Desperately wondering any cheap way to get hooked onto a pump besides going on insura

[LiveNormal]

As the thread name suggests, anybody has any idea where to get insulin pump at discounted price for those not covered by insurance? Isn’t the idea of insulin pump the same as BS tester? The manufacturer is eyeing on the test strips (infusion set/reservoir in pump case) and would not mind giving away the tester (or pump) for free? Or am I just day dreaming away …

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Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard
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[spike]

The pump mfgrs don't follow the meter mfgrs in giving away "the razor" to sell the "blades". Your best bet is to scour the net for a used one or see if a mfgr has any refurbs for sale. Since it's illegal to sell a pump, Ebay won't allow pumps for sale.

[JediSkipdogg]

Spike is right on the BG thing. The reason is because pumps are so much more complex in design and have a longer warranty period where they have to overnight one to you if it breaks. Basically, the replacement policy is alot better and easier.

The other thing is, who says you must use the pump makers infusion sets? So why would Animas give mea free pump and then I go and buy Accu-Chek infusion sets so they make no profit what-so-ever.

As for ways to lessen the cost, there aren't that I have found. You can ask about buying an older model and they may sell that at a discounted rate. Also, all pump companies have payment plans. I know from a recent discussion on here MM has one but they charge something like $5 per payment you make. I believe the one Animas has charges nothing, but don't quote me on that.

[Funnygrl]

As the thread name suggests, anybody has any idea where to get insulin pump at discounted price for those not covered by insurance? Isn’t the idea of insulin pump the same as BS tester? The manufacturer is eyeing on the test strips (infusion set/reservoir in pump case) and would not mind giving away the tester (or pump) for free? Or am I just day dreaming away …

-------------------------------------------
Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard
-------------------------------------------
No, it doesn't work that way at all. Especially since most pumps can use an infusion set made by any company.

Even if you did find a pump for say $1k online somewhere- it would have NO warranty, nor would you be legal. This would mean if your pump broke, you would be on your own in terms of buying another one. It could also mean your doctor wouldn't write scripts for infusion sets and such.

Also, the ongoing cost of a pump can be incredible- sets, cartridges, IV Prep, IV3000, extra strips, insulin....it can all lead to over $300 a month.

[LiveNormal]

Must be the wacky BS lately that have caused me wishing for the stars in sky...

Thanks for all of your comments anyway

-------------------------------------------
Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard

[JasonJayhawk]

If you look at the actual design of the pump, the actual cost of manufacturing it is probably less than $50 of materials and foreign labor.

The rest of that $5,000 price tag goes to 24 hour phone support, research, payments to patent holders (I wonder of Dean Kamen still collects money for his insulin pump invention (Patent 3,858,581), anyone know?), lawsuit insurance, and paying the stockholders and executive bonuses. :)

[egi]

Try the refurbished pump route.

I know Animas have refurbished units for about half the list price
and the others might have them too.

[spike]

Must be the wacky BS lately that have caused me wishing for the stars in sky...

Thanks for all of your comments anyway

-------------------------------------------
Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard

You can get sets and resevoirs from MM for $175 per month, with changes every 3 days. you need insulin and strips if you are doing MDI anyway, so that's an expense separate from pumping.

[Funnygrl]

Even without a pump you would probably do better if you got off insulatard and actrapid.

[poodlebone]

If you look at the actual design of the pump, the actual cost of manufacturing it is probably less than $50 of materials and foreign labor.


Aren't most of the pumps (except the Spirit) made in the USA? I remember seeing some TV show not too long ago that visited the Cozmo factory. Don't recall where it was, but it was definitely in the USA and the workers they showed seemed American to me!

[Funnygrl]

Aren't most of the pumps (except the Spirit) made in the USA? I remember seeing some TV show not too long ago that visited the Cozmo factory. Don't recall where it was, but it was definitely in the USA and the workers they showed seemed American to me!
Yeah, Animas and MM are made in the US too. Travel Channel visited Smith's plant in Minnesota iirc.

[LiveNormal]

You can get sets and resevoirs from MM for $175 per month, with changes every 3 days. you need insulin and strips if you are doing MDI anyway, so that's an expense separate from pumping.

Ironically, my insurance covers strips and insulin but nothing for pump and pump related consummables :dontknow:

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Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard

[Moonlitknight]

I called my Human Resources dept. many times before our
insurance covered pumps. It is not your insurance company that does not cover them, it is what your company has asked them to cover.
If you bug your company a bit, hopefully they will consider it.
It took 2 years for me but finally they said yes.
Good luck

[JediSkipdogg]

Yes, your company is the one that doesn't want to pay into the duarble medical supply categor. Right now at my work I've been selected to be a member of our Medical Insurance team as our rates went up 14% this year with Humana. So, they want to find the best way to cut costs by either lowering coverage in areas, or making workers pay a part of their insurance.

When choosing medical insurance you have to select each category how much coverage you want and then that chooses your fees and such. If a company wanted, they could get rock bottom rates by taking prescriptions off their policies since prescriptions make up the largest part for insurance companies.

[Funnygrl]

Ironically, my insurance covers strips and insulin but nothing for pump and pump related consummables :dontknow:

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Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard
Have you looked into new insulins to improve your control NOW?

[spike]

Ironically, my insurance covers strips and insulin but nothing for pump and pump related consummables :dontknow:



That's not unheard of. Strip coverage is fairly common and I've had insurance that sucked when it came to pump coverage. My current, BlueCross PPO covers 90%.

[Steve Beauchamp]

To the poster who talks about foreign made pumps. I know for a fact that Animas is all American and is made just outside of Philadelphia. I can't speak for the other companies but I believe that Deltec and Medtronic is also done here in the US.

[JediSkipdogg]

Yes, Animas, Omnipod, Deltic, and Minimed are all American...THat is the reason the Spirit took so long to come to the US because for quite a while the United States had a ban on ALL imported pumps, which for a bit hurt the pump industry and it was recently lifted (I believe in August.)

American
Animas (http://www.animascorp.com/) - West Chester, PA
Minimed (http://www.minimed.com/) - Northridge, CA
Deltic-Smith Cozmore (http://www.cozmore.com/) - St. Paul, MN
Omnipod (http://www.myomnipod.com/) - Bedford, MA
Nipro (http://www.niprodiabetes.com/) - Miramar, FL

Foreign
Dana (http://www.sooil.com/english/product_dana.htm) - Seoul, Korea
Disetronic (Accu-Chek Spirit maker) (http://www.disetronic-usa.com/) - Burgdorf, Switzerland

I bet you all didn't know that many pumps were available.

[LiveNormal]

I called my Human Resources dept. many times before our
insurance covered pumps. It is not your insurance company that does not cover them, it is what your company has asked them to cover.
If you bug your company a bit, hopefully they will consider it.
It took 2 years for me but finally they said yes.
Good luck

You are absolutely right. What covers and what not really depends on the company’s attitude. Allias, my company is the typical Chinese company with a motto known as “save money I can”!

2 years to finally make them say yes, a long battle isn’t it? What makes the HR and the insurance company finally say yes? Is this coverage exceptionally made for you only? Do you need to pay more premium than others? I would like to follow your path in fighting the case if you don't mind …:ridinghor

Have you looked into new insulins to improve your control NOW?
Fast acting insulin like Humalog and NPH would be my next best thing to try. But my current problems are spiking BS when wake up, spiking BS in the evening before dinner after exercise (I would consider it low intensity). My after meal BS is quite ok. So I would get what needs change is with the basal insulin. As previously mentioned, my endo told me NPH is safer than other peakless basal in the market when coming to trying to conceive. So it seems I have not much choice but to go with insulin pump.

[Funnygrl]

Fast acting insulin like Humalog and NPH would be my next best thing to try. But my current problems are spiking BS when wake up, spiking BS in the evening before dinner after exercise (I would consider it low intensity). My after meal BS is quite ok. So I would get what needs change is with the basal insulin. As previously mentioned, my endo told me NPH is safer than other peakless basal in the market when coming to trying to conceive. So it seems I have not much choice but to go with insulin pump.

NPH is the same as the insulutard you are on now. It's not fast acting, it's intermediate acting. Your best bet is Humalog, Apidra, or Novolog and Lantus or Levemir.

[LiveNormal]

NPH is the same as the insulutard you are on now. It's not fast acting, it's intermediate acting. Your best bet is Humalog, Apidra, or Novolog and Lantus or Levemir.

Some misunderstanding here... I meant to say next best switch for me would be from regular insulin to fast insulin. Endo does not quite agree with me switching from insulatard to Lantus or Levemir for basal since they are not that "proven" clinically.

[Funnygrl]

Some misunderstanding here... I meant to say next best switch for me would be from regular insulin to fast insulin. Endo does not quite agree with me switching from insulatard to Lantus or Levemir for basal since they are not that "proven" clinically.
Hmmm...I am gonna have to say your doctor sounds quite outdated in his thinking.

[lilituc]

Some misunderstanding here... I meant to say next best switch for me would be from regular insulin to fast insulin. Endo does not quite agree with me switching from insulatard to Lantus or Levemir for basal since they are not that "proven" clinically.

*jaw drops*

*silence*

[spike]

Endo does not quite agree with me switching from insulatard to Lantus or Levemir for basal since they are not that "proven" clinically.

Geez, what an odd comment for an endo to utter. Ever consider changing endos?? Lantus "not proven clinically"? My, my...

[Funnygrl]

Geez, what an odd comment for an endo to utter. Ever consider changing endos?? Lantus "not proven clinically"? My, my...
It should be more like NPH is disproven clinically.

[lilituc]

Anyone know where there's a copy of that NPH three-day action chart John Walsh put in Using Insulin?

If we're talking strictly during pregnancy, Lantus may not be "approved" but there are a lot of people here who took Lantus while pregnant.

[spike]

Anyone know where there's a copy of that NPH three-day action chart John Walsh put in Using Insulin?

If we're talking strictly during pregnancy, Lantus may not be "approved" but there are a lot of people here who took Lantus while pregnant.

oh, and Humalog wasn't approved for pump use either...but I haven't had any trouble during 9+ years of using it. Before it was available I had to make do with Velosulin, which was approved for pumps. I'll take Humalog over Velosulin in a heartbeat. In fact, is Velosulin even on the market now???

[notme]

I probably have it in my OLD John Walsh book. I will look around. eeek....

[Funnygrl]

Anyone know where there's a copy of that NPH three-day action chart John Walsh put in Using Insulin?

If we're talking strictly during pregnancy, Lantus may not be "approved" but there are a lot of people here who took Lantus while pregnant.
Lantus, Humalog, Apidra, Levemir, and Novolog are all category C for pregnancy.

N, R, Lente, and Ultralente are category B.

[lilituc]

Lantus, Humalog, Apidra, Levemir, and Novolog are all category C for pregnancy.

N, R, Lente, and Ultralente are category B.

Yes, that is why many endos and ob/gyns will not prescribe Lantus for pregnancy. Lente and Ultralente are no longer available, by the way. It's sad because they were very popular for cats.

[JasonJayhawk]

Some misunderstanding here... I meant to say next best switch for me would be from regular insulin to fast insulin. Endo does not quite agree with me switching from insulatard to Lantus or Levemir for basal since they are not that "proven" clinically.

:motz: :slug: :stupido: :turtle:
:puke:
:puke:
:puke:
:puke:

What country do you live in?

Your doctor may have the complex of, "If I haven't studied it or been informed about it by a drug rep, then it does not exist and cannot exist."

Good luck. :motz:

[LiveNormal]

Hmmm...I am gonna have to say your doctor sounds quite outdated in his thinking.

I need to admit that my endo, as an individual, is quite conservative in suggesting new drugs to patients. He won't even write me the prescription of having to do 8 BS test strips a day. He thinks that is too much of testing to do.

Reason for me still wanting to be with him is that I can email him anytime for any question that I might have in my BS management (but I found that web has tons of information as long as I am willing to dig), and he does not sound like a businessman to me.

In the process of looking for a pump, I have found another endo that might fit my bill, though he is a true businessman to me in any angle. I will talk to him again to feel how he is when I see him in 2 weeks time.