In almost all newspapers across the country, the paper has days when they are having a tough time, “filling space”. In addition to this, the hired newspaper employees (writers) are very often under pressure to come up with something new and interesting. Contact writers, starting with the top scribe, from your newspaper and having a,“grabber” of a sound bite to relay to him/her is incredibly easy. Forget voice mail, keep calling until you personally have the writer talkling to you. Unload your prepared wording and immediately ask him/her if you could please be interviewed for an article their readers will find very interesting. You are baiting. DO NOT let the writer start questions on the phone. You will usually get your interview, then study, study, and study some more. Trust me, please, this appt will not be difficult to obtain. Offer to write the article subject to their approval, if your a half-way decent writer. You will read your, or the newspaper writer, article within one month in that newspaper.
Instead of doing nothing but ■■■■■ about Ins. Co’s., lets get pro-active. Power in numbers is true!
Radio talk shows and political groups are truly not much more difficult.
Sooner, or later, one of us will be contacted by a semi-famous personality who will find this idea an excellent way to improve their career.
The pressure on Ins. Co’s. will quite possibly become tremendous within one year, depending on how many of us will actually finish this fun job. At this point in time, appeals will have ended.
I will be proud and happy to help you in any way I can.
Friends, all of you, lets get the ball rolling.
Jim Devlin
Great idea – well said!
Had my article printed in The Oakland Press-Opinion page, April 23,2009. Michigan
I hunted down Jim’s “opinion entry”. Well said, Jim! I don’t know how many weeks the link might work, many newspapers start limiting online access by non-subscribers after a week or two. But right now, it’s available here:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/04/23/opinion/doc49f03382e6d95399227604.txt
I also went to my congressman’s office. They have done virtually nothing. What do you all think about the Chicago, Detroit, South Bend etc. TV station? They often do human intrest stories to help people.
Many insurance companies are putting CGMS on their fee schedules- if not now, then setting future dates. Unfortunately, most insurance companies that do have CGMS on their fee schedules require prior-authorization which is a process in which insurance companies will review their members, case by case, and determine if the CGMS is medically necessary. It’s frustrating, but case by case we’re winning, and I do everything I can every day to help people receive CGMS therapy. If anyone has any questions about what insurances cover them and how, please drop me a line. And, finding an insurance that covers CGMS is half the battle- you also need to find a DME facility contracted with that insurance.
CGMS is a god sent to many people and as a diabetic, I understand the frustration many people feel. Please contact me if you feel I can help at all.
06-07-09 jan,do you know if medicaid is covering the transmitter and sensors now?please send me an email @//odesbrwn@aol.com if you would.thank you// i have not heard that medicare or medicaid will cover the sensors or transmitter.
My insurance is HUMANA PPO (ChoiceCare). Their HQ is in Lexington KY, and they approved my 3 1/2 year old son’s MM Guardian with no appeal necessary. We just got it and had training today. We are really excited!
Congratulations!!!
I have Midicare Plus Blue, in Michigan, and have just had my second appeal denied. Now BC/BS is sending my file to Maximus Federal Services, Inc. They are the independent review entity that Medicare uses.
I can add to my well-done appeal packages Maximus will receive from BC/BS.
I have seen a list of the Ins. Co’s. that cover CGM’s but now cannot locate it. If you would furnish me with this list it would be great. Any advice or info. you can add would surely be appreciated. I don’t even know what the format is with Maximus, My email is:jmd44@att.net
Thank you very much.
I have an option to switch insurance to Group Health Cooperative, Seattle. Has anyone had success with CGM coverage with them?
Health Alliance Plan (HAP). I think this is Michigan only, not sure. I will pay the first 20% for the entire CGM product. Getting it Jan. 1st.
Left Blue Cross and joined HAP, in order to obtain the CGM, which goes into effect Jan.1. I am also on Medicare as I’m over 65. HAP is my secondary Ins.
HAP requires me to be a Type 1, have an Endo., and supply 30 days of most recent blood tests. They need to be sure I need a CGM. I will have no problem with any of these requirements.
Do you know if Medicare pays toward the CGMS as your primary? My husband just recently was enrolled in Medicare as he is on disability for end-stage kidney disease from his diabetes. I fought for 1 year with Keystone Health Plan East to get coverage for the CGMS. And then when Keystone is forced to cover it, they pay hardly anything! I owe MinMed hundreds & hundreds of $$$$. My account is constantly “on hold” & my husband had to stop using the CGMS as a result. I just completed all those ridiculous and time consuming requirements for Medicare to cover his diabetes supplies but never inquired about coverage for the CGMS, I was so wrapped up in all the mind-numbing bull I had to deal with.
Thanks!
Hi Cindy, unfortunately no, Medicare will not cover CGMS and they do not make exceptions. What you’ll need is a secondary insurance, not a medicare supplement, that will cover for CGMS and that a provider is willing to work with. You may want to look into some of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPO policies.
Best of luck, and I’m sorry this is so difficult! If you have any other questions I’m happy to try to help!
Daniel