[Diabetes-Talk] Medicare claims diabetics only need to test 3 times a day

[jamielgurganus at gmail.com]

Medicare does have interesting philosophies about diabetic care.  However,
when I was going through getting the Animas pump, Medicare needed a one
month log of my blood sugar results showing that I tested four times a day.
Since I was using the Dexcom, my diabetic educator was able to pull a report
of my results for only four times a day for them.  Medicare also does not
pay for routine podiatry foot care, which I think is crazy for diabetics.  

That is very strange about losing your Medicare.  Did you also lose your
SSDI?  They kind of go hand in hand.  You are fortunate to be able to have
secondary insurance through your husband now.  When I had secondary
insurance, I could get a three month supply of Dexcom supplies with no
problem.  

			Jamie


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 8:36 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Medicare claims diabetics only need to test 3 times
a day

This past week, I tried to place an order for my Prodigy test strips from
the pharmacy. My actual prescription is for testing 8 times a day. When I
went to pick them up, I was told that Medicare would not pay for them,
because Medicare apparently says a type 1 only needs to test 3 times a day.
I was astonished. This has never happened. It's Ludacris to claim a diabetic
only needs to test 3 times a day. Testing is the key to diabetes management
for both type 1s and 2s. Three times a day is not at all acceptable,
especially for a type 1. I have always tested about 6 to 8 times a day.
Three also does not give leniency for errors and mistakes when testing. This
is just absurd. Has anyone else been told this? I'm waiting for Dexcom G6 to
be approved. My Medicare was arbitrarily terminated last year. No one at
social security could explain why. One rep I spoke with even was so bold as
to say it should have never happened to me, and social security was not
working to reinstate it fast enough. Anyway, I was obviously not able to
reorder Dexcom supplies for the past 4 months. Now, my Medicare advantage
plan through United Healthcare has been reinstated, and I'm also under my
husband's insurance now too. I wanted to upgrade finally to G6 but it's
taking forever. Anyway, sorry, here's my rant today. I just ordered Prodigy
strips through Amazon, and it's much cheaper anyway.

Bridgit


_______________________________________________
Diabetes-Talk mailing list
Diabetes-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/jamielgurganus%40
gmail.com