Cost of Dexcom per year

Diabetes Technology Glucose Monitoring
#1

So apparently there is no upgrade from the Ping to the Vibe at this time in Canada (I spoke to Animas last week). I got a quote on the stand-alone Dexcom. The lady on the phone said that the transmitter (which costs $800) has to be replaced approximately every six months and that the sensors (which cost $85) have to be replaced once a week.

I worked it out and that comes to something like $6,000 a year.

My endocrinologist says that the sensors can be worn for two weeks, and I've heard that the transmitter actually lasts more than six months. So that would bring the price dwon to something like $3,000 a year.

That is still insanely expensive if I am paying for this all out of pocket (which I more than likely am). I'm just curious if this is what others are paying. I talked to my endocrinologist about the possibility of only wearing it part-time for "troubleshooting" and he says that can be helpful. But he feels strongly that I would benefit from a CGM and if I get one, I would really like to be able to wear it all the time, especially overnight. I think it would make me more comfortable with running at a lower range, and I'm also looking forward to being able to see exactly what foods do to me and exactly what happens between meals. I'm hoping it would help reveal some patterns that I am not noticing since I am only testing 8-10 times a day.

#2

If you are going stand alone, you will need a $700 receiver. They have a 12 month warranty. I have a Medtronic pump and have budgeted $3000/yr total for the Dexcom. Estimated $800 transmitter for 10 months = $80/mth, $700 receiver for 18 months = $39/mth, sensors $85/20 days = $129/mth for a total of $248/mth or approx. $3000/yr. I have only had the Dexcom for under 6 months, but have been getting at least 21 days per sensor so far, hopefully can do it for around $2500/yr.

#3

I'm in the process of changing my insurance coverage and as a result I cannot see all my claim forms. But here's what I did find out about costs in US dollars with our insurance addled system.

12 sensors are priced at $1497 (amount billed) with a "member rate" of $861 (the negotiated price). I paid 20% of $861 or $172 for 12 sensors.

The transmitter bills out for $799 but the insurance company whacks that down to $399.75. I paid 20% of that, or $79.95.

I called Dexcom recently and they described a program of reduced prices for people paying out of pocket provided they bought a minimum amount per year. They said if you bought 6 boxes (6x3=18 sensors) in 12 months, the price per box was $299 and then $199 per transmitter. If you bought 9 boxes per year then one transmitter was free.

The prices you quoted are comparable. Maybe there's some differences due to currency exchange.

My last transmitter lasted 9 months.

That's a frightful lot of money to dish out but I think my health would suffer without it.

#4

The lady said that the receiver has a rechargable battery and that it can last longer than that, it's just that it won't be covered under warranty (same as using a pump that's not covered under warranty, which I'll be doing come April since my health benefits cover one pump *per lifetime*...). She said the transmitter part is the part where the battery dies that then needs replacing for the system to function.

The start-up kit that I got a quote for has a transmitter, receiver, and four sensors and costs $1,840.

#5

I'm going to see if my health benefits will cover it, but I doubt it considering they only cover one pump per *lifetime* and I'm not wanting to waste that one pump on an upgrade from the Ping to the Vibe. So I'll continue using my Ping out of warranty and would do the same with the Dexcom receiver if it lasted more than a year (and the transmitters if they lasted more than six months). I'm thinking in th ebeginning I will definitely only be wearing this part-time...