10 Tips for People with Type 1 Diabetes for Managing Health Insurance
A panel of experts provide their advice for how to
navigate insurance issues and get the diabetes supplies you need at the
best possible cost.
—Amy Bevan–GluMom
—Amy Bevan–GluMom
Glu hosted a presentation and panel discussion on health insurance
for members of the Glu community. Patients, clinicians, and providers
spoke about the health insurance process, shared tips for navigating
coverage, and answered questions from the audience.
Harmeet Chhabra, a health insurance expert, provided an “Insurance
101” overview and some suggestions for cost-savings and trouble-shooting
insurance issues:
-Take advantage of savings offered by mail-in prescription services (often a three-month-supply for the cost of two).
-Purchase supplies like insets and cartridges directly from the
manufacturer (provided the manufacturer is contracted directly with the
insurance company), due to price mark-ups by distributors.
-Read your benefits, medical policies, and obtain cost share
estimates before seeing a provider, getting lab work, or purchasing
equipment or supplies.
-Be clear and concise when contacting your carrier’s member services
department, and if not satisfied, ask to speak with the supervisor.
-Regularly review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements.
-Take advantage of programs and services offered by your carrier,
such as free phone consultations with a diabetes nurse or case manager
or fitness reimbursements.
A panel discussion of patient advocates, endocrinologists, nurses and clinic coordinators offered additional advice:
-“Don’t let things just drop,” said Dr. Mick Davidson, an
endocrinologist. “My impression is that these carriers make members jump
through hoops so that they’ll fail.”
-“If you’re trying to obtain more test strips, send your carrier
studies on how testing blood sugar more frequently reduces A1Cs,”
advised Karen Cullen, a pediatric certified diabetes educator at UMass
Memorial.
-“Always ask if your insurance company has a case management or a
disease management department,” said Jonathan Morello, RN and case
manager for Celticare. “Let them know what would be helpful to you, such
as needing more test strips. See what happens.”
-The panel also suggested recording the name and direct phone number of each person you speak with at your insurance carrier.
What suggestions can you add? Feel free to comment below this article either on myglu.org or on social media.
Source : https://myglu.org/articles/10-tips-for-people-with-type-1-diabetes-for-managing-health-insurance