Medicare does cover diabetes supplies such as insulin and lancets. Medicare Advantage plans also cover the same diabetes supplies and services as Original Medicare.
Medicare beneficiaries who are diabetic have a number of Medicare coverage options they can consider for the diabetes care they need.
Medicare Part B does cover some diabetes supplies, and coverage typically comes with some coinsurance and/or copays.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans also cover diabetes supplies, and may provide benefits not found in Original Medicare.
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Yes, Medicare Part B covers some diabetes supplies, including:
Insulin
Blood sugar testing strips
Glucose testing monitors
Therapeutic shoes or inserts
Lancet devices and lancets
Blood sugar control solutions
Medicare Part B also covers somediabetes services, including:
Nutrition therapy services
Foot exams
Glaucoma tests
Diabetes self-management training
Yearly eye exams
Some Medicare Advantage plans cover diabetes supplies and insulin
If you have diabetes, Medicare Advantage plans should cover the same diabetes supplies and services as Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans (sometimes referred to as Medicare Part C) are an alternative to Original Medicare that is sold by private insurers.
Every Medicare Advantage plan must provide the same hospital and medical benefits as Medicare Part A and Part B and may include coverage of benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may also cover certain diabetes supplies, insulin and other diabetes medication.
Diabetic beneficiaries with Medicare Advantage have better outcomes than with Original Medicare
A July 2018 study showed that Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries who have diabetes experienced 52.6 percent lower rate of overall complications than Original Medicare beneficiaries who have diabetes.
Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries also experienced 5.7 percent lower overall costs for diabetes care than Original Medicare beneficiaries.
Find a Medicare Advantage plan that can help cover your diabetes supplies
You can get help comparing Medicare Advantage plans available in your area and find a plan that fits your unique health care needs.
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover routine dental or vision care. 2024 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but dental and/or hearing benefits may not be available where you live. Learn more and find out how to compare the plans and benefits available in your area.
Medicare Part B may cover emergency ambulance services, and some Medicare Advantage plans may offer non-emergency transportation to plan-approved locations. Learn more about Medicare transportation coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans can offer gym memberships and fitness benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as SilverSneakers. Learn how to compare your local plan options and how to find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers fitness benefits.
While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover hearing aids, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover hearing benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Hearing benefits may be available where you live, so learn how to find out if Medicare Advantage plans that help pay for hearing aids are available in your area.
Medicare Part B covers annual wellness visits. Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual wellness visits, and many Medicare Advantage plans also offer other wellness benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A does not cover outpatient surgery, but Part B covers medically necessary outpatient surgