Our insurance recently approved the minmed CGM. I got just the sensors in the mail today but nothing else. I don't know if they didn't know to send the rest or what. Do we have to order the other stuff from somewhere else? Or our they sending them later? has this happened to anybody else? By the way I was looking forward to staring it and now i cant :(
Hi Jessica,
I had kind of a similar experience with Minimed. I got a new pump which has the integrated CGM reciever, called a Paradigm Revel. Also included in the box was a "Medi-Link Real Time Transmitter" and a box of sensors. But no call from Minimed on how they worked together, which part performed what function, no training set up. Nothing. I put them all to the side, thinking they would call or email eventually, but three months went by without any contact! So being the passive-aggressive engineer that I am, I read all the manuals and figured out how to use it on my own. Then of course, I became compeltely frustrated and finally emailed them and told them I got tired of waiting to be trained and either wasn't using it right or it was useless, and they responded and said my doctor's office was supposed to train me. Would have been nice if at some point someone had mentioned that to me.
So call your doctor, but the "parts" that you need are: the sensors,(this is the small piece that goes under your skin), the Medi-Link Real Time Transmitter, (which connects to your sensor, is reusable), and the pump/receiver, (which receives the transmitted information and displays it for you.) By the way, the Transmitter-sensor set, (when connected together) pulls out at the slightest touch and the sensors are VERY expensive, so I highly recommend buying some IV cover pads that can be purchased online for about $40 for 100. Way worht it!
Good luck and feel free to contact me if you get confused at all. I've been confused a lot!
Cindy
I found out that the insurance only approved the sensors.....not the transmitter. I have to go back and have an Ipro study done in order for them to approve the rest. The insurance is making us jump through so many hoops so I hope it is worth it in the end.
Don't you love insurance companies? The sensors without the transmitter is like having pump infusion sets, but no pump. Money well spent for them.
My insurance company is making me so frustrated!! They paid for my new pump and transmitter two years ago, but in the last year have refused to pay for the sensors saying they are "not medically necessary" even though my endo has sent numerous letters of medical neccessity.
I have the cart, but not the horse! Or maybe it's the other way around.
[quote user="Anita Boland"]
My insurance company is making me so frustrated!! They paid for my new pump and transmitter two years ago, but in the last year have refused to pay for the sensors saying they are "not medically necessary" even though my endo has sent numerous letters of medical neccessity.
I have the cart, but not the horse! Or maybe it's the other way around.
[/quote]
When I was thinking about the CGM from Medtronic (the ONLY option in Canada atm) I was also told sensors were not covered. It's because the government hasn't tagged them as medically necessary. From my understanding it's almost impossible to convince your insurance company to cover the sensors, even with doctor's letters. Instead of getting your doc to write a letter, I'd start writing letters to your elected rep about this. Until the government tags them as such, they will never be covered.
That was part of the reason I didn't go with the CGM (along with Medtronic's HORRIBLE customer service, 1year warranty on the CGM and the huge costs)
hi jessica-
i use mm cgm and love it! i would start by calling minimed and asking them what's up. in my experience, they're usually extremely helpful. they should be able to tell you if there was a delay in sending the transmitter or if there's an insurance issue.
a lot of insurance companies do make it hard to get a cgm, but a lot also do cover them.
as far as training goes, call your endo's office for that too. my cde set up training with a minimed rep, and that was very helpful.
yes, it's expensive, but for me, with insurance helping, it's totally worth it! and yes, the transmitter life is only supposed to be about a year, but i know people's who have lasted longer than that. the dexcom cgm transmitter only last about a year too.
good luck, and keep us posted!
One more note on the expense of the Minimed sensors... They definitely CAN be worn for much longer than 3 days! I am routinely getting more than 2 weeks; one month is the best I've gotten. The biggest issue I have is that I accidentally pull them out.
I’m on medicare and can’t get my sensor,s Ethier. Medicares says its because they are precautionary and therefore not needed. I’m disputing this with them now but Im not holding my breath. I have been sending letters to my congressmen and state reps for help. My control has really gone down hill with out the sensors.