Why oh why aren't batteries and IV300 covered?!

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#1

So…mr pumpy doesn’t work without batteries. Mr pumpy and the rest of his supplies are covered–but not the batteries that make him work. And not the IV 3000 that it takes to keep an infusion set in for the third day sometimes…

CGMS and supplies are covered–oh…except the IV 3000 needed to put under him and over him to keep him on and my skin away from the adhesive it doesn’t like–and the batteries to charge him

Alcohol/alcohol wipes??

neosporin or the like for infusion and CGMS site care…

Hearing aids are covered–but not the batteries that make em work–

And why isn’t contact lens cleaner and wetting solution etc. not covered (I can’t wear them anymore–but that is not the point) since you can’t wear them without the stuff…

Batteries for a spinal cord stimulator–nope–not covered—it doesn’t work w/o them either (well you can’t turn it on/off or change the setting without the remote–the rest is implanted–no I do not have one but my husband does)

Vitamins–well my mega vitamin D is–but my plan is an exception from what the pharmasist says…

shoes & diabetic socks…

Just a curiosity…it is not just about the $$–because many of these things pay for themselves in avoided expenses (larger ones) etc…just the weirdness of things tha would seem to be common sense…

#2

My IV3000 is covered 100%.

I have a documented latex allergy and adhesive allergy, so they cover my IV3000 or Tegaderm HP (depending on what Medtronic has in stock) 100%.

#3

I know, it’s so weird. I used to have the Disetronic HTron pump, and it had special batteries that cost like $10 apiece. so in addition to NOT being able to buy them at a local store, It was like $20/month out of pocket, because there were 2 batteries. Now the new Spirit uses AA. Consumer Reports recently did a thing on batteries, and they recommend the Costco brand Kirkland as a best buy.

I know the IV3000s are very expensive, I am fortunate my insurance covers them.

#4

I save all my receipts for batteries, dressing, glucose tabs, etc and report it as medical expenses on my taxes. My mom did that the whole time I was growing up and I’ve just continued the process. Of course, as a child, my insurance DID cover batteries, alcohol swabs, etc. And if I order these things from a DME supplier that is a provider on my plan, I still sometimes see them covered.