• Home
• Find My MED Provider
• About MED
• Contact MED
• Repair Centers
• Capitol Connection
• MEDGroup Corporate Site

Diabetic Supplies

Medicare covers some diabetes supplies, including:

• blood glucose test strips
• blood glucose monitor
• lancet devices and lancets, and
• glucose control solutions for checking the accuracy of test strips and monitors.

Medicare covers the same supplies for people with diabetes whether or not they use insulin.

Medicare doesn't cover insulin (unless used with an insulin pump), insulin pens, syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, gauze, eye exams for glasses, and routine or yearly physical exams. If you use an external insulin pump, insulin and the pump could be covered as durable medical equipment.

In order for the patient to obtain coverage for diabetic supplies, the following criteria must be met:

• Patient has diabetes which is being treated by a physician, and
• The glucose monitor and related accessories and supplies have been ordered by the physician who is treating the patient's diabetes, and
• The device is designed for home, not clinical, use, and
• The patient (or caregiver) has been trained and is capable of using test results, and
• The patient (or caregiver) is capable of using the test results.

These include glucose monitor, lancets, spring-powered devices, test strips, control solution and replacement batteries for the meter.

Diabetics can obtain up to a three month supply at a time. Medicare will approve up to one test per day for non-insulin dependent diabetics and three tests per day for insulin-dependent diabetics without additional verification. If you test more than this, you are required to be seen and evaluated by their physician within six months of ordering these supplies and you have to show evidence of compliant testing every six months.

Any time your testing frequency changes, your physician needs to give your provider a new prescription.

Here are some ways you can make sure your Medicare diabetes medical supplies are covered:

• Only accept supplies you have ordered. Medicare won't pay for supplies you didn't request.
• Make sure you request your supply refills. Medicare won't pay for supplies sent from the supplier to you automatically.
• All Medicare-enrolled pharmacies and suppliers must submit claims for diabetic testing supplies. You can't send in the claim yourself.