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View Full Version : Frustrated frustrated frustrated!!!


notme
07-01-2004, 09:59 AM
I guess this is more of a rant than anything but also a warning to others who DEPEND on the insurance company for supplies.

I had been ordering my supplies through MiniMed for the past two years. Everything from my Quicksets to my IV prep and batteries came from them. Last October I ordered my supplies from Medtronic and was told there were certain things that I could not get through them anymore. My insurance wouldn't pay. I decided to find a company that my insurance contracted with to get ALL of my supplies instead of calling two different companies. I found EdgePark after 100 different phone calls to the insurance company and several durable medical equipment companies. I started ordering my supplies through them last October. Everything went fine until March of this year. I ordered my supplies and got my EOB fromt he insurance company saying they would not pay the bill for my Quicksets. They said I ordered them before the contract with EdgePark started. I called talked to someone they said yes they should be paid and they would resubmit. The next month I got an overdue notice from EdgePark for over $900.00. Called the insurance company they once again agreed it should be paid and said they would send it to a supervisor with URGENT written on it so I could order supplies. EdgePark did not want to send me anything with an outstanding $800.00 bill. I recieved a letter from my insurance company saying they had reviewed the bill and that they stood by their original claim and would NOT pay the bill. I called again and they said yes it should be paid and that they would once again submit it to a supervisor with more detail and mark it Urgent. I also called my husbands company and explained the mess. They also got involved. It is now the end of June. I am about out of quicksets and no resolution in sight. EdgePark won't send me the canulas and United Healthcare won't pay the bill. If I want the canulas, I will have to pay the bill and the pay up front for the next supply. $1,800.00 worth. I have called people till they are sick of hearing from me, with no answers. Luckily for me I know a lady that got a kidney/pancreas transplant and she gave me her silhouettes and some extra supplies. (She is no longer pumping any insulin at all!)

The moral of this story is STOCKPILE supplies. I know the insurance companies will cringe if they read this. Problems crop up and nobody seems to care that this is like giving a diabetic insulin with no needles.

Rant over!

Nancy

lgvincent
07-01-2004, 10:56 AM
That is horrible.

amyjean
07-01-2004, 03:32 PM
Nancy,

I am going through a similar thing with Minimed and my old insurnace company except its on the pump not supplies. My insurance said they would pay a certian amount and now after 10 months they don't want to pay the full amount. I am sorry you are going through this. I hope you are able to work things out. I have noticed supplies on ebay for cheap if it comes to that.

notme
07-01-2004, 05:18 PM
Thank you amyjean. I have just found out that it appears MiniMed (Medtronic) is not supplying insurance companies with any contract rates anymore for supplies. In the past I got my supplies from MiniMed. Then one month I called and was told by MiniMed they could no longer get me certain supplies as they were no longer a contracting provider. So, I found another provider called EdgePark. From what I can gather, they are not giving any of the large insurance companies a break anymore. In return the other suppliers (like EdgePark) can't give a contract rate either. The insurance companies will not pay full boat so we are at an impass. I am really starting to believe that Medtronic is trying to have a monopoly on their supplies. Just the fact that they have gone from using the universal leur lock infusion sets is worrysome. I think I will be looking elsewhere for a pump and supplies in the near future.

Nancy

I hope you get your issues resolved with Medtronic soon! Their billing department is the pits!

Dewey
07-01-2004, 06:15 PM
Notme,

I hope things work out for you, and I am really sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with your supplies. Amyjean is right about cheaper supplies being available on eBay. I just bought one box of Minimed Polyfin sets and am trying to purchase more. Many times, you can get sets for less than what they normally retail for, and there is usually a good selection available on eBay.

Amyjean,

You may also want to check eBay for strips (if you haven't yet). Hope this helps, and hope you both get a good resolution out of all that's happened.

notme
07-01-2004, 09:12 PM
Thanks Dewey and amyjean. I will check again. Last time I looked I could only find supplies for the paradigm. I will do another check and see if anything has cropped up.

Nancy

amyjean
07-02-2004, 07:33 AM
Nancy,

After getting my pump from Mininmed I slowly starting learning more about the company. It seems like ever since Medtronic took over Minimed it has gone down hill. If I could just give my pump back and go with another company I would. I don't want to offend anyone out there who uses minimed and likes them. I just know for me they have been a pain to work with. I do hope you can find the supplies you need for a good cost. The last thing you need to add to your plate is stress. Keep us posted.

Amy

rzrbks
07-02-2004, 12:45 PM
notme,

Back when my CDE was Really pushing for me to go on the Pump, I did Lots of homework and that was when I decided I'd go with the Cosmo from Deltec. {{BTW, I'm still not on the Pump, still with InDuo and MDI--just my personal Route}}

It turns out that Deltec and Minimed were allied at one point and then Deltec was forced out even tho they's been in the medical electronic business much longer than Minimed-----Plus I just really liked the Deltec people much better, having visited with them at several Diabetes Symposiums------and I too get my supplies through Edgep[ark and they have been very helpful-Here's hoping things improve for you

notme
07-02-2004, 12:49 PM
I think you were smart rz. Seems that MiniMed is turning themselves into quite a little monopoly at our expense. I know medical supplies aren't cheap, but they are out of range, especially when they won't give contract rates. I found the website for SimpleChoice and I will email them and check on supplies. They are a company that has realized what is happening and are producing supplies for the paradigm as well as supplies for pumps that use the Leur lock connection. Their prices are much more reasonable. I got a sample from them for reservoirs and I can't see any difference between those and the ones from MiniMed. Has anyone out there had experience with SimpleChoice products???

Nancy

Dewey
07-02-2004, 03:54 PM
Notme,

I've received samples from Simple Choice, and actually was able to find a lower-priced online source for infusion sets. The website is:

Discount Diabetic Supplies (http://www.diabeticpromotions.com/cgi-bin/webcart/webcart.cgi?CONFIG=mountain&RET=25&FIRST_TIME=Yes&RCATS=Pump+Infusion+Sets&DOSEARCH=YES&CODE=138)

While they seem to have the lowest prices, they do not work with insurance companies directly. However, the Simple Choice website offers a number of other online distributors that do:

Simple Choice List (http://www.mysimplechoice.com/dist.htm)

Hope these help... :)

soremom
07-05-2004, 02:17 PM
When I decided to go back on my pump, I called up a company called Sterling Medical. It was my first time ordering from them for myself, but had dealt with them for my father in law. The called my Dr and insurance company and did all the paper work. I had my supplies within 3 days from ordering for the first time. I was impressed.

If you would like their number to see if they could help you, let me know and I can give it to you.

Kim

Alaska
07-05-2004, 02:25 PM
My only medical billing issue was when I first got the pump............MiniMed and my insurance came to the agreement I'd pay 480 of the pumps cost.........then I got a bill for 820 bucks......I was like whoa nellie!!!
I had to get a reciept from my insurance company showing that was the agreed amount and that the insurance company had already paid thier portion..........even after faxing them this they insist on billing me for the 820........I explained I wasn't paying a penny until I had a bill for the correct amount.........They aren't listening.
In defense of Minimed though I will say this.......anytime I have had an issue with supplies they have taken care of it. They have sent me so many "free" supplies i haven't had to buy any in a year. My meter was a REAL PITA but that is now resolved too with a new meter with software and 12 free boxes of strips (thank you BD)

Dave

notme
07-05-2004, 05:03 PM
Dave, Glad to hear you have no more issues with your meter. I have to agree that customer service with Medtronic is good. I have had only good luck with problems and questions. I think their billing dept needs to take some lessons from them!

Hope you get your pump issue resolved soon. I think I am going to push the issue of a new pump soon. You can bet your bottom dollar (If Medtronic doesn't get it first) that it will be a pump that uses a Leur Lock hub! :D

Alaska
07-05-2004, 05:17 PM
whats a leur lock hub? some kind of networking device I'm not aware of? :D

Dewey
07-05-2004, 07:14 PM
For those wondering what a luer lock connection (or hub) is:

http://www.deweystuff.com/images/Hubs.JPG

Hope this helps... :D

Alaska
07-05-2004, 07:36 PM
ty Dewmeister

dpav
07-06-2004, 07:22 AM
That is not quite a cat5 linkup.
It is a diferent hub.
Don