Does Medicare cover diabetes?What Does Medicare Cover For Diabetics?

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing medical conditions in America and can be one of the most costly conditions to treat. Diabetes costs for Medicare are important for Medicare beneficiaries to know.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are currently 21.0 million Americans who have been diagnosed with at least one type of diabetes and millions more who have yet to be diagnosed. An additional 79 million people over age 20 living in the United States have blood sugar levels higher than usual but not high enough to be classified as pre-diabetic. With such dramatic numbers, it is no wonder that direct medical costs for diabetes treatment total over $176 billion each year.  Nebraska and Iowa have their statistics.  What Medicare covers for diabetics is critical for their sustained health and improvement.                                                                                                             

What Does Diabetes Cost For Medicare?   

Prevention and screening are high priorities for Medicare diabetes coverage.  Medicare covers prevention programs and screening to detectMedicare Covered costs for diabetes pre-diabetic persons and high-risk individuals.  Medicare can then more proactively treat and advise Medicare beneficiaries on how to avoid developing diabetes.

For those with diabetes, Medicare covers insulin, anti-diabetic drugs, diabetes supplies, diabetes self-management training, nutritional therapy services, foot exams, blood testing mentors, and glaucoma exams.

Diabetes-related expenses can be a significant burden, especially for older Americans who rely on Medicare and government-funded healthcare systems. Unfortunately, Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B only) will not cover diabetes costs 100% unless you have a Medicare supplement that may cover the remaining costs. 

Not all Medicare Advantage Plans will completely cover testing or medications that help patients manage their diabetes, and even when coverage is extended, patients still face out-of-pocket expenses.  Therefore, it is essential to read the Evidence of Coverage for your particular Medicare Advantage plan so that you understand Medicare diabetes prevention program billing and other services.  

It is typical for Medicare Part B to cover blood glucose tests for diabetes screening, and two diabetes screenings each year for beneficiaries at high risk for diabetes, but drugs are not covered.  As a result, patients are still often responsible for co-payments, office visit fees, and other expenses.

Part D Is the Achilles Heel of Medicare

Diabetes related amputationsOn the other hand, Medicare Part D will generally help some patients cover the supplies needed to control diabetes by helping patients pay for insulin and blood sugar monitoring equipment. However, in nearly all situations, diabetes costs for Medicare do not cover the full cost of these expenses unless the individual has a supplement or is on Medicaid.  Insulin and anti-diabetic prescriptions are costly and can quickly drive patients into the Part D gap (donut hole).

When prospective clients come to my office, my heart drops slightly when they say they are on insulin or the well-known expensive anti-diabetic prescriptions.  I know how expensive these medications can be, especially on a limited and fixed income.  

What Kind of Diabetic Costs for Medicare Are Included?

Diabetes wears the body down, and there are lots of side effects.  Diabetes may cause nerve damage to your feet.  Part B covers a foot exam every six months by a podiatrist.  Medicare might cover even more visits if you had a non-traumatic amputation of all or part of your foot.

Your doctor may order Hemoglobin A1c tests to determine your blood sugar levels over the past three months.  Medicare will cover diabetic services such as that when prescribed by your doctor.

Glaucoma is another adverse side effect of diabetes.  Medicare Part B pays for eye exams for glaucoma once a year, especially if you have retinopathy or a family history of glaucoma.

These are all efforts to curb the negative effects of diabetes and maintain the highest possible quality of life.  

What Are the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Programs?

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” we’ve always heard.  Medicare covered diabetes prevention programs

The Medicare diabetes prevention programs begin with screenings.  Diabetes screenings help detect early-stage or pre-diabetes in patients.  Doctors can help their patients attack the causes when they can identify at-risk individuals.  Medicare Part B covers diabetes screening tests when your physician prescribes a screening.  Medicare may pay for as many as two diabetes screening tests in a 12-month period.

Symptoms like high blood pressure, a history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance, may indicate a higher likelihood of developing diabetes.  Once identified, medical professionals can address the issue directly.

For those at risk, Medicare diabetes prevention programs may be in order.  A once-per-lifetime behavior change program to help you prevent type 2 diabetes is covered by Part B.  Medicare Advantage, which is Medicare delivered by a private insurance company, is highly motivated to keep its patients’ healthy.  Diabetes is a costly disease, so Medicare Advantage plans are very generous with prevention services, especially diabetes.  Read the Evidence of Coverage for your particular Medicare Advantage plan so that you understand Medicare diabetes prevention program billing and other services.  

Prevention Program Criteria 

Does Medicare cover insulinMedicare establishes specific criteria your doctor must follow before prescribing a Medicare diabetes prevention program.  You must have:

  • Part B (or a Medicare Advantage Plan).
  • A fasting plasma glucose of 110-125mg/dL, 2-hour plasma glucose of 140-199
    mg/dL (oral glucose tolerance test), or a hemoglobin A1c test result between
    5.7 and 6.4% within 12 months before attending the first core session.
  • A body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more (BMI of 23 or more if you’re Asian). No history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  • No End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
  • Never participated in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.

To be eligible for the program.  You may pay nothing if you are eligible.

The program consists of a weekly core session over a 6-month period with a peer group.  The topics covered are changing behavior around diet and exercise, weight control, motivation, group support.

After completing the initial core session, you will have a six-month follow-up program with monthly sessions to help you maintain the healthy habits you established in the core program.  After the 6 month follow-up, you may qualify for an additional 12 month ongoing maintenance program if you have met personal weight loss outcomes.

How Does Medicare Help You Self-Manage Your Diabetes?

Once someone has diabetes, their situation can be managed and even improved.  Medicare offers self-management training to help you learn how to control your diabetes successfully.  Diabetes self-management training requires a doctor’s prescription.  Diabetes self-management training falls under Part B, which is Original Medicare.

Like any program, you need to meet the prerequisites.

  • You were diagnosed with diabetes.
  • You changed from taking no diabetes medication to taking diabetes
    medication, or from oral diabetes medication to insulin.
  • You have been diagnosed with diabetes and are at risk for complications.

Further, your primary care physician considers you at increased risk because of one or more of these conditions:

  • Problems controlling blood sugar, have been treated in an
    emergency room, or have stayed overnight in a hospital because of your
    diabetes.
  • Diagnosed with eye disease related to diabetes.
  • Lack of feeling in your feet or some other foot problems, like ulcers,
    deformities, or have had an amputation.
  • Diagnosed with kidney disease related to diabetes.

Like most Medicare-covered services, the training program must be Medicare-certified and accredited by the American Diabetes Association or the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Special Individual Training

The program is taught by specially trained healthcare professionals with a thorough knowledge of diabetes.  Medicare covers up to 10 hours of initial training and 2 hours of follow-up training if necessary.  They must complete the program within 12 months once it has begun.

The diabetes self-management training will cover:

  • General information about diabetes, the benefits of blood sugar control, and poor blood sugar control risks.
  • Nutrition and how to manage your diet.
  • Options to manage and improve blood sugar control.
  • Exercise and why it’s vital to your health
  • Taking medications properly
  • Blood sugar testing
  • Foot, skin, and dental care.

Does Medicare pay for Diabetic Supplies?

Medicare Part B covers “durable medical equipment.”  This category covers everything from CPAP machines to electric scooters.  DiabeticDoes Medicare cover test strips supplies, like monitors, test strips, and lancets, fall under durable medicare equipment.  Durable medical equipment even includes disposable items.  Medicare covers diabetic supplies.  

With advances in diabetic technology, Medicare coverage of diabetes supplies includes new devices, like therapeutic continuous glucose monitors.  The doctor, however, needs to make a case for you that a newer, more expensive device is medically necessary.  In many cases, approval hinges on the doctor’s office making a case for the prescription.  The prescription notes need to explain to Medicare or the insurer why the treatment would be beneficial to the health of the patient.  In diabetes, especially, the insurance company and Medicare are trying to avoid more costly treatments that may result from further deterioration due to the illness.  Even applying after a denial would be good.  Sometimes it just takes a little more effort to get the best result. 

So what diabetic testing supplies are over by Medicare?    

Diabetes Test Strips Are Expensive!

Diabetic test stripsI have learned a lot about diabetes over the years from my clients.  They tell me in unambiguous and sometimes loud terms the cost of things like test strips.  Syringes, insulin pens, needles, alcohol swabs, gauze, inhaled insulin devices, test strips are all covered.  The issue is not usually coverage but cost.  Depending on your supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, your supplies may be nothing to very little.  That is why it is critical to know how your Medicare plan affects those particular areas and costs for your health.  

Does Medicare Cover An Insulin Pump?

I am always delighted when someone tells me they use an insulin pump.  I am happy for them because the insulin that goes with the insulin pump does not come under Medicare Part D.   The insulin for the pump comes under Part B.  Those clients with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy will pay little or nothing for their insulin. Insulin can be incredibly expensive.

Part B covers insulin pumps worn outside the body (external), including the insulin used with the pump. Insulin pumps are considered durable medical equipment.  With a Medigap plan, the patient will pay little or nothing for the pump and insulin.  Medicare covers insulin pumps and supplies.  The insulin that goes with the pump is considered supplies.  This is all contained in the Medicare insulin pump guidelines.     

Medicare pay for diabetic shoesMedicare Covered Therapeutic Shoes Or Inserts for Diabetics

If you have Part B, have diabetes, and meet certain conditions, Medicare will cover therapeutic shoes if you need them.
The types of shoes Part B covers each year include one of these:

• One pair of depth-inlay shoes and 3 pairs of inserts

• One pair of custom-molded shoes (including inserts) if you can’t wear depth-inlay shoes because of a foot deformity, and 2 additional pairs of inserts

Doctor Certification for Therapeutic Shoes

For Medicare to pay for your therapeutic shoes, the doctor treating your diabetesdoes medicare cover shoes for diabetics
must certify that you meet these 3 conditions:

1. You have diabetes.

2. You have at least one of these conditions in one or both feet:
• Partial or complete foot amputation
• Past foot ulcers
• Calluses that could lead to foot ulcers
• Nerve damage because of diabetes with signs of problems with calluses
• Poor circulation
• A deformed foot

3. You’re being treated under a comprehensive diabetes care plan and need
therapeutic shoes and/or inserts because of diabetes.

Medicare also requires:
• A podiatrist or other qualified health care provider prescribes the shoes.
• A doctor or other qualified individuals like a podiatrist, orthopedist, or prosthetist fit and provide the shoes.

Are Medicare Diabetes Mail Order Suppliers Covered?

You can receive your diabetic supplies and medications through the mail.  It is essential that the Medicare diabetes mail-order supplier be Medicare-certified and/or contracted with the Medicare Advantage plan.  Insulin and anti-diabetic medications will usually come under Part D.  The prescription drugs can be delivered by a stand-alone Part D plan or a Part C Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.  Prescription drug costs will be substantially different than those costs that fall under Part B.  Check and confirm that company’s status before ordering, but mail-order is definitely an option.  

Do Medicare Supplements Cover Diabetes? 

The above discussion of Medicare coverage for diabetes has been reserved mostly to just Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).  Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage add additional coverage but also another wrinkle to what is covered.  

Medicare Supplements (Medigap) policies are simple because they are universal–the same everywhere.  Plan G and Plan N are the most popular Medigap policies.  Medigap covers whatever Medicare covers.  They fill in the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.  Under Part B, they take care of the insulin pump, and insulin for the pump, and durable medical equipment.  Minus the Part B deductible, the Medigap policy almost completely covers any cost.  

What Does Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage Do For Diabetes?

Medicare Advantage plans all differ.  Coverage varies from plan to plan and region to region.  Reading the Evidence of Coverage that each plan has for the details of the plan is essential to find out how much is covered or not covered for things like orthopedic shoes, insulin pumps, diabetic supplies.  I could describe the plans in the Omaha Metro area, but that may not apply to other areas.  

Does Medicare cover diabetic suppliesWhat Does Medicare Drug Coverage Pay for Diabetic Prescriptions? 

Medicare drug coverage is very similar between stand-alone Part D and Medicare Part C plans that include drug coverage.  Insulin and anti-diabetic medications are mostly very expensive unless you have EXTRA HELP.  Depending on the amount and type of medication, the patient can easily be driven into the coverage gap (donut hole) and even to the catastrophic stage because of the cost.  It hurts my heart when I am adding up all the medications knowing that the picture is not going to be pretty when meeting with a diabetic client.  I’ve witnessed a lot of tears and fear because of the sometimes staggering drug costs.  

You Need To Know Your Prices

Medicare coverage of diabetes and diabetics is comprehensive.  The real question is the shared costs that beneficiaries pay out of pocket.  Medicare supplies are limited.  Prevention costs are very small if non-existent.  The real challenge, even now after the Trump administration initiatives, is the cost of insulin and anti-diabetic medications.  

For my clients who are on any expensive medications, I highly, highly encourage them to be in contact with me during the Annual Election Period (AEP) October 15th–December 7th when they can change their Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare Part C plan.  Even if your medications do not change, the plan can change.  You could go from paying very little for a medication to not being covered at all.  An annual review is critical for those with high-end medications. 

Talking with a licensed, knowledgeable, experienced insurance professional you trust is critical to get the correction information and prices to make informed decisions about your Medicare health coverage.  

 

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