Important News:

Effective April 1, 2002, Medicare beneficiares no longer send in claims to Medicare for blood glucose monitor test strips yourself, you must go through a medicare supplier like access Diabetic Supply. Ask your pharmacy or supplier if it is enrolled in the Medicare program prior to purchasing your diabetic supplies. If you go to a pharmacy or supplier that is not enrolled, Medicare will not pay. You will be responsible for paying the entire bill for any supplies. Please read the following for more information on Medicare and diabetic supplies coverage.

Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B?

There are two types of Medicare, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B is the program that will cover the majority of products and services for people with diabetes, while Medicare Part A covers medical care such as hospital care, hospice care, part-time home health care and some skilled nursing facility care. Medicare Part A has no monthly premium, but has a deductible for each benefit period. Medicare Part B also has an annual deductible of $100 and a coinsurance of 20% for most covered services. That means that for diabetic supplies Medicare covers 80% of their approved costs of covered items. Some of the diabetic products covered are the following: blood glucose monitor, blood glucose test strips, lancets, lancing device, control solution and insulin pump supplies. Insulin and syringes are not covered by medicare.

Medicare Part B and diabetic supplies?

Simply put, if you have Medicare Part B, you are covered for various diabetic supplies when you get your diabetic supplies from access Diabetic Supply. This is true whether you have type 1 diabetes (taking insulin) or type 2 diabetes (not taking insulin). Medicare Part B covers the same supplies for people with diabetes whether or not you use insulin. Again, this coverage will pay for a glucose testing monitor, blood glucose test strips, lancet devices and lancets, and glucose control solutions. The amount of diabetic supplies are set by your doctors recommendation on how many times per day he would like you to monitor your blood glucose levels. That is to say, you are eligible to receive as much supplies as your doctor deems as medically necessary. If you consistently change this blood sugar testing amount or receive a large amount of diabetic supplies (test strips and lancets), Medicare will put the claim to review to ensure that the amount of test strips and lancets adheres to your medical doctors recommendation.

Medicare and Diabetic Services?

Diabetic Services: If your doctor thinks you are at risk for complications from diabetes, you are covered for diabetes self-management training. Medical nutrition therapy services are also covered for people with diabetes (or kidney disease) when referred by a doctor. These services can be given by a registered dietician or nutrition professional and include supplies and diet counseling and therapy services to help you manage your diabetes. Starting January 1, 2002, Medicare covers glaucoma screening for people with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma.