurse educator, makes me 
>> very uneasy to do it myself.
>> 
>> Bridgit
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of 
>> Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 12:38 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: jamielgurganus at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
>> 
>> Thanks Veronica!  So, I now have coverage through Humana, since I have 
>> Medicare and needed a plan for prescriptions.  Since I am under 65, I 
>> had to go with the Humana Advantage Gold plan.  As I am contacting 
>> everyone with my new insurance information this is what I am finding:
>> 
>> Medtronic doesn't accept Humana, so I had to find a supplier that does.
>> They are currently verifying benefits and will need all of that 
>> information from my doctor.
>> 
>> Diabetes Supply Center of the Midlands where I had to get my Dexcom 
>> supplies through after going on Medicare does not accept Humana, so I 
>> am back with Dexcom.  They told me that they are allowing those who 
>> are already using the
>> G6 to stay on it, since they don't want to see us go backwards for one 
>> month or so.  I was ready to go back to the G5, so I at least had a 
>> CGM.  I could have kissed that guy for telling me this.  They are also 
>> verifying benefits and requesting documents from my doctor.
>> 
>> I'm still in the process of calling places with my new insurance 
>> information, and I am anticipating that more places will give me issues.
>> For example, I use Midwest Pharmaceuticals to get pre-filled insulin 
>> cartridges.  I've used them for 19 years, and I sure hope they accept 
>> Humana and vice versa.  I suppose I can join the rest of you in 
>> filling my own cartridges.  I started with Midwest when I was getting 
>> bubbles in my cartridges that were causing problems with the infusion 
>> of the insulin.  My kids are older now and able to check for me, if 
>> they are home.  My son may not be able to see the bubbles, since he 
>> has low vision himself.  Oh well, I'll find out the answer tomorrow.
>> 
>> My endo's nurse is probably cursing me right now, since she needs to 
>> send all of these places the information Medicare needs to get started 
>> with a provider.
>> 
>> Glad things worked out for you Veronica!  If anyone else has Humana, 
>> I'd appreciate any words of wisdom right now!
>> 
>>               Jamie
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of 
>> Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2019 12:12 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
>> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Dexcom and Medicare.
>> 
>> Hi everyone.
>> Well, Dexcom is slowly beginning the roll-out of Medicare coverage for 
>> the G6. I managed to get myself on the VIP list and just received my 
>> first Medicare kit.
>> When you place your order, they ask you 8 questions. Most of them are 
>> kind of stupid, but that's Medicare. But question 8 is whether or not 
>> you'd be willing to use the receiver in conjunction with your phone. I 
>> said no, and the Dexcom guy said I'd need to say yes here. I then 
>> asked if this was being enforced. He said it wasn't. So I lied. I sent 
>> a note to Dexcom's Medicare representative about this because I was 
>> concerned that other blind people may not know this.
>> I did receive my first shipment. Boy is the packaging cheaper. The 
>> print manual is a bunch of pages in a bag rather than a nicely bound 
>> manual. The transmitter box fell apart when I was trying to figure out 
>> where the serial number was and how to read it. And everything says 
>> all over it, Medicare Medicare Medicare. For use only by Medicare 
>> recipients. Boy that's saving money all right. Why do they have to 
>> have their name all over everything and make companies package things in separate boxes just because it's Medicare?
>> Dumb!
>> And on Friday night, my first two sensors failed. After I called, 
>> Dexcom said, we'll send out Medicare sensors. I couldn't help myself. 
>> I want Dexcom sensors. I asked if the sensors were different. The guy 
>> kind of tripped all over his words and said they weren't. I'm 
>> beginning to wonder. I hope they are. In the meantime, good thing this 
>> last sensor managed to work. Sheesh! I can't believe I paid cash for 5 
>> months while they negotiated this for a contract. Our government could 
>> have saved a ton of money if they'd just let the coverage of the G6 
>> begin when it was approved by Medicare last July. My previous sensors 
>> didn't say Anthem all over them so why does Medicare have to do this?
>> Anyway, please help spread the word about question 8. I'm trying to 
>> get people to work on fixing this but in the meantime, I don't want 
>> any blind person to be discouraged from, or denied using the Dexcom 
>> for this stupid reason. Thanks.
>> 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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>> 
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>> 40hotm
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
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>> laurel
>> creekmusic.com
>> 
>> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
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> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/jamielgurganus%40gmail.com what makes them so much more difficult to fill compared to the other ones?


     Jamie