Minimed, Warranty, and Start Date

[overclock]

So this morning at 4:00 my 511 started going crazy. I looked and lo and behold I had an E21 error. Went thru the process of rewinding and then priming and reprogramming. Well, I had a couple more E21 errors and it just won't stop.

I get up to start getting ready for work and get the error again. So I call Minimed. They say the pump is busted and I need a replacement. "Hold on while I check the warranty of your pump," the CSR tells me. She comes back on the phone and says, "Your warranty expired October 18th." What? One week and a day later my pump dies?!?! Ahhhh! She starts telling me my options of loaners, upgrades, blah, blah, blah. The only thing I'm thinking is I can't afford this right now. So tell her I'll think about it and call back.

I get to work and tell my boss I need to make some phone calls about my pump. Find a nice, private office to make calls from (I don't like everyone knowing I'm diabetic. I enjoy eating a donut just like everyone else.). I call Minimed and explain that this is a replacement pump because my original pump failed. That doesn't matter. Then I say although the pump was shipped on October 18, 2002 I didn't start until November 16, 2002. That made the difference.

I had my warranty updated to reflect the start date of November 16, 2002 and a warranty replacement pump is now on its way.

Moral of the story, call and update the warranty date to reflect when you started using your pump. I've never had anything go out of warranty a week after the warranty expired in my life. There's a first time for everything.

Thanks for reading!

Eric

[JediSkipdogg]

Yeah, warranties start the day you get trained on your pump. Which is another key reason for going to training. Technically, you could buy a pump now, and not use it for 2 years, and you'd still have a warranty till 2012. The only time warranties don't change are on replacement pumps or through the Paradigm program for Minimed or the upgrade program with Deltic-Smith.

Good job on that. What do you plan on doing though if something happens in December?

[jrcskb]

Very helpful information for problems that happen (as "luck" would often have it) in that window of time. Thanks for the tip.

[overclock]

What do you plan on doing though if something happens in December?

I'll be sitting on Santa's lap. "I would like a new pancreas for Christmas. I've been a really good boy."

I've had this replacement pump for about 2 years I think so hopefully the replacement coming tomorrow will last another 2 years.

I got my pump covered 100% under Aetna insurance back in 2002. Yep, 100%. They wouldn't cover Lantus anymore at all but covered a $6000 pump that they paid contractually $4200 for 100%. Whatever. My current insurance, UHC covers 90%. And since this pump was paid for under a different insurance I don't know how they will cover a new pump. I thought about just switching pumps manufacturer but I have about a 2 year supply of pump stuff sitting in my closet.

[notme]

Glad you got the resolved overclock. How scary. MiniMed seems to have the ability to change your warranty date if they "feel" like it. They expired my warranty a month early so I could get a new pump at the end of last year through my insurance company. I am sure glad "my pump" didn't know it had expired! :saint:

[JediSkipdogg]

My current insurance, UHC covers 90%. And since this pump was paid for under a different insurance I don't know how they will cover a new pump. I thought about just switching pumps manufacturer but I have about a 2 year supply of pump stuff sitting in my closet.

They will fully pay for a new pump. I switched, well, upgraded, to a new pump in 2004 after only having my first pump since 2002. I was on a different insurance and so they paid for it no questions asked.

As for the supplies part, just don't order anymore and you'd be surprised how fast they go down. I use to order extra every 3 months, but had such a huge supply I ran out of places to put them that I'd remember. So, now I order every 4-5 months just to use some up. I do want extra, but I still have 10 boxes of cartridges (that's 300 days worth for me, more if used twice.) So just order less and then when the time comes you can see about switching.

And good luck on the pump lasting for 2 years. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't.

[overclock]

Does anyone know what this E21 error is all about? This stupid pump just won't stop giving me this error. I've got the error 3 times in the last 5 minutes. Who knows how many times since 4 AM.

I called my endo and am going to pick up a bottle of Levimir. Never used it before and will only use it for one day.

I can't wait until tomorrow so I can get the replacement. Being so dependant on something like this can drive you to drink. To drink diet carbonated beverages that is.

[spike]

Does anyone know what this E21 error is all about? This stupid pump just won't stop giving me this error. I've got the error 3 times in the last 5 minutes. Who knows how many times since 4 AM.

I called my endo and am going to pick up a bottle of Levimir. Never used it before and will only use it for one day.

I can't wait until tomorrow so I can get the replacement. Being so dependant on something like this can drive you to drink. To drink diet carbonated beverages that is.

Try to find the wallet sized error guide that came with your pump. most of the errors are listed there, IIRC. E21 is listed in the main manual.

Otherwise, call 1-800-MINIMED

[JediSkipdogg]

E21 is an electricity error, either from a wrong voltage battery (What battery do you have in it now?) or from static electricity. What do you carry your pump in?

[overclock]

Try to find

I threw all that stuff away. I was moving and hadn't referred to it for a long time, over 2 years, so I tossed it.

What battery do you have in it now?

