No pump for me - yet

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just got an email from hub's benefits administrator. His insurance company maintains I'm not
covered under the plan we have. Up until the beginning of August, they told me *and* the
application service I used that I was covered. On THREE separate occasions. I've been screwed, and
my endo wasted her time in doing the applications (2 of them, I was turned down after the first
one as it was deemed 'not medically necessary'- sounds like I was covered there, doesn't it). The
insurance company didn't start saying I wasn't covered until after my endo sent a strongly-worded
letter along with the second application.

I tried to find out if a plan upgrade at the next opportunity would change my status (we have a
basic plan but can upgrade to an 'enhanced' plan), but I can't seem to access their website. Old
computer, old version of Netcrap, whatever. I'll have to do it by phone, and this time I'll be
sure to get names.

I just received a Customer Loyalty Survey from the insurance company. My dissatisfaction will be
reflected in my answers - big time.

I think I'd use a little brake pedal rather than accelerator for a few more days Vicki. Don't tease
the crocodile BEFORE you've crossed river. After you

I've also

Quoted message said:

suggested in my reply to hub's benefits administrator that a change of company should be in
order. The application service I used said hub's insurance is far and away the most difficult to
deal with.

Vicki really po'd

Chill out before you write or phone:-)))

You catch more flies with honey and all that........

Beav

No pump for me - yet

I just got an email from hub's benefits administrator. His insurance company maintains I'm not
covered under the plan we have. Up until the beginning of August, they told me *and* the application
service I used that I was covered. On THREE separate occasions. I've been screwed, and my endo
wasted her time in doing the applications (2 of them, I was turned down after the first one as it
was deemed 'not medically necessary'- sounds like I was covered there, doesn't it). The insurance
company didn't start saying I wasn't covered until after my endo sent a strongly-worded letter along
with the second application. I tried to find out if a plan upgrade at the next opportunity would
change my status (we have a basic plan but can upgrade to an 'enhanced' plan), but I can't seem to
access their website. Old computer, old version of Netcrap, whatever. I'll have to do it by phone,
and this time I'll be sure to get names. I just received a Customer Loyalty Survey from the
insurance company. My dissatisfaction will be reflected in my answers - big time. I've also
suggested in my reply to hub's benefits administrator that a change of company should be in order.
The application service I used said hub's insurance is far and away the most difficult to deal with.
Vicki really po'd

i am not going to make any friends with this but you should have planned in advance . no insurance
Co. in there right mind is going to up grade you know unless you work for a big company. you can't
upgrade your life insurance after your dead.

i am self employed and i call my health insurance the MORGUE plan. they will pay for the bag and
that is about it.

i had to pay 2,000 for my pump and i got lucky because my state said they had to cover diabetes .
but you have to pay the deductable every 6 months <better than nothing> . i am sure things will work
out for you just be the squeaky wheel

case

the case, minus a few cans!

Beav said:

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just got an email from hub's benefits administrator. His insurance company maintains I'm not
covered under the plan we have. Up until the beginning of August, they told me *and* the
application service I used that I was covered. On THREE separate occasions. I've been screwed,
and my endo wasted her time in doing the applications (2 of them, I was turned down after the
first one as it was deemed 'not medically necessary'- sounds like I was covered there, doesn't
it). The insurance company didn't start saying I wasn't covered until after my endo sent a strongly-
worded letter along with the second application.

I tried to find out if a plan upgrade at the next opportunity would change my status (we have a
basic plan but can upgrade to an 'enhanced' plan), but I can't seem to access their website. Old
computer, old version of Netcrap, whatever. I'll have to do it by phone, and this time I'll be
sure to get names.

I just received a Customer Loyalty Survey from the insurance company. My dissatisfaction will be
reflected in my answers - big time.

I think I'd use a little brake pedal rather than accelerator for a few more days Vicki. Don't
tease the crocodile BEFORE you've crossed river. After you

Quoted message said:

I've also

Quoted message said:

suggested in my reply to hub's benefits administrator that a change of company should be in
order. The application service I used said hub's insurance is far and away the most difficult to
deal with.

Vicki really po'd

Chill out before you write or phone:-)))

You catch more flies with honey and all that........

Beav

True enough, Beav. I removed all the negatives from the email to the benefits admin. before I sent
it. Thanked her for her help and all that.

I did talk to a rep from the insurance company, asking if a plan upgrade would qualify me. She said
I should talk to the benefits administrator. Yet another run around, it sound like. When it comes
time to upgrade the plan, we'll have to sit down and figure out if our scrip coverage at 100% would
justify the increased cost. That way, even if I don't get the pump, we won't be paying through the
nose just for better scrip coverage.

