I am currently using the OmniPod since 12-2010. However when I turn 65 and will be on Medicare the OmniPod will not be covered any longer. I sent for an information packet from Animas and I’m interested in the Ping. When I was reading the information book it said that people on Medicare cannot participate in the Upgrade program. I took that to mean that if I decide on the Animas and six months from now there is a newer, better model that becomes available - because I will be on Medicare I cannot even begin to think about getting the newer model.
Can Animas users give me a few ideas on what you like or don’t like about the Animas pump - whatever model you have.
Thank You for your time.
Mayumi
My insurance company just approved the Ping for me yesterday. I will let others tell you what they like and dislike about it since I haven’t started using it yet. I can say what some of the reasons that I wanted the Ping were. The first being is that it is waterproof. I knew someone on another message board that had a Minimed and she had trouble with DP in the mornings. She could never figure out a way to be able to be disconnected from the pump in the morning to get her shower. She started taking her showers in the evening because it didn’t cause a problem then to be disconnected. Taking my morning shower is extremely important to me, so being waterproof was also important.
I also like the smaller increments with Animas. The Ping remote has a food database and you can add favorite foods to make bolusing easier.
As far as not being eligible for upgrades because you will have Medicare, here are my thoughts on that. I am on disability and have a Medicare Advantage plan. I have read on other boards that if you have Medicare, they won’t approve the most current model of a pump but an older model. Also, Animas and Dexcom are coming out with the combined pump. It is hard to get a CGMS thru Medicare (not impossible, because I have one). I have a feeling that Animas has that statement there because if you would not otherwise be eligible to purchase the current model pump or get a CGMS, they don’t want to give you a discounted price to purchase something Medicare would not buy for you. That is only my theory and I have not called Animas to ask that question.
Guess I better get used to the idea of multiple daily injections because no way will Medicare approve the OmniPod or the Dexcom 7+ that I already have, nor will they approve any of the later models of pump. 
Don’t give up on the Dexcom. Although I have a Medicare supplemental plan and had to fight for it, I was able to get it. I have heard of other people on Medicare being able to get a CGMS so they are slowly coming around. I haven’t heard of anyone getting the pod yet.
Do you know if you are going to get one of the supplemental plans? You will probably have better luck getting what you need thru that.
My 22 month old daughter uses the Ping, and we LOVE it! We’ve had some trouble with error messages but when we’ve called Animas, they’ve been incredible to work with. I cannot say enough positive things about the staff and support. We’ve also had no major problems with the pump itself, but this is the first pump we’ve ever been exposed to, so we have nothing for comparison. Good luck with the Medicare issue!
I’m going to address only one difference between the two pumps: tubing. I wanted my daughter to get an Omni Pod. I thought the tubing was going to major pain, but she wore a trial Omnipod for 3 days, and didn’t like it. She’s had a Ping for 5 months, and we hardly even give that tubing a thought; It’s simply not the annoyance I anticipated.