I have really crappy “insurance” this year. UnitedHealthcare.
They said that pods are covered…at zero percent!
(Not sure they really understand what “covered” means!)
Under my current “insurance” (putting it in quotes, because I am using that term rather loosely), pods are not eligible as a pharmacy benefit, only a medical benefit.
Once I get to a rather hefty medical deductible, they become covered at a pretty lousy 40%. And then after a much larger deductible amount, they are finally covered all the way.
But the deductible is huge.
So I am using old pods with the RileyLink.
The one I put on 3 days ago was 2 years past expiration! But it has worked.
So I am going to go through my roughly 80 old pods I still have.
The old pod worked fine. I just have to get used to remembering to carry the RileyLink around. But it’s worked the same with Loop, so my workaround seems like something I can deal with for now.
@ClaudnDaye
I don’t want to take anything from Liam. He is much more important than I am!
But if you have ridiculously old pods that are expired, and you have plenty of Dash pods, and you are just going to throw the old ones out, I would give them a good home.
And if I get to my deductible and can start using Dash again, certainly I would repay you in Dash pods!
So far the old one is working fine. The one thing I had to remember was to be patient. After you give it a command on Loop, it takes a few seconds before it gets translated through the RileyLink and starts working on the pod.
Also, I have been putting less insulin in my pods so I don’t have to throw any away, because UnitedCrapCare did not approve NovoLog. They only approved Humalog.
I will try to get that overturned with a prior auth / appeal. But that’s a fight for another day.
I have been happy with how low I have been getting my pods lately. Like less than 10-15 units remaining when I deactivate the pod. I used to have about 30+ units leftover at the end of the pod life.
@Eric , is it possible to purchase Eros generation pods thru Costco for cash using CMPP? I know they sell Gen 4 & 5 there on a cash discount basis (no insurance). Not sure if that helps your situation or not…
@Eric Sorry to hear of the issue with coverage. Hope the Riley link holds up, do you have a standby incaase anything happens to it? I’ve read some other’s have had to search to find a replacement. Ref UHC, presuming its the same one allied with AARP, I’ve heard both good and bad about their coverage; I assume the difference is what the individual needs are and what was negotiated with them by the provider/business. On the good side, I hope the old pods continue to work for you!
@Eric I just checked and the savings are marginal at best. Time to check the black market and see who’s selling on CL and EBay maybe. There might even be some sellers/givers on Nextdoor, who knows.
If wanted, I can scrounge around here for you so your search area is larger.Just let me know the specifics of what you are looking for.
What do you think? I can take them now and just hang on to them and then return them if I don’t use them. Or maybe you could just hang on to them for a while and see what happens with my situation? And then if I still need them, I can take them?
I was thinking, having one on each floor would be helpful. You can have multiple RLs, because they are not uniquely bound to a pod like the old PDMs. So as long as any of them are nearby, it would work for me.
I put my rechargeable RL next to my bed. I am just going to keep it plugged in up there and always next to my bed, so I don’t have to worry about forgetting my RL when I go to bed! (Like if you turn on loop and go to bed, thinking everything will be fine, and then you forget to bring your RL up with you to bed. Oops!)
I started Loop just as Dash became directly linkable to the iPhone without Riley/Orange link, so no I never used the linked systems. If I recall correctly, only Dev worked directly at first…that was a big “trust” for me back then. The wife wasn’t fully in favor….”You want to do what?! Do you even know these people?!” In fact, the lack of needing an “extra” piece of equipment was a big draw for me! Good thing, as I’m getting older and forgetful!!
You still using your own modified Loop version? I tried iAPS, but got tired of trying to keep up with. I moved to Trio and am currently one of the beta testers for Trio 1.0. It’s supposed to be going to a public beta in the next few weeks.
On the pod issue, I’m about one 90 day set ahead, so let me know if the old ones you have start giving issues. We’re headed out on a bucket list cruise, so it will be awhile before I can send them!
I didn’t catch on that @ClaudnDaye had the same issue, need to read more carefully. Is he doing like you? Have a stash of old pods? Are any other’s impacted you know of? Anyway, I’ll make him the same offer! Least I can do for what you guys have done for me…good ideas and mental impacts!
