Calling All Insulin Pump Users... need some help!

[Guest guest]

I just love Federated Insurance/Preferred One... NOT!

Medtronic says I can now pay them $7443.11 for my insulin pump because

Terry's insurance denied it, even though they tell ya that they will pay

for everything at 100% once we met the deductible. I met the entire

deductible (and it isn't low) for my entire family by August 1, 2011. And

Medtronic had to get pre-approval for payment from the insurance company

before they would send me out my pump. Okay fine... they did that. Well I

got a bill today that says I owe it all by myself and until it is paid,

they will not send me the supplies I need for my pump.

I will be going to my husband's job tomorrow with the bill and a check we

just got from the stupid insurance company paying us back for something or

another from last year to get this settled, but I don't know if it will be

settled in time because I am due for new supplies to arrive May 2nd, and I

don't see that happening anytime soon.

So my question for any Medtronic Pump users out there, where can I get

supplies for my pump besides Medtronics? I am down to 16 reservoirs and

maybe 6 infusion sets. I am not supposed to reuse my stuff, but other than

changing my reservoirs every few days I don't really have a choice.

Since getting my pump hooked up on Friday January 13th, my diabetes is

under such good control I am not willing to give it back. I am not at risk

of the other lovely side effects of diabetes right now, and honestly my

body couldn't take them. Before my pump my A1C was 5.7 (?) in the 1st 3

weeks I had my pump my A1C dropped to 5.2! With all my other health issues

I can't afford health wise to develop the things that diabetes can bring

on, my body can't handle much more as it is.

I also have medicare which is primary but because some lab value was too

high (in other words my pancreas still works at times) I am not eligible

for the pump by medicare guidelines so they will pay for my insulin but

NOTHING else that deals with the pump. And from what I understand the

supplies are about $350 every 3 months until I hit the deductible again

then supposedly Terry's insurance will pay for them again... yeah right?

I can't buy my stuff directly from Medtronic so is there somewhere else I

can get the supplies?

[Guest guest]

>

> I can't buy my stuff directly from Medtronic so is there somewhere else I can

get the supplies?

Anne,

Check your local medical supplies and Walgreen will even help.Facebook has an

account with users and Liberty Medical.com has diabetic supplies.

Medtronics number is or call 1.. I would call them and ask for a

case manager or their legal department.

I always get billed for things insurance was supposed to pay for and when I got

a sixteen thousand dollar bill from the hospital I spent in ICU overnight

and could not see a doctor the next day, they thought I was drug addict and od's

when actually vitamin d was low, low dangerous.

I always appeal my bills, and follow up as people write things wrong etc.

Good Luck I hope that helps

Bennie

*Oh a letter from your Lawyer helps : )

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne

There are several companies that sell pump supplies.

americandiabeteswholesale.com is one.

If you do an internet search for insulin pump supplies a

bunch pop up. I am in a similar situation where Medtronic will

not ship supplies. Good luck and I am sure you will love

your pump and I hope you avoid the diabetes complications.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to and it just complicates my pain issues and adds

to them.

Wishing you all the best!

(in PA)

>On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 11:40 PM, Anne R wrote about her insulin pump:

> I can't buy my stuff directly from Medtronic so is there somewhere else I can

get the supplies?

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty sure nobody makes them to fit medtronics pumps except medtronics.

I hope you can solve this issue with the insurance company. Maybe it's because

you got the pump in 2012 before this year's deductible was met. It's a matter of

shipping date being this year and not last year even though approval was set for

2011.

Definitely get with Medicare and your doctor to see if this can be approved

through them. It sounds like your body may make some insulin at times so you are

considered type 2 still.

My husband no longer makes any insulin so he's type 1 now.

Jennette

> Anne R wrote:

> where can I get supplies for my pump besides Medtronics?

[Guest guest]

Moderator's Note: For future experiments try asking for the Patient Advocate or

Supervising Floor Doctor. Those may not be the best titles but in several dozen

cases that has immediately and satisfactorily resolved the unresolvable.

, Moderator

---------------------------------

I took the bills and such up to my husband's work, and the owners are not happy

with their insurance sales rep and heads are going to roll come Monday morning!

Especially since in the same pile of mail there was a check for over payment of

our deductible for $346 or so dating back to August 1, 2011 way before we even

started the process to get the pump. So it will be paid for one way or another

BUT NOT BY ME!

Oh I am a witch on my hospital bills. and well known at the hospital

closest to my house because that is where I had my 1st and 2nd of 4 knee

surgeries. After the 2nd I told the nurse I was allergic to Vicodin as she

disconnected my PCA pain meds for not having used them for more than 2 hours

(the button was unplugged and no matter how loud PT or I said we couldn't get it

to work, she didn't hear us).

She told me it was the Vicodin or nothing. I tried to warn her but she would

have none of it so I took it. 30+ minutes later when the reaction started I

turned on my call light. nobody came so after another 20 minutes or so and I was

barely breathing. I picked up my phone dialed the hospital emergency number and

called my own code. Nobody on the ortho floor could figure out what was going

on, when the code team responded to my room. The MDA asked who called the code

as he was intubating me and I raised my hand. I went to the ICU obviously. the

hospital got to eat the code bill, the ICU bill, and $3000 worth of drugs they

swore they gave me in and following surgery that had I had even one dose I would

have died. I was charged for 21 doses of compazine (my 1st allergic reaction

and was anaphylaxis) plus they had to eat the 2nd trip to the OR within 12 hours

of

the original surgery because I was left alone in a room on a commode which I

slipped off and undid what they had done in surgery when my leg slammed onto the

ground when I lost consciousness.

I think my insurance got paid more than they paid out for the whole deal. Oh and

the RN that gave me the Vicodin & nasty attitude with it. she was fired and lost

her license.

I go through my itemized hospital bills with a PDR in one hand and my

paramedic knowledge also known as common sense! I am surprised they don't have

my picture up banning me from their hospital.

Yes I am a BITCH and PROUD of it!

Anne

> Bennie wrote:

> I always appeal my bills, and follow up as people write things wrong etc.

[Guest guest]

> Jennette wrote:

> I'm pretty sure nobody makes them to fit medtronics pumps except medtronics.

ALL,

Medronics may make them but many distributors ship them and sell them as

Medtronics does not want to responsible for all of it and Medical Supply

companies can and will order them.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

When I went to medicare, they would not initially pay for my pump supplies.

There are certain criteria you need to have. If you see a diabetic doctor they

should know.

Try and be patient. Medtronic will appeal the denial. I was denied twice and

finally it was resolved. Now I have not problem getting my supplies.

Have you talked to medtronics? You have a representative/case manager for your

area. they can help you. Your doctor will name the name of the person for your

area.

It know it is frustrating, but hang in there. I went on medicare with a pump

from my other private insurance. I figured that was part of the problem.

Hugs, Tami

> Jennette wrote:

> I'm pretty sure nobody makes them to fit medtronics pumps except medtronics.