Certainly a lot of research ahead – there are so many options!
I have the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump. I’ve enjoyed Control-IQ, especially for sleeping. I like that Tandem does periodic software updates for improved features. The Tandem app is hit and miss; I had to turn on “developer functions” on my phone so that it wouldn’t update operating systems, since app updates lag quite a bit.
My insurance allows me to get a new insulin pump every 5 years (same as Tandem’s warranty). I think I have had 1-2 warranty pump replacements over the past 10 years using Tandem so staying in warranty has been worthwhile for me. If you get a warranty replacement, you have to ship back the old pump. If it just goes out of warranty, you can keep the old pump. You can still use your pump after the warranty expires, but Tandem won’t let you upgrade the software and I suspect customer service would be less helpful.
Everything varies by insurance company, but here are some numbers for reference. I’m on an employer-sponsored “value” insurance plan (not “traditional” high premium and not a “high deductible” HSA plan). I got a new pump in 2023, before I’d met my deductible. Here’s the breakdown from my insurance statement:
- Billed amount: $8541.67
- Allowed: $4600.00
- Deductible: $875.00
- Coinsurance: $745.00
- Copay: $0.00
- Adjustment: $3941.67
- Paid: $2980.00
- Your responsibility: $1620.00
Pump supplies (cartridges and infusion sets) are generally my biggest insurance expense every year. Looks like last year I paid about $1500.00 for pump supplies. I always put at least that amount in my FSA.
I always try to have many extra infusion sets on hand. Poor absorption on occasion, plus the doorknob curse is real… but then again, I’ve also ripped my CGM off on a doorframe, so I might just be a klutz. 