I was told to not use Tresiba , but only use fast acting in a pump. was not told I had to even have any, on hand, but I do
Yeah, only rapid in a pump, but it’s important to have long insulin available if the pump fails. Oh and syringes, even if the long is in pens syringes are necessary to get rapid out of a vial.
I think it was @Eric sage advice to always carry a syringe because you can draw out insulin from a cartridge if the pump fails. Hard to properly maintain but good until you get home.
Having worked a lifetime with electromechanical devices, I never put full trust in them.
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Thanks for the helpful tips, but I’m only been a week on the pump so not sure how I’m gonna abide it
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I have been on traditional Medicare with a supplement since 20153, and on a Medtronic pump. .I am presently on Insulin Aspart in the pump. Ever since the $35 insulin law went into effect, I have had problems getting my 30 month supply of insulin for $0 cost. The pharmacy has been telling me that Medicare is the one who sends it on to my supplement, and others tell me that it is the pharmacy who does that. I have had to pay the pharmacy the $105 for my 3-month supply. Which is it? They do send it through Part B in DME, but insist that its’s $35 per month, even in DME. I’ve been frustrated for a couple years now, and it’s time to order again. I have never had to transfer prescriptions, but I might need to do something. If I do, what do I do first to transfer to another pharmacy? (I have been on both Novolog and Humalog in previous years in the pump, so it doesn’t really matter.)
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Oh, yes - and I have talked to Medicare over the phone, and each time I explain whatt I need, they know NOTHING!!
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Not all pharmacies participate in DME for insulin - and even pharmacies that do participate sometimes just bill through Part D because it is simpler for them. It sounds as if your pharmacy isn’t submitting your prescription through Part B and it may be necessary to make a switch.
It’s never easy!
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yes they do- my receipt on the bag says DME Part B. And the total due is always $105 for the 3 month supply (on very RARE occasions, it WAS $0 total. They are now telling me that they don’t send it on to my Medicare supplement - that is supposedly done by Medicare when they receive it. And call Medicare, and they are CLUELESS!
I am ready to transfer to another pharmacy! Can you tell me what to do to do that?
Thanks in advance!
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The easiest way to transfer to a new pharmacy is simply have your providers write new prescriptions and send them over. After the new pharmacy has you set up, you can tell the old pharmacy that you’ve made the switch.
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Thanks! I must say, this will be my very first time I transfer a prescription, believe it or not!
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The Juicebox Podcast (episode 1652) had an episode about this with someone who is actively working to keep Levimir or a new equivalent available.
She’s got good reasons (I think) why we should we all care even if we don’t use it currently, and I was surprised to learn we could potentially help influence getting a new equivalent manufactured.
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All true. But I have also several times transfered a prescription by going to the new pharmacy, telling them where my existing prescription was, and what medicines it was for.
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Well, they have to offer you a long acting and a fast acting insulin for the $35 per month each. I thought they had to give you 2 choices, but I am not sure about that. Most Part D suppliers you can appeal to for other brands not on their formulary if your doctor says you have to have it and why. Sometimes they require you try the one they carry first. I have done that in the past and it was before the $35 cap and before Medicare and it did get okayed but it cost more at a higher tier. Instead of $40 for a 3 month supply it was $100. The plan I have now has dropped Humalog, my preferred brand, and I am being told I can appeal it. Which I plan on doing.
The fast acting insulins are different, they use a different chemical make up with the insulin. So some people react differently and some are even allergic to some of the additives. Some people say they are the same, but they aren’t. Because of the different chemical make up, some people can react differently. Apidra seemed to work fine for me during the day but caused me to have huge drops at night and Novalog has more of a tendency for me to drop at night too. Novalog takes longer to work for me overall. That is not true with a lot of people, a lot of people prefer Novalog over Humalog. Lyumjev worked well on me, although after about 6 months it became the same as regular Humalog, my endo said that seemed to be a common complaint with her patients that tried it. Fiasp from the 2nd dose was like injecting water. I can use Novalog, I just don’t prefer to because it seems to have enough of a difference in absorbability to throw me off.
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@jgbar1950 As someone said, not all pharmacies will deal with part b. But also a lot of pharmacies don’t want to deal with billing 2 separate entities. It’s what I have run into. There is a pharmacy here that will cover it under part b and bill Medicare but refuse to bill my supplemental. I have to do it separately. One thing that drives me up a wall is the hospital here. Two surgeries I had they had to give me insulin, because insulin is a daily drug, they won’t bill anything but part a,b and my supplemental and because I use insulin daily it falls under a different category.. But they won’t bill part d. So I get a bill for use of a vial of insulin and have to bill the paid invoice at a cost of $180 for a couple of doses and then show proof of payment to my part d supplier and I get reimbursed.
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The guys I’ve talked to at the CMS (Medicare is subcontracted to the Federal Government, a special operation called the CMS) are certainly very helpful but certainly don’t know anything about the details of the CMS codes and billing.
So, yeah, I agree, they are clueless in the sense that they don’t have a clue, but that’s not their fault. They, the individuals, really do their best but they are less able to deal with the intricacies of dealing with insurance coverage for Diabetics than anyone on TuD or FUD. Ironically we are the experts.
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CMS stands for Center for Medicare Medcaid Studies. (I have worded there as an it consultant) It is the federal department that runs Medicare and Medicaid. Part of Health and Human Services(HHS). I’m on Medicare and get my insulin for free under durable medical devices. I agree that the CMS call center can be difficult if you don’t know what questions to ask.
I have good luck with Walmart pharmacy once i reminded them that it needed to billed as durable medical devices. Talk to your current pharmacy and if they can’t get it right switch.
Good luck🍀
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