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10-25-2006, 02:35 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Shanghai
Posts: 83
| | | Desperately wondering any cheap way to get hooked onto a pump besides going on insura
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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10-25-2006, 03:15 AM
| | Banned
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,358
| | | 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. |
10-25-2006, 04:27 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8,367
| | | 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.
__________________
●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
●Animas pumper since December of 2002
~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2005)
~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - ?)
●LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone. |
10-25-2006, 07:50 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,807
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by 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 …
-------------------------------------------
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.  |
10-25-2006, 08:24 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Shanghai
Posts: 83
| | | Must be the wacky BS lately that have caused me wishing for the stars in sky...
Thanks for all of your comments anyway
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Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard |
10-25-2006, 12:02 PM
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MIdwest, USA
Posts: 1,067
| | 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.  |
10-25-2006, 12:35 PM
| | Member | | Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 100
| | | Try the refurbished pump route.
I know Animas have refurbished units for about half the list price
and the others might have them too. |
10-25-2006, 12:42 PM
| | Banned
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,358
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveNormal Must be the wacky BS lately that have caused me wishing for the stars in sky...
Thanks for all of your comments anyway
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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. |
10-25-2006, 12:49 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,807
| | | Even without a pump you would probably do better if you got off insulatard and actrapid. |
10-25-2006, 09:42 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 1,491
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by 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. | 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!
__________________
--
Liz
Type 1 dx 4/1987
Minimed Paradigm 722 6/2008 + CGMS
Minimed Paradigm 715 5/2005 - 6/2008
13mm Silhouettes
Lifescan UltraSmart & UltraMini
Last A1c: 10/08/08: 5.6
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10-25-2006, 09:46 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,807
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by poodlebone 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. |
10-26-2006, 02:20 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Shanghai
Posts: 83
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by spike 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 
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Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard |
10-26-2006, 07:30 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 72
| | | 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 |
10-26-2006, 08:45 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8,367
| | | 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.
__________________
●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
●Animas pumper since December of 2002
~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2005)
~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - ?)
●LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone. |
10-26-2006, 12:55 PM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,807
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveNormal Ironically, my insurance covers strips and insulin but nothing for pump and pump related consummables
-------------------------------------------
Dx Jun’00
Recent A1c: 6.5%
MDI with actrapid and insulatard | Have you looked into new insulins to improve your control NOW? |
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