I am a 73 year old Type 1 for 58 years, used Medtronic Paradigm for 20 years along with Dexcom. I have severe Hypoglycemic Unawareness and ignore alarms while sleeping. We have changed nighttime/daytime basals but still getting lows. My Endo suggested a Tandem but my four year Medtronic warranty isn’t up until September 2021. According to Medicare the warranty will end in 5 years or Sept 2022. My Endo hasn’t been able to get me any help. Does anyone have any help or suggestions for me?
Do you have older Medtronic model, or newer ones that have features similar to Tandem?
The later Medtronic pumps with Guardian 3 cgms seem to have fixed many problems from earlier versions.
Which medtronic model pump do you have?
Another approach is to find ways to make the low alerts louder, or shared with followers so they can respond when you are not.
If medicare covered the purchase of your pump, then yes, medicare will cover for 5 years, regardless of Medtronic warranty. So 2022 would be when Medicare would cover a new one.
@Rphil2 may have more ideas.
Have you actually called Tandem? They want to convert patients over, so they’re usually pretty good about offering upgrade opportunities… But at a cost. I don’t know what they’re currently offering, though.
In the meantime, I’d definitely keep on working on what’s causing the lows. Maybe you need a bigger basal adjustment yet… or could evening snacking be the culprit? As in, eating late, so you go to bed spiked, and crash in the middle of the night.
Do you have a smart phone? If so, what sort of phone is it? I use an app called Xdrip (doesn’t work on Iphones) on my phone, not the original Dexcom app, that has very customizable alert options. I have a nighttime scary low one set up that is absolutely impossible for me… Or anyone else in the house, for that matter… to ignore.
My lows are random and unexplainable. My Endo and I have made multiple nighttime basal adjustments. Each time it is lowered I am okay for a while then really high readings in the early mornings until we gradually lower the basal. I am not a snacker at all and have an iPhone. I also have Happy Bob and Sugarmate. I contacted my Medicare Advantage insurance and at your suggestion, will call Tandem and hope for the best. Thank you!
I am sorry but in replying I have to start with a disclaimer. I am a Medtronic ambassador. They do not pay me, my statements are all my own. I am merely a patient no more or less. However they did give me a cool shirt and a plastic mug. I like the shirt
What has been said is all correct to the best of my knowledge. Your Medicare warranty is five years.
I use the 770g and have found it terrific improvement. Less false alarms, less. Issues overall. It does have share which my wife loves. Being in the 770 will provide an automatic upgrade likely in 2022,
If you want to upgrade now medtronic has many ways to upgrade without extending your warranty. I chose a $300 upgrade fee that left my 2022 warranty date in tact and put me in line for the 780 upgrade.
Unfortunately the only way to use share and the new g3 features are only available if one upgrades the pump. As I understand it I think - think not know - you can use the g3 transmitter with the 670 but that does not alter the pump features.
My best advice is talk to a medtronic rep if you are interested. If you wish ti provide me your name and email address I can have someone reach out at a higher level of medtronic. You can message me your email if wish. My front facing email is info@radiabetes.com.
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It sounds like you definitely need a pump that will shu5 off insulin when you go low. Both tandem and Medtronic will do that. I hated the Medtronic sensors, but maybe better now.
The tandem and dexcom combo allows you to not need calibration.
Calibrating the Medtronic was irritating because it seems like it was always the middle of the night when I needed to.
I calibrate the dex only when I feel like it and that’s rare.
Tandem takes getting used to though.
Good luck tho which ever you choose
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I am also 73 and use the Tandem t-slim with Dexcom G6. I have original Medicare that pays for the pump, supplies and Dexcom. I use the Dexcom app on my iPhone.
The Dexcom app mirrors the alerts from the Dexcom/pump so that any low BG alert will sound on the iPhone as well as the pump. The volume is controlled by the iPhone.so you can increase it loud enough to hopefully wake you even before you hit the really low point at 55mg/dl.
If you can afford an Apple Watch, it can be setup with Dexcom to cause vibrating allerts and display your BG in real time.
Switching pumps will be expensive as it will likely be self-pay.
The Tandem sounds like it would be perfect for me! Checked with Tandem and I will have to wait until September 2022 for insurance to cover.
Hi John,
I am 74 and switching to original medicare because of a move to a new location that doesn’t have my Advantage plan. I am using a tandem t-slim and g6 sensors and use the dexcom app on my iPhone. According to what I have read on original medicare it only covers sensors if a receiver is used. The only time my receiver worked, the signal was lost on the pump. Did you have any problems with getting coverage?
I called dexcom and was told that I could not use the receiver with the pump. I’m now waiting for a call back from tandem.
My understanding is that the Tandem pump is considered to be a receiver. Check with your medicare provider or Tandem to confirm.
The reason being MC does not allow the phone app to be only device to display cgm data.
Thank you. I am looking into that now. Tandem said that you can only have one medical device on the g6 transmitter and that is the pump. The g6 receiver is a medical device. I will try to verify with the medical provider.
There is no need to actually use the receiver that comes with the G6. Dexcom has to send it with your starter kit/first set of sensors to meet Medicare’s DME requirement so it is paid for by Part B. After that you just use the Tandem & iphone to display the G6 data and manage the sensor setup, etc.
Medicare started paying for it around 2015. I never used the display once the iPhone app was available. None of my Dexcom displays Medicare paid for have ever been out of the box.
So, don’t worry. Medicare does not care that you do not use your Dexcom display. It’s a ‘rule’ they totally ignore.
PS - I also have an the Apple Watch, version four to display the G6 data provided by the iohone. Really practical as you do not need to constantly pull out your phone to check BG.
@Jo15
Is there a reason you do not want to add the Guardian3 CGM? I rarely go low because it stops my pump from pumping insulin when it anticipates my going low. I don’t know the cost of the transmitter but Medtronic only charges $60 for a box of 10 sensors if your insurance doesn’t cover sensors. You may want to consider getting the Medtronic CGM to help you until September.
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