Hell, maybe we'll win the lottery and I won't have to worry about the expense of a pump. They will
pay the consumables...

Yeah, right.

The Customer Loyalty Survey is supposed to be anonymous, but there's a bar code on the form. I've
torn it up.

Vicki

See if the pump mfgr. will sell you a pump at a deeply discounted price. You'd be amazed at how they
will give away the razor to sell the blades. I got my last pump for about $600, my cost, after first
being told it would cost me thousands to upgrade. (a Minimed 508)

dave

Vicki Beausoleil said:

I just got an email from hub's benefits administrator. His insurance company maintains I'm not
covered under the plan we have. Up until the beginning of August, they told me *and* the
application service I used that I was covered. On THREE separate occasions. I've been screwed, and
my endo wasted her time in doing the applications (2 of them, I was turned down after the first
one as it was deemed 'not medically necessary'- sounds like I was covered there, doesn't it). The
insurance company didn't start saying I wasn't covered until after my endo sent a strongly-worded
letter along with the second application.

I tried to find out if a plan upgrade at the next opportunity would change my status (we have a
basic plan but can upgrade to an 'enhanced' plan), but I can't seem to access their website. Old
computer, old version of Netcrap, whatever. I'll have to do it by phone, and this time I'll be
sure to get names.

I just received a Customer Loyalty Survey from the insurance company. My dissatisfaction will be
reflected in my answers - big time. I've also suggested in my reply to hub's benefits
administrator that a change of company should be in order. The application service I used said
hub's insurance is far and away the most difficult to deal with.

Vicki really po'd

IF YOU CAN'T SWIM DON'T JUMP IN said:

snip

Quoted message said:

Vicki really po'd

Quoted message said:

i am not going to make any friends with this but you should have planned in advance . no insurance
Co. in there right mind is going to up grade you know unless you work for a big company. you can't
upgrade your life insurance after your dead.

i am self employed and i call my health insurance the MORGUE plan. they will pay for the bag and
that is about it.

i had to pay 2,000 for my pump and i got lucky because my state said they had to cover diabetes .
but you have to pay the deductable every 6 months <better than nothing> . i am sure things will
work out for you just be the squeaky wheel

case

the case, minus a few cans!

Canadian insurance is a bit different. He has what's known as a Flex Care plan. Company gives X
amount of 'flex dollars' and we can choose basic or enhanced for dental and medical, plus he can use
the money to buy disability, life insurance, etc. If his dollar amount is higher than the 'flex
dollars' then any difference is paid by us. Therefore, we could lower our dental to basic from
enhanced, to free up flex dollars for increased medical premiums, or we could pay the difference.
Preexisting conditions and the like aren't even a consideration - we're already in the plan, it's
just upgrading within the confines of the company's benefits program. It is a big company, BTW.
Worldwide and all that.

Really, the only ones that could offer better benefits overall is the government. And that ain't
gonna happen...

Vicki

Bay Area Dave said:

See if the pump mfgr. will sell you a pump at a deeply discounted price. You'd be amazed at how
they will give away the razor to sell the blades. I got my last pump for about $600, my cost,
after first being told it would cost me thousands to upgrade. (a Minimed 508)

dave

At this point, I'd take a second-hand 508. I'm not sure how it works for stuff like that in Canada,
but I have the Medtronic/Minimed rep's email addy and he's next on my list. My endo actually has a
patient who may not stay on the pump, and she wants to see if I can get my hands on that pump (an
Animas). This patient actually thought a pump would be less work than MDI. I'm well aware that a
pump will be more work, especially at the beginning, but I want better, more flexible control. With
the flurry of upgrades from Minimed lately, there has to be boxes of 508s sitting around all over
the place. I only want one of them! :-)

Hub's insurance will pay for consumables as a prescription item. It's the pump itself they don't
want to pay for.

Still working on it.

Vicki

Wed said:

Beav wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chill out before you write or phone:-)))

Quoted message said:

True enough, Beav. I removed all the negatives from the email to the benefits admin. before I sent
it. Thanked her for her help and all that.

... They will pay the consumables...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

that's more than half of the total expense of pumping

you might try to find a used pump coz they tend to be mighty cheap. ask yer doc for help with
that. and try checking ebay (they used to sell insulin pumps there, but i'm not sure if they still
permit it)

bill t1 since '57, ex 8-yr pumper

Double check that hub's insurance will pay for the pump supplies. We are in
Canada and had problems with insurance and the bottom line is that they
didn't pay for our daughter's pump and they are not paying for any pump
supplies. Even with a letter of necessity they say it is not covered under
our plan.
Heather
execulink.comdiabetictag.htmlOpen ↗
execulink.compouches.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Hub's insurance will pay for consumables as a prescription item. It's the pump itself they don't
want to pay for.

