Pump Drama Update 2

This post is by Coral!

Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog titled, “Pump Drama Continues.” It was about how discouraged I was becoming because I heard that my health insurance had a Durable Medical Cap of $2000 and thus I’d have to come out of pocket $3000 in order to get a pump.

Thank you Scott, Cherise and Katie for your encouragement to continue my research and not give up. Thank you Stacey for having tested what seems like every possible diabetes device and knowing all the secrets!

I am excited to announce that as long as my doctor’s office gets their information in to Animas and I am approved, I will be able to get the Animas Ping for possibly zero cost.

This is how:

• There is an exception from the Durable Medical Cap for the Animas Ping.  I am not sure why this doesn’t apply to the MiniMed pump. Maybe the MiniMed sales woman was confused. I found out from Animas that I am covered 90% and would only have to pay 10% plus any deductible, and there is no cap. So maximum I would have to come out of pocket $700 for the device and three months of supplies, but probably less.
•  Animas as a Pump Trade In policy which gives you a certain amount of credit towards an Animas pump if you give them your old pump. You have to ask them about it, because they do not advertise it. (Thank you, Stacey!!!) The credit amount depends on the pump brand and type. I have an old MiniMed Paradigm 508 from my college days which is out of warranty and doesn’t work anymore. They will credit me up to $700 towards a new Animas pump.
• I think we can do this math without a calculator: $700 – $700 = FREE ninety-nine!

 I am so excited that I can barely contain myself. I also found out that I am covered for a  DexCom CGM and hope to get that soon as well. I will have an A1C of less than 8.5 in the near future!

Thank you all for your support and guidance through this crazy process.