What do you pay in the US for 90 day supply of Dexcom? (Using Dexcom in New Zealand)

Type 1 and LADA
1

First I should say that I’m an American living in New Zealand. Dexcom is ALMOST (but not quite) funded on the public health system, so I have been having to buy my sensors for a little while now.

In May I finally depleted the supply of G6 that I brought with me from the US (reusing sensors with some extra transmitters I had), so now I’m going to have to pay cash until public health funding is approved, hopefully by the end of 2024.

The price for a 90-day supply through Dexcom’s NZ supplier, NZMS Diabetes, is $1,138.50 NZD. In USD that wobbles between $670 - $730 depending on what the currency exchange is doing.

NZMS Diabetes run promotions to try and make it “fun”, by occasionally giving away Dexcom branded “travel bags” and water bottles. I’m a “Dexcom Warrior” and get invitations to various events meant to bring the Dexcom community together.

I’ve just had to buy two more months, hoping to bridge me until public funding finally comes through. When that happens, they will be provided at my local pharmacy at no cost.

Does anyone know what the cash purchase price for Dexcom in the US is? I read that they offer a $210 discount for cash pay, but they don’t actually list the cost.

Despite the cost, I have to remind myself that I am no longer paying expensive health insurance premiums, copays, coinsurance, etc. All of my medications, T:slim pump and supplies cost me nothing out of pocket. The only thing we pay for is to see our GP ($60-70 NZD, about $35-40 USD), we don’t pay anything additional lab tests, scans, etc. So on the whole it’s a fair trade. Still, I can’t wait to not have to pay that $1,100+ every 3 months.

2

I’m using the G7 in the US but the costs are almost identical with the G6. The 90 day supply I obtained on 30 June 2024 cost me exactly USD $1062.64.

I have US insurance. According to the supplier the “cash” price is $1371.15 but bear in mind that I also have to pay for the insurance.

The cost for people in the US without insurance is probably less.

But US insurance is simple: you pay $9,450 in addition to the insurance then you are covered:

So in the US you pay a maximum amount per year before the insurance kicks in. The maximum is limited by law (as above) but you may be able to get a lower maximum if you pay (directly or indirectly) more for the insurance.

I pay $11,442 per year for the insurance, then I pay $7,900 until the insurance pays out (like I said, the actual amount depends on the specific policy; hey, it’s complicated!)

I could do it cheaper by not using a CGM. I can get insulin for about $30 for a months supply and syringes are cheap on Amazon. I did, in fact, do that for most of my life; it really is cheap to be a T1, maybe $50/month, but then you die.

At present the total cost in the US for T1 or any other of the major chronic illnesses is more than $1,500/month; around $20,000/year. Spend it or die.

3

Unfortunately there isn’t a “cash pay price” or a “retail price” for Dexcom products in the US. We pay whatever the supplier wants to charge. Few suppliers advertise a price. The couple I’ve found are Continuous Glucose Monitoring Supplies – US MED DIRECT and Better Living Now - Health Care Products, Programs and Services

$670-730USD sounds like a good price to me. My health plan pays the supplier $1463. Medicare pays suppliers $776.31- $913.29 depending on what state you are in.

I recently few AirNZ. If it weren’t against the rules I’d offer to send you a spare sensor if you’d send me Kapiti ice cream.

4

The GoodRx price for 9 G7s is $512. It’s pretty easy to look up if you want to check a G6 transmitter plus 9 sensors.

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5

Amazon shows a 30 day supply of G6 sensors, cash price, is $369.69 but there’s also a note saying you can apply a $210 coupon if eligible. It looks like anyone on any government insurance is not eligible. So, if that coupon can be used it brings down the price to $159.69 for 3 sensors. I don’t know if they offer a 90 day supply and you do need a prescription for them.

6

Another way to keep your costs down would be Australia-based Anubis G6 transmitters. Last much longer than regular transmitters and I believe make it easier to extend sensors, but I’m not 100% sure about the details as I’ve never gotten one. I think you have to contact them through Facebook which I’m not on.