Still working on it.

Vicki

try ebay - though not very legal since you have to have a script to "get" one, once you do obtain
one, you'll have to pay a $495 "warrenty" transfer fee - turn the pump back into minimed they'll
send you a new one of the same model with a new 4yr warrenty.

--
RK - t1 In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength
in a world filled with strife and terrorism.

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bay Area Dave said:

See if the pump mfgr. will sell you a pump at a deeply discounted price. You'd be amazed at how
they will give away the razor to sell the blades. I got my last pump for about $600, my cost,
after first being told it would cost me thousands to upgrade. (a Minimed 508)

dave

At this point, I'd take a second-hand 508. I'm not sure how it works for stuff like that in
Canada, but I have the Medtronic/Minimed rep's email addy and he's next on my list. My endo
actually has a patient who may not stay on the pump, and she wants to see if I can get my hands on
that pump (an Animas). This patient actually thought a pump would be less work than MDI. I'm well
aware that a pump will be more work, especially at the beginning, but I want better, more flexible
control. With the flurry of upgrades from Minimed lately, there has to be boxes of 508s sitting
around all over the place. I only want one of them! :-)

Hub's insurance will pay for consumables as a prescription item. It's the pump itself they don't
want to pay for.

Still working on it.

Vicki

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Beav said:

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just got an email from hub's benefits administrator. His insurance company maintains I'm not
covered under the plan we have. Up until the beginning of August, they told me *and* the
application service I used that I was covered. On THREE separate occasions. I've been screwed,
and my endo wasted her time in doing the

applications

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(2 of them, I was turned down after the first one as it was deemed

'not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

medically necessary'- sounds like I was covered there, doesn't it).

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

insurance company didn't start saying I wasn't covered until after my endo sent a strongly-
worded letter along with the second application.

I tried to find out if a plan upgrade at the next opportunity would change my status (we have
a basic plan but can upgrade to an

'enhanced'

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

plan), but I can't seem to access their website. Old computer, old version of Netcrap,
whatever. I'll have to do it by phone, and this

time

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll be sure to get names.

I just received a Customer Loyalty Survey from the insurance company.

My

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dissatisfaction will be reflected in my answers - big time.

I think I'd use a little brake pedal rather than accelerator for a few

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

days Vicki. Don't tease the crocodile BEFORE you've crossed river. After

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've also

Quoted message said:

suggested in my reply to hub's benefits administrator that a change of company should be in
order. The application service I used said hub's insurance is far and away the most difficult
to deal with.

Vicki really po'd

Chill out before you write or phone:-)))

You catch more flies with honey and all that........

Beav

True enough, Beav. I removed all the negatives from the email to the benefits admin. before I sent
it. Thanked her for her help and all that.

That's usually a good approach :-)

Quoted message said:

I did talk to a rep from the insurance company, asking if a plan upgrade would qualify me. She
said I should talk to the benefits administrator. Yet another run around, it sound like. When it
comes time to upgrade the plan, we'll have to sit down and figure out if our scrip coverage at
100% would justify the increased cost. That way, even if I don't get the pump, we won't be paying
through the nose just for better scrip coverage.

Hell, maybe we'll win the lottery and I won't have to worry about the expense of a pump. They will
pay the consumables...

Yeah, right.

The Customer Loyalty Survey is supposed to be anonymous, but there's a bar code on the form. I've
torn it up.

I was once almost convinced to complete a "questionaire" that purported to be anonymous, but I knew
beforehand that NOTHING on it was. After the forms were all handed in, I was asked why *I* hadn't
handed one in. How's THAT for smart thinking. I simply asked "How do you know I didn't"?

Beav

Quoted message said:

Vicki

RK said:

try ebay - though not very legal since you have to have a script to "get" one, once you do obtain
one, you'll have to pay a $495 "warrenty" transfer fee - turn the pump back into minimed they'll
send you a new one of the same model with a new 4yr warrenty.

--
RK - t1

I'm going to start with the Minimed rep. With all the upgrades, there's gotta be a 508 hanging
around somewhere he can get his hands on for me. My endo is 100% behind it. Like I said in a
previous post, if one of her patients gives up pumping, then my endo is going to try to get that
pump for me. It too will have to be turned over to Animas for checking/refurbishing/whatever.

Like Dave said, they'll take a discount on the razor to get you to buy the blades...

I'm hoping :-)

Vicki

Thu said:

you might try to find a used pump coz they tend to be mighty cheap. ask yer doc for help with
that. and try checking ebay (they used to sell insulin pumps there, but i'm not sure if they still
permit it)

turns out eBay does still sell pumps

recently: a 507 at $500 has no bids <LOL>

a 508 at $350.95 has had 12 bids

a 508 at $3,000 has no bids <smiles>

a 507 (never used) at $501.55 has had 15 bids

-----

fwiw, the USA is likely to be a better place than Canada to find a used pump for several reasons.
one being that this is the highest area of pump usage in the world (no doubt due to the many who
still have health coverage thru work, which is another reason (i hesitate to call it "insurance" coz
we in the USA have come to want "it" to cover everything with few deductables))

good luck, vickie, with finding an insulin pump at a reasonable price

bill t1 since '57, ex 8-yr pumper

go to minimeds site or whoevers.. and see how much the infusion sets / resorvors / tape and insulin
cost, add it up yourself.

I get a 3month supply of everything, sets, resorvors and insulin for $20 each. so $60 covers me for
3months. but i think the sets are like $119 for 1 box, i use 2 boxes a month, just incase and I get
12boxes of strips, 6 boxes of resorvors.

--
RK - t1 In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength
in a world filled with strife and terrorism.

"Vicki Beausoleil" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

IF YOU CAN'T SWIM DON'T JUMP IN said:

Re: No pump for me - yet

Group: misc.health.diabetes Date: Thu, Nov 27, 2003, 8:13am From: [email hidden] (H&CC)
Double check that hub's insurance will pay for the pump supplies. We are in Canada and had
problems with insurance and the bottom line is that they didn't pay for our daughter's pump and
they are not paying for any pump supplies. Even with a letter of necessity they say it is not
covered under our plan. Heather execulink.comdiabetictag.htmlOpen ↗
execulink.compouches.htmOpen ↗ Hub's insurance will pay for consumables as a
prescription item. It's the pump itself they don't want to pay for. Still working on it. Vicki

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

great socialist government health plan! man your getting screwed.

case

the case, minus a few cans!

Our universal health care system doesn't cover drugs. Never has. This is all up to the insurance
company.

The insurance has sent me a letter saying they will cover the consumables. They had estimated
$1800 per year for supplies, excluding insulin. I don't know if that's realistic or not.

This really comes as no surprise, they din't cover the purchase of a blood test meter either, but
will pay for strips. I have no restrictions on how many strips I use. They also didn't cover the
BP monitor. All were prescription items.

Don't knock our health care, case. I thank the beings above every day I don't live in the US and
have to deal with lack of/poor insurance, HMOs and all the rest of the [censored]. I have no qualms
about paying higher taxes so my neighbour can have the same care I get, if he needs it. In the
nine years I've been here, I've seen too many put in the poor house because of a hospital stay, or
have to choose between food and a doctor visit. That's shameful, IMO.

Vicki

Quoted message said:

go to minimeds site or whoevers.. and see how much the infusion sets / resorvors / tape and
insulin cost, add it up yourself.

I get a 3month supply of everything, sets, resorvors and insulin for $20 each. so $60 covers me
for 3months. but i think the sets are like $119 for 1 box, i use 2 boxes a month, just incase and
I get 12boxes of strips, 6 boxes of resorvors.

do yourself a favor and check hock's pump supply costs at www.hocks.com

i for one would be interested in if their prices are cheaper than what you now pay

i'd also be interested in if you need a script to get the infusion sets and pump reservoirs

bill t1 since '57

"willbill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go to minimeds site or whoevers.. and see how much the infusion sets / resorvors / tape and
insulin cost, add it up yourself.

I get a 3month supply of everything, sets, resorvors and insulin for $20 each. so $60 covers me
for 3months. but i think the sets are like $119 for 1 box, i use 2 boxes a month, just incase
and I get 12boxes of strips, 6 boxes of resorvors.

do yourself a favor and check hock's pump supply costs at www.hocks.com

i for one would be interested in if their prices are cheaper than what you now pay

i'd also be interested in if you need a script to get the infusion sets and pump reservoirs

bill t1 since '57

not sure if you need a script or not, but i do know on the sets and resorvoirs it says, by
prescription only. I checked at hocks.com

3.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 29.97 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 40.16 (I
don't need these but many do) Sof-set Ultimate, 24" = 126.37 (no details given) but I think theres
24 sets in a box

now at minimed

4.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 30.80 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 49.00 Sof-
set Ultimate, 24" = Sof-set Ultimate QR® (12/box) 24" Length = 130.00

so no that much of a difference... but I still pay only a $20 copay for each 3month script. but I
also pay $200 a month for insurance.

--
RK - t1 In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength
in a world filled with strife and terrorism.

willbill said:

Quoted message said:

go to minimeds site or whoevers.. and see how much the infusion sets / resorvors / tape and
insulin cost, add it up yourself.

I get a 3month supply of everything, sets, resorvors and insulin for $20 each. so $60 covers me
for 3months. but i think the sets are like $119 for 1 box, i use 2 boxes a month, just incase and
I get 12boxes of strips, 6 boxes of resorvors.

do yourself a favor and check hock's pump supply costs at www.hocks.com

i for one would be interested in if their prices are cheaper than what you now pay

i'd also be interested in if you need a script to get the infusion sets and pump reservoirs

bill t1 since '57

you do NOT need a script to purchase them you need a script to have the insurance company
pay for them.

Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.orgOpen ↗ insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.orgOpen ↗

In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a
world filled with strife and terrorism.

Fri said:

not sure if you need a script or not, but i do know on the sets and resorvoirs it says, by
prescription only.

reason i asked is that i was able to get BD syringes from them without a script

syringes are a script item in my state

hocks is in Ohio, so maybe syringes aren't a script item in Ohio?

i'll be ordering strips from them in a couple of weeks, so i think i'm gonna ask if they
require a script for infusion sets and reservoirs (i'm guessing that they do, but you never
know until you ask)

Quoted message said:

I checked at hocks.com
3.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 29.97 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 40.16
Sof-set Ultimate, 24" = 126.37 (no details given) but I think theres 24 sets in a box

now at minimed

3.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 30.80 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 49.00
Sof-set Ultimate, 24" = Sof-set Ultimate QR® (12/box) 24" Length = 130.00

so no that much of a difference... but I still pay only a $20 copay for each 3month script. but I
also pay $200 a month for insurance.

i kinda suspected that hocks would be cheaper

i am surprised that the above prices are as close as they are. looks like the QR sets cost roughly
twice as much (12 count vs. 24) as the non-QR!

bill

"willbill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

i kinda suspected that hocks would be cheaper

i am surprised that the above prices are as close as they are.

Minimed sells their product at the same price to resellers as they do to end consumers. Hocks is
reselling for (slightly) less than they are paying ($3-5 per item).

Quoted message said:

looks like the QR sets cost roughly twice as much (12 count vs. 24) as the non-QR!

Regular Softsets thru Minimed are 24/$205 or $8.54 each QR Softsets thru Minimed are 12/$130 or
$10.83 each

For comparison, the non-release bent needles are $4.50 each, bent needle
w/quick release $6.88.

Quick release is consistently about $2.30 more.

i'm in ohio ...

infusion sets / resorviors / syringes / lantus / novolog / humalog ALL requre a script.. whether the
pharmacy complies is another story.. I've been able to get humalog without a script and syringes but
needed a script for Lantus. other times, i've needed a script for all, and yet again.. can get all
without.. depends on if the pharmasist knows you or not i think.

--
RK - t1 In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength
in a world filled with strife and terrorism.

"willbill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Fri said:

not sure if you need a script or not, but i do know on the sets and resorvoirs it says, by
prescription only.

reason i asked is that i was able to get BD syringes from them without a script

syringes are a script item in my state

hocks is in Ohio, so maybe syringes aren't a script item in Ohio?

i'll be ordering strips from them in a couple of weeks, so i think i'm gonna ask if they require
a script for infusion sets and reservoirs (i'm guessing that they do, but you never know until
you ask)

Quoted message said:

I checked at hocks.com
3.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 29.97 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 40.16
Sof-set Ultimate, 24" = 126.37 (no details given) but I think theres 24

sets

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in a box

now at minimed

3.0ml syringe/Reservoir 10/box = 30.80 Opsite IV 3000 dressing 2-3/8 x 2-3/4 Pack of 100 = 49.00
Sof-set Ultimate, 24" = Sof-set Ultimate QR® (12/box) 24" Length = 130.00

so no that much of a difference... but I still pay only a $20 copay for

each

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3month script. but I also pay $200 a month for insurance.

i kinda suspected that hocks would be cheaper

i am surprised that the above prices are as close as they are. looks like the QR sets cost roughly
twice as much (12 count vs. 24) as the non-QR!

bill