March 28, 2024 12:46 PM
Search

What Does Medicare Cover for Diabetes?

How does diabetes affect seniors?

Unfortunately, diabetes is a very common and dangerous condition with regard to the senior population. If you are a diabetes patient, then you are well aware of just how difficult it can be to manage this illness day-to-day.

Luckily, you never have to do it alone. If you are 65 years of age or older, then your Original Medicare benefits may at least partially cover some services needed to combat this all-too-common disease.

Typically, the diabetes supplies and services that Original Medicare covers falls under Original Medicare Part B, the outpatient medical insurance portion of Medicare health insurance. Read on to learn more about exactly what diabetes services may be covered under Medicare Part B.

What diabetes supplies and services does Original Medicare cover?

As a victim of diabetes, caring for yourself properly can be a full-time job, especially when you consider the energy and financial resources that you regularly need access to in order to treat the condition.

Thankfully, Original Medicare Part B will occasionally cover at least some diabetes equipment and services, including:

  • Blood glucose testing supplies like meters, test trips, lancets, and control solutions
  • Insulin pumps and the insulin used with the pump
  • Diabetes self-management training
  • Medical nutrition therapy
  • Diet and lifestyle counseling
  • Hemoglobin A1C tests used to monitor blood glucose control
  • Foot exams and diabetes-related nerve damage
  • Therapeutic shoes or inserts to help combat the effects of diabetes
  • Eye exams for glaucoma

Does Medicare cover Insulin?

While Insulin is a vital part of diabetes management for many seniors, Original Medicare alone does not typically cover insulin in most capacities, with the sole exception of insulin used in a medically necessary insulin pump.

If you require the use of insulin injections or insulin pens, in addition to insulin-related supplies such as alcohol swabs, insulin needles, insulin syringes, or gauze, please note that these supplies are not covered under Original Medicare alone.

Should you require the use of this form of insulin or the supplies associated with it, you will need to enroll in Medicare Part D (the prescription drug portion of Medicare) in order to receive any coverage whatsoever for these supplies.

In addition, you could also opt to enroll in Medicare Advantage (a.k.a. Medicare Part C), which not only is legally required to provide the same level of coverage as Original Medicare, but also typically includes additional healthcare coverage for needs such as vision, dental, and hearing care.

Furthermore, many Medicare Advantage plans give you the option to bundle this more comprehensive coverage with Medicare Part D, thereby providing you with a much wider variety of coverage for your specific healthcare needs.

Keep in mind, however, that Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies. As such, their availability, exact benefits, and pricing can vary from plan-to-plan.

To learn more about your potential eligibility for a more comprehensive Medicare plan, feel free to reach out to a licensed Medicare insurance agent, such as those available at MedicareInsurance.com, for assistance with researching, exploring, and comparing your options more thoroughly.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Related Articles