Medicare Part B covers some diabetic supplies, and Medicare Part D covers additional supplies along with oral medications and non-pump insulin. Prescription drug plans are essential for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes to get the full coverage they need.
What Diabetic Supplies Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare Part B covers self-testing supplies such as blood glucose test strips, lancets, and continuous glucose monitors. Part B also covers insulin pumps and insulin used with the pump.
What Diabetic Services Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare Part B offers screenings, training, and education to help you manage your diabetes. People with diabetes are covered for medical nutrition therapy. You can be covered for preventive diabetes screenings to test blood sugar levels up to twice a year. People with diabetes are covered by Part B for foot exams every six months, along with coverage for special shoes and shoe inserts.
Diabetes can cause detrimental effects to the eyes. Although routine vision care is not covered under Medicare, Medicare offers testing for people with diabetes to screen for certain conditions. You can be covered for glaucoma testing, diabetic retinopathy testing, and macular degeneration testing.
Medicare Part B Coverage
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary and preventive care. That includes doctor visits, flu shots, emergency room visits, certain preventive screenings, clinical research, ambulance services, durable medical equipment, mental health care, and limited outpatient prescription drugs. Much of the care for people with diabetes fall into both of these categories.
Medicare Part B will not cover insulin unless using an insulin pump is medically necessary. It also will not cover insulin pens, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, or gauze. For those expenses, you will want a prescription drug plan.
Diabetes Medication and Supply Coverage Under Part D
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can cover supplies such as needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, gauze, and insulin inhaler devices. These plans can also cover non-pump insulin and oral medications, including glipizide, metformin pioglitazone, and repaglinide acarbose.
Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage can offer these same benefits.
Medicare Part D Coverage
Medicare Part D plans lower your expenses, so you only pay small copayments for your prescription medications. Generally, these plans cover only prescription drugs.
The Senior Savings Model for Medicare Part D plans offers insulin savings that limit the maximum copayment to $35 for a month’s supply. Join a Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage to take advantage of this program and its savings.
Magellan Healthcare is committed to getting you the coverage you need. Contact our team of licensed agents today to maximize your benefits.
