[Diabetes-Talk] Just The Price Please!

Sat Jan 9 05:24:09 UTC 2021

Peter,
I mentioned in a previous post but under a different subject line that the Costco in my area which is Vancouver Washington sells the freestyle 14 day continuous glucose sensor for $60 a month. The sensors are worn for 14 days so this is for two devices per month. No scanner device is needed to read this device as you can use a Phone app. They do however also sell a External reader/scanner but it would not be accessible for someone that is blind anyway.
Patricia

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 8, 2021, at 6:38 PM, Peter Donahue via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Everyone,
> 
>    I understand that Medicare and other insurance providers will cover
> the cost of these devices. That's a given. If for some reason the insurance
> companies won't cover this for me I want to know how much I'll need to shell
> out to buy the system and replacement sensors myself.
> 
>    Since becoming entrepreneurs we fund all of our blindness products
> and services out-of-pocket and we like it that way! For us it's a form of
> temper control and a way to eliminate unnecessary middle folks and makes for
> less hassles when getting the products and services we as blind people need
> to live the lives we want.
> 
>    The desktop computer on which I'm writing this message was paid for
> with our own sweat equity not by DBS praise God! Likewise Over the past few
> years Mary bought herself a desktop and two 40-cell Braille displays.
> 
>    Humana pays for my ByPAP and my oxygen concentrators. I have both a
> home oxygen concentrator, (HOC) and a portable oxygen concentrator, (POC.)
> Without trying to go a stray to much I like to know that if for some reason
> I need to start using a GCM if the insurance company won't spring for it I
> can devise a plan to cover the cost myself and be freed from having to deal
> with excessive red tape.
> 
>    If someone can share pricing information for these devices for me
> and others that would be very much appreciated. All the best.
> 
> Peter Donahue
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Milton
> via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 8, 2021 4:07 PM
> To: 'Peter Donahue via Diabetes-Talk' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Milton <mota1252 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] FW: dexcom Cost. Why is it so secret?
> 
> Hello Peter,
> 
> If you are on Medicare you should be checking to see if they will cover the
> majority of the cost of the Dexcom G6. And, if they will cover, how much
> would be out of pocket cost.
> 
> To go on a continuous glucose monitoring system you need to be testing at
> least 4 times daily. Usually testing four times daily would mean that the
> doctor wants to see how well you are controlling your glucose levels and if
> you are having a difficult time controlling your glucose levels that is when
> they have you testing 4 times daily.
> 
> It took me over a year to get Medicare to approve me for the Dexcom G6 and
> now that I'm using the continuous monitor I'm doing better. I must say it
> beats having to test 4 times a day. 
> 
> Check with your doctor as going on a continuous glucose monitor will require
> a prescription from the doctor.
> 
> Milton
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Peter
> Donahue via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 8, 2021 3:15 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: pmdonahue2 at gmail.com
> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] dexcom Cost. Why is it so secret?
> 
> Good afternoon everyone,
> 
>    After reading about the Dexcom several nights ago I searched the
> Internet for the cost of one of these systems if one bought it
> out-of-pocket. I found pages discussing the cost but no actual amounts were
> given. It would be helpful if the manufacturers of this equipment would post
> pricing information on their Websites to allow patients who may not qualify
> for inxurance coverage to obtain pricing to best determine how they can
> cover the cost if bought without assistance.
> 
>    Since I have sleep apnea I went through this same nonsense when I
> needed to buy a nazle pillow for my ByPAP machine. When I contacted my
> insurance provider I was told that since they recently bought me a new mask
> which is what the nazle pillow is I was not eligeable for an additional mask
> for another year. I then asked about the cost of the nazle pillow if I were
> to buy it out-of-pocket as I was in need of a different kind of BYPAP mask
> and replacing it wouldn't wait. I was told that they could not give me that
> information. I hung up a very unhappy camper.
> 
>    I had a similar thing happen in 2014 when I underwent an employment
> evaluation for work at our local lighthouse for the blind. I learned from my
> counselor at the time that the cost for the evaluation was around $300.0
> something I could have paid for myself and wouldn't have had to have the
> Texas Division of Blind Services involved.
> 
>    While many folks need assistance with covering the cost of this
> equipment and services there are those who have decided to distance
> themselves from blindness rehabilitation systems as much as possible and
> cover the cost of products and services they need to manage their diabetes
> and to cover other blindness and life expenses via other channels. However
> we can't make these decisions if the information we need to make them isn't
> readily available. Why should I involve my insurance company if I'm a
> borderline diabetic and it wouldn't be covered anyway. It would be crazy if
> the Dexcom is around $100.00 for the system and a small amount for
> replacement sensors something I could cover out-of-pocket quite easily? It's
> time companies that provide medical supplies and rehabilitative services
> such as that offered by state programs for the blind make product and
> service pricing freely available to allow individual consumers to determine
> the best course of covering their cost. All the best.
> 
> Peter Donahue
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/mota1252%40gmail.
> com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/pmdonahue2%40gmai
> l.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/pmaddix%40comcast.net