Diabetic Seniors » Medicare Part B

Medicare Insurance

DiabeticSeniors.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Many seniors have specific questions or concerns about what their medicare insurance really means in terms of their ongoing diabetic care. The good news is that as of January 2005, changes in medicare insurance have made it more convenient for seniors and those with part b medicare plans (medical coverage) to receive better coverage for both the daily and the annually needed items and tests that will help them better manage and monitor their condition.

There are many necessary self-testing diabetes supplies covered by your medicare insurance, and these will include glucose monitors, glucose test strips, lancets, and supplies to determine the accuracy of your monitors (standard deductibles, co-payments and certain limitations will apply). Your medicare insurance will cover the same type of supplies whether or not your condition is insulin dependent, though the amounts for these supplies will vary. You can also qualify for therapeutic shoes and insulin pumps within the terms of your medicare insurance, so it is best to know the full extent of your specific coverage and its limitations.

You will need to consult your doctor to work with you while you look into the coverage offered by your medicare insurance, for written assessments and specific prescriptions from your doctor can often mean more supplies for you. The diabetes coverage allowed within established part b medicare insurance has improved over what it was in past
years, bringing good news and more necessary supplies to seniors living with a diagnosed diabetic condition.

*Source: www.medicare.gov

Please be aware that this page on medicare insurance is meant for informational purposes only; please consult a physician for more specific questions pertaining to individual cases.

How to Qualify for a Free Blood Glucose Test Meter

editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:41:42 +0000

If you’re diabetic and either eligible for Medicare or already enrolled, you can qualify for a free blood glucose test meter. Here is what you have to do:

Be eligible for a blood glucose test meter under Part B Medicare
Sign up for blood glucose testing supplies through a mail order medical supply company

Being Eligible for a Blood Glucose Meter under Part B Medicare

The key to qualifying for a free blood glucose test meter is to qualify for a test meter under “Durable Medical Equipment” in Part B Medicare. Because Medicare covers blood glucose test meters, you might wonder why you shouldn’t get one using your Medicare coverage. The reason is because Part B Medicare covers only 80 percent of the cost of the meter. And before that 80 percent coverage kicks in, you have to pay your annual deductible ($135 in 2009). By paying 80 percent, you’re hardly getting a free blood glucose test meter.

But qualifying for a meter under Part B Medicare is the first step in getting a free blood glucose test meter.

Signing Up for Blood Glucose Testing Supplies through a Mail Order Medical Supply Company

The competition is keen among the mail order companies that provide blood glucose testing supplies. To get your business, many of them offer you a free blood glucose test meter as an enticement. As you probably know, good test meters can be expensive — and this is just the kind of free blood glucose test meter the medical supply companies are offering. Each company offers different brands of test meters. The choices run from ACCU-CHEK® Aviva Compact Plus, to Lifestyle One Touch® Ultra® 2 and Ultra® Mini, to Bayer Contour®, to Breeze® 2. Some companies also offer their own free blood glucose test meters. But these aren’t cheap test meters. They are actually brand-name ones but with the name of the medical supply company on it instead of the manufacturer’s.

Signing up for blood glucose testing supplies and getting a free blood glucose test meter is easy because most of the medical supply companies have an online presence. So you can sign up without even leaving your home.

So now you have a free blood glucose test meter and blood glucose testing supplies, but you still have to pay 20 percent of the cost for the supplies. The good news: There’s a way that you can get your blood glucose testing supplies for free.

How to Get Blood Glucose Testing Supplies for Free

It’s true that Part B Medicare covers only 80 percent of your blood glucose testing supplies. But Medicare also offers Part D, which provides prescription coverage. Most of the insurance plans available under Part D will cover most or all of the remaining 20 percent of the blood glucose testing supplies you need for your free blood glucose meter. So the math is simple: 80 percent + 20 percent = 100 percent!

The blood glucose testing supplies covered by Medicare include:

Blood glucose test strips — 100 a month for type 1 diabetics and 100 every three months for type 2 diabetics. (Type 1 and type 2 diabetics may qualify for more under certain circumstances.)
Lancet devices — 100 a month for type 1 diabetics and 100 every three months for type 2 diabetics. (Type 1 and type 2 diabetics may qualify for more under certain circumstances.)
Lancets — one every six months.
Control solution for testing your free blood glucose monitor.

So sign up for Part B Medicare and examine the companies that provide diabetes medical supplies. Then pick out a company that offers the best monitor and the best service for you and get a free blood glucose test meter. They’ll even send in the paperwork to Medicare and your insurance company for you!

Diabetes Medicare

DiabeticSeniors.com — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:55:00 +0000

Many seniors have questions regarding their diabetes medicare coverage and what to expect as far as costs and allowances. As of January 1, 2005, your diabetes medicare coverage might include 100% of the costs of two diabetic screenings per year, as well as some other helpful services and supplies to better monitor your condition. For people with established diabetes and full medicare coverage, your diabetes medicare might include up to 80% of the approved medicare cost for glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets (after meeting the yearly Part B deductible).

In addition, your diabetes medicare coverage can be used to help you receive additional training on how to achieve better self-management with your established diabetic condition, teaching you the value of careful diet and exercise, as well as helpful ways to monitor your situations and blood levels. To receive this training, diabetes medicare will require the request of a doctor for each individual, and it might include up to 80% of the approved medicare cost (after meeting the yearly Part B deductible).

You are encouraged to discuss your individual concerns and situation with both your physician and your medicare administrator, ensuring that you get the greatest benefits from your diabetes medicare coverage. Living with diabetes is certainly made a little easier by investigating and using all the benefits offered by your diabetes medicare plan.

*Source: http://www.medicare.gov

Keep in mind that this diabetes medicare article is meant for informational purposes. Please
consult a physician about your individual case.