A D cell. j/k. Rayovac AAA alkaline. I've used them for years with no problems. I had some Duracells I bought off of ebay but those were getting too old. I got a sweet deal too.

I carry my pump in my pocket. No ESD or anything happened. I don't know why it went E21 on me.

I was trying to use the pump for boluses at least and just deal with the E21 issue. The pump was beeping like a mad dog and I just kept ignoring it. I finally pulled it out of my pocket and the thing was extremely warm and the screen was blank. I yanked the battery and the battery was extremely warm also. It is now dead.

Like I said, this is a replacement of the original pump Minimed sent me in October 2002. My original pump went thru batteries every 4 days or so. I asked someone that I sold some of those ebay Duracells to if he had a problem with the batteries and he said no. I asked the wrong question. I never asked how long his batteries lasted him. I don't remember the exact reason I got the original replaced but it was due to electrical problems also. Batteries in the replacement lasted much longer. Until today that is. That was a brand new battery I just took out of it.

[spike]

You MUST use Energizers; not Duracells. The circuitry in the Paradigm pumps will stop the pump cold in less than a week. you will get 4-6 weeks with an Energizer.

do a search of the forum for my previous posts on the subject.

I've been all through that routine. :)

[JediSkipdogg]

Spike is 100% correct and that is probably why you are getting there error. Here is a post on this forum about the E21 error....

http://www.diabetesforums.com/pumping-insulin/4334-pump-crashes-error-e21.html

[overclock]

Got the replacement pump today. Works like a charm. The old one had software version 2.0A. The new one has 2.1F. Minor differences.

I will use only energizer batteries from now on. Hopefully it will last longer this time. Might as well put the best in a $6,000 device. Why be cheap?

The Minimed CSR said that the E21 error was related to internal pump communications.

One thing I know for sure, I HATE MDI!!! I haven't done MDI for 3 years and 49 weeks. That's how long I've been on the pump. Don't miss it at all. I actually had to go to the endo's office and ask if I could put my used needles in a sharps container since I don't have one at home.

[spike]

I will use only energizer batteries from now on. Hopefully it will last longer this time. Might as well put the best in a $6,000 device. Why be cheap?

The Minimed CSR said that the E21 error was related to internal pump communications.

.

If you are near a Home Depot, they have a pretty good deal on Energizers. I think there are 16 in a pack.

[JediSkipdogg]

If you are near a Home Depot, they have a pretty good deal on Energizers. I think there are 16 in a pack.

Sams Club has the best deal I've ever seen. They have a package of 48 AA for $16 or I think MM uses AAA, those are $12.22 for 24 batteries. Of course, you gotta be a member there first.

[spike]

Sams Club has the best deal I've ever seen. They have a package of 48 AA for $16 or I think MM uses AAA, those are $12.22 for 24 batteries. Of course, you gotta be a member there first.

Yeah, that's a great deal. It would take 4 years to use those batteries, maybe longer, in the MM pump.

[lilituc]

What about Rayovac?

[spike]

What about Rayovac?

Minimed has never mentioned them to me. I've no idea if they will fail in a couple of days like Duracells. You could always give MM a call, if you have some you want to use.

[overclock]

What about Rayovac?

That's what I was using in my pump. I never had a problem with them. I never had a problem with the Duracells either. But JediSkipdogg attributed my E21 problem to the batteries. Having my warranty extended another 3 weeks to 4 years from the start date I don't want to risk something going wrong with this replacement. Over the long run hopefully I save in a copay what I spent on batteries.

I am a member of Sam's and CostCo. I get great insurance rates from Ameriprise and a 7% discount for being a CostCo member. Sam's is close by. Each has their strengths. Next time I'm in Sam's I'll get some Energizers.

Isn't it funny how you can remember the day you went on pump therapy. It really was November 16, 2002. I remember the weirdest things sometimes. I bought my first house on June 14, 2000. Started my first job out of college on June 19, 2000. When's my wedding anniversary?

Thanks for all guys!

[Funnygrl]

I'll be sitting on Santa's lap. "I would like a new pancreas for Christmas. I've been a really good boy."

I've had this replacement pump for about 2 years I think so hopefully the replacement coming tomorrow will last another 2 years.

I got my pump covered 100% under Aetna insurance back in 2002. Yep, 100%. They wouldn't cover Lantus anymore at all but covered a $6000 pump that they paid contractually $4200 for 100%. Whatever. My current insurance, UHC covers 90%. And since this pump was paid for under a different insurance I don't know how they will cover a new pump. I thought about just switching pumps manufacturer but I have about a 2 year supply of pump stuff sitting in my closet.
90% isn't bad. That's like a $450 copay. Might be worth it to get another pump to not have to worry about it.

[overclock]

90% isn't bad. That's like a $450 copay. Might be worth it to get another pump to not have to worry about it.

I thought about it. Minimed extended my warranty this time because I had it only a month before I started using it. He said if I bought it and didn't use if for a year then they wouldn't be so kind. I understand. I spend about $5,500 for healthcare a year for me and my family. We have already blown our budget and I just can't afford another major item this year.