Medicare and Diabetes

Medicare coverage for diabetes

Medicare covers the same supplies for people with diabetes whether or not they use insulin. To get your diabetes equipment and supplies under Medicare, you need a prescription from your doctor.

Medicare Parts A-D

Medicare has four parts

Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for hospital care.

Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for doctors, outpatient care and some other medical services that Part A will not cover.

Part C (medicare advantage plans) a health coverage choice run by private companies approved by Medicare. Includes Part A, Part B and usually other coverage including prescription drugs.

Part D ( prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs.

Medicare Part B and diabetic supplies

Medicare Part B is optional, so enrollment is your choice and premium payments are your responsibility. Medicare Part B has an annual deductible and a coinsurance of 20 percent for most covered services. So, for covered diabetic supplies, Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of approved cost.

Remember to qualify for diabetic equipment and supplies you first must be on Medicare and have a doctor's order to test your blood sugar. Medcare Part B covers these diabetic testing supplies:

Blood glucose monitors and batteries

Test strips

Lancets and lancing devices

Control solution

Insulin pump supplies

Hemogloblin A1c tests

Therapeutic Shoes

Medicare also covers therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes. Medicare covers depth-inlay shoes, custom-molded shoes and inserts for people with diabetes who qualify under Medicare Part B. To qualify you must have:

history of partial or complete foot amputation

history of previous foot ulcers

peripheral neuropathy with signs that you have problems with calluses.

poor circulation

foot deformity

are being treated under a comprehensive diabetes care plan and need therapeutic shoes and/or inserts because of diabetes.

Ordering Supplies

You can choose to have your diabetes supplies delivered directly to your home by an internet or mail-order diabetic supply company. Most companies will send your supplies according to your doctor's order right to your door without a shipping charge.

Have Diabetes? Your supplies may be covered!