So, I have been using G4 x 6 months, and the new transmitters have battery life about 6 months. I called Edgepark to order and I learned: - They need to put it through insurance authorization again, despite the fact that sensors are approved already for long term use
- apparently some insurances require current transmitter malfunction prior to authorizing replacement. I asked rep I she understands that malfunction of this device could cost my life and why should I wait for it, she said that this is what they have to work with
So I said that I have been having problems with no signal recently. And they will start working on the order. Insurance authorization may take 2-4 weeks, so if we wait for transmitter to go low battery we may be in a trouble.
I order through Dexcom, and they told me that they get insurance approval for the system and also for the 6 month replacement transmitter at the same time. We'll see if it works that way when I am due for a new one in a few months...
Edgepark is a hassle for sure. maybe we should re order every 5 months allowing for the process to take place. i think they make it hard so we give up trying. hang in there!
Sounds logical but not a solution. Apparently transmitter has 6 months warranty and the request for a new one has to be done once 6 months lapse. I sure hope transmitter will last for longer then 6 months, it's already does. I just want to have a next one ready once it's needed, and not go through 2-4 weeks approval process then.
Dexcom submitted for authorization of two transmitters but my insurance would only approve one and expired Dec 31 2012 so I would need a new preauth for 2013. I intend to call Dexcom when I get the low transmitter warning. My Seven Plus lasted well past the warranty I had it over 2 1/2 years.
Right now I figure they estimate transmitters may last 9 months but since this version of the product is new it’s too soon to tell yet as we’re just now coming up on 6 months for some. It may last longer who knows. I know the packaging helps keep the transmitter from activating but still given that it’s not rechargeable a transmitter sitting on the shelf does me no good and if it accidentally comes loose from the magnet and activates then I’m wasting significant transmitter time. Plus my copay is a flat 15%. If I only have two copays in 18 months vs 3 then I save money.
Yes there’s only a week to get the preauth but often times replacement supplies don’t take that long to go through the process as the initial preauth does.
My G4 is 6 months old today. I'm going to wait until I get some kind of warning on a low transmitter battery. Dexcom has always been conservative on their warranty periods. I suspect that the transmitter will last much longer than six months, maybe even till one year. At that point I will qualify for insurance coverage for a new transmitter and receiver. Time will tell...
I noticed on the G4 receiver, under Settings - Device Info - It has info for Transmitter Battery. Mine says OK. I wonder if it will first switch to LOW, before it totally dies ??
I checked the user guide, but could not find anything regarding what values besides OK might appear.
I will see people from DEXCOM tomorrow, will try to remember to ask. One would think it should give you a decent warning but I was expecting it from Omnipod I run into trouble few times.
I asked DEXCOM rep about the warning about low transmitter battery. Yes, there is a warning. Once the warning appears there is abut 7 days of battery life remaining. Apparently, if CGM is ordered through DEXCOM, they request insurance approval for 2 transmitters + receiver + sensors = all together. It looks that this is not a case with Edgepark.
It sounds like a good idea to have a transmitter ready once 6 -7 months pass.
They said that the battery life is definitively shorter then Dexcom 7, but this is the trade for increase in distance the transmitter can still communicate with receiver. I hope this helps.
I just got off the phone with Dex customer support re low transmitter warnings. He told me that it will announce itself as an audible alarm much like a low glucose alert or the 55 alarm. He referred me to page 203 of the User's Guide. Sure enough, there's a "Low Battery, Order New Transmitter" alert and a "Transmitter Failed, Replace Transmitter" alert. He told me that the low transmitter battery alert should be a 7 day warning.
Since I purchased the system directly from Dexcom (using insurance), I asked him if I was already approved for the second transmitter. He told me to call and talk to the sales department. I'll do that soon. My G4 system was 6 months old on May 2nd.
My transmitter just gave me the warning of low power. I have had it over a year, but it has not stopped working with a day. I am now flying blind! Where can i simply buy a transmitter? I am very disappointed with the Dexcom response of “It has to be submitted through your Durable Medical Equipment Insurance department” I need it now, not Several days from now. Money is no longer that important, I will do anything I can to get this working, quickly. I live in Long Beach, CA. Anyplace where I can get even an expired transmitter that I could buy?
