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Managing having enough Dexcom G7 monitors for vacation
I'm wondering how people manage having enough DexCom G7 monitors when going to travel and my prescription not ready to be filled? Do I need a doctor's note to say I need my prescriptions early? I'm having a lot of difficulty with the insulin Prescriptions in general. I've been using the Novolog Flexpen and it has been covered by Medicare and my Supplement. I went to fill one of my refills for the Flexpen and found out that my insurance decided they are no longer covering it. They're not even covering the generic equivalent drug. They could not provide me with an alternative and never contacted me with this change. It's challenging and frustrating since insulin is obviously medically necessary.
My provider might have to write a prior approval stating it's medically necessary. Ridiculous because this has been my prescription which my provide prescribed! CVS wasn't sure if that would even work.
I welcome any tips or advice you might have
Thank you
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Wow, that’s bizarre. I’m not sure what you mean by monitors….do you mean sensors? Getting items early due to travel is very difficult. I’ve had to pay out of pocket before just to have a spare for travel purposes.
Did you check to see if they will cover Novolog vials?
With insulin that shouldn’t be and issue. I have no idea why they are denying your insulin prescription. Is it being filled through your drug plan? I use a pump so my pharmacy files my Novolog vials through Durable Medical Equipment coverage. With my Supplement I pay zero out of pocket.
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1 ReactionHi @karenps planning ahead for traveling and vacations can be challenging with diabetes and devices.
First your Dexcom G7 “monitors”. I like @celia16 assume that you mean the sensors. Your sensor is good for 10 days. For future reference did you know that there is a 15 day Dexcom G7? That is what I use. Also good to keep in mind is that on the last day of your sensor session there is a 12 hour grace period after the sensor expires. That can help buy you a bit more time. I also discovered that asking my provider to write the prescription for a 90 day supply (3 months worth) instead of a 30 day supply (1 month) eliminated the anxiety of running out of supplies away from home, my providers and my pharmacy. Do you use a meter for finger sticks? It is always a good idea to have that available too. How long is your vacation?
Regarding insulin. You are using prefilled pens that use Novolog? Ask your provider if you can get 90 days (3 months worth) of that too instead of 30 days (1 month). Find out if Humalog / Lispro insulin pens would be an acceptable alternative. @celia16 and I are both using automated insulin delivery systems (aka insulin pumps) that are with Novolog insulin from vials. I recently redid my Medicare (open enrollment period) for 2027. I found out that Novolog isn’t covered by the plan I chose so I will also be looking into switching to Humalog / Lispro. After 51 years of diabetes I have used both over the years and my experience has been that they were interchangeable.
It comes down to what the holders of the purse strings allow. But if for some reason that is a no go for you, you are on the right track to check into getting provider documentation stating medical necessity and asking for a prior authorization to get what you need. It sounds like you are planning ahead. When is your vacation?
@cehunt57 , good points but I have a question. The insurance plan you have is not Medicare or a medicare Supplement, right? I ask because Medicare covers my Novolog vials 80% through DME and my supplement plan covers the other 20%.
Please talk to your pharmacist about going on vacation and needing an early refill. I have done this on occasion and they can usually contact the insurance company and get an okay but they need to know in advance. As for your insulin I can not help you with that. Talk with your doctor and see if their is an alternative option that will work for you is the only thing I can offer
@reneerogahnthanig I will definitely check with the pharmacist about travel plans. They're coming up for the holidays so I want to be proactive. Medicare decided it no longer covers the Novello, but CVS did finally get tte ok to give me a comparable brand, fiasp, and I will be trying it soon. My endo was ok with the switch
@celia16 thanks for this info. I do have Medicare and AARP for supplement. I will definitely check into whether it's being put in for DME, and the insulin under my drug plan
@cehunt57 thanks so much for all this info. I did #MIN sensor and I have since asked my provider to call in a prescription for the 15 day sensor. I will then also ask her if she can make the prescription 90 days and the insulin as well. Since it's open enrollment, I have started the process of looking into what drug plans are best for me. The insulin that CVS was able to offer Me as per Medicare fiasp. I will check with my Ando, but it sounds like this is comparable. So frustrating that Medicare did not tell patients nor did they let pharmacies know which insulin brand they were switching to. My vacation is coming up for the holidays so I really wanna prepare way ahead of time. Diabetes supplies in prescriptions should not be that difficult because they are vital for not going into a diabetic coma. Thanks again for all the info and advice.