Type 2 Diabetes

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Healthy Living’s Scoop on Insulin Pumps & Medicare

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Qualifying for an Insulin Pump with Medicare

If you’re thinking about an insulin pump, start by talking to your doctor to see if you’re a candidate. Healthy Living can walk you through the next steps, including what you’ll need to qualify per Medicare guidelines. People with Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes both can get pumps if they qualify using this criteria:

  • Obtaining qualifying lab results – C-Peptide & fasting glucose, tested on the same day at the same time
  • Currently testing blood glucose 4 times/day
  • Using Multiple Daily Injections
  • Having gone through a comprehensive diabetes education program

Note: If your labs don’t qualify initially, we suggest that you discuss your options with your doctor.

How Medicare Bills for Pumps  

Insulin pumps bill as a rental through Medicare for 13 months. The pump is considered your property after 13 months have passed. Medicare will cover 80% of the insulin pump for qualifying members. If you have secondary insurance, we will verify that insurance to find out if they will cover the remaining 20% of the cost.

The Process for Starting on an Insulin Pump with Medicare & Healthy Living

The Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team will work closely with you to guide you through completing your qualifying criteria as well as verifying your insurance to give you estimated out-of-pocket costs for the pump.

Once these pieces are in place and you are ready to order an insulin pump, we will ask you to fill out two Medicare forms: The Assignment of Benefits form and the Rental Agreement. These forms give us permission to bill Medicare on your behalf.

Contact our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team to find out which pumps are available. Once you are on an insulin pump, if your insurance changes or you discontinue using the pump for any reason, please notify us.

For Medicare Insulin Pump Owners

The 13-month rental period is now over and you now own your insulin pump. Your pump has a 4-year warranty offered by the manufacturer. Under Medicare guidelines, patients are eligible for a new pump every 5 years, but exceptions can be made if the 4-year warranty has expired and your pump is malfunctioning.

Contact the Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team to find out when you are eligible for a new pump, for help getting started with an insulin pump, or to learn more about pumps or CGM. You can reach them at (866)779-8512 (Option 2).

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V-Go Rules Out Multiple Daily Injections & Controls Blood Glucose for Type 2 Diabetes

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What is V-Go?

V-Go is a wearable insulin delivery device for adults with Type 2 diabetes who take long-acting insulin, want to reduce their need for injections, and are working to improve glycemic control.

How V-Go Works

The main job of insulin is to control sugar in your bloodstream and keep it within a normal range. However, if you have Type 2 diabetes, your body may not release enough insulin during the day or at mealtimes, which can result in your blood sugar being too high. V-Go provides a steady rate of insulin 24 hours a day (basal) and allows you to give yourself a dose of insulin during snacks and mealtimes (bolus).

V-Go ‘CliffsNotes’

In a short summary, the V-Go:

  • Is wearable & disposable
  • Provides insulin at a steady rate, 24 hours a day
  • Gives supplemental insulin delivery at meal and snack times when the patient clicks their device
  • Eliminates the need for multiple daily injections
  • Needs to be replaced every 24 hours with a new, insulin-filled, V-Go device
  • Uses rapid-onset insulin, either Humalog of Novolog, which the user loads into the device

V-Go from Healthy Living

Although the V-Go is not widely used yet, it can be a positive alternative to multiple daily injections, and Healthy Living can verify your insurance and provide these devices. If you are an adult with type 2 diabetes, talk with your doctor and see if V-Go could be a good fit for you. It’s another good option for managing your diabetes!

Overview of Simple Steps for Using V-Go

  1. Fill with insulin
  2. Apply to body (can be in a discreet place)
  3. Start steady-stream insulin delivery to continue throughout wear-time
  4. Click the V-Go to administer more insulin at snack and mealtimes
  5. Shower and sleep in your V-Go
  6. After 24 hours, dispose of your V-Go and start using a new one
  7. Apply it to a new site and have a great day!

See the official Patient Start Guide from V-Go for more detailed information for set-up and use.

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Telling the Truth about 8 Insulin Pump Therapy Myths

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The Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team receives all kinds of questions every day. I sat down with them to learn more about what ‘myths’ or misconceptions people have about insulin pumps. Then, we figured out the best way to explain the truth of the situation!

#1

Myth: An insulin pump is implanted in the body and requires surgery to get started.

Fact: Insulin pumps are worn outside of the body as devices and are attached to a removable site that the patient changes every three days.

#2

Myth: Insulin pumps are big and bulky.

Fact: An insulin pump is about the same size as a small flip phone or a pager (and about half the size of a regular cell phone).

#3

Myth: Pumps are permanent.

Fact: Insulin pumps are removable and can be taken off for showering or swimming, but back-up insulin (shots) must be used.

#4

Myth: With an insulin pump, there is no longer a need to test blood sugar.

Fact: When using an insulin pump, patients still need to test their blood and count carbs. It is recommended to test blood sugars at least four times daily.

#5

Myth: Someone needs to be ‘tech savvy’ to figure out how to use an insulin pump.

Fact: If you can operate a cell phone or remote control, you should be able to work with an insulin pump. Thankfully, pump manufacturers offer great customer support and training.

#6

Myth: Using an insulin pump is more painful than multiple daily injections.

Fact: Inserting an insulin pump site hurts about the same as one shot, but the site only must be changed every three days. The frequency works out to well over 1,000 shots a year with multiple daily injections (MDI), with a little over 100 insertions a year with an insulin pump.

#7

Myth: Pumps are only used for people with Type 1 Diabetes.

Fact: Many insurances cover insulin pumps for people with Type 2 Diabetes, and insulin pump therapy can be a great contribution to the work of managing T2D.

#8

Myth: Insurance won’t cover insulin pumps.

Fact: Our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team can work with customers, their doctors, and their insurance companies to help people with diabetes obtain insurance-covered pumps. Call Crystal and George at (866)779-8512 (Option 2) to check out your options.

WE LOVE TO HELP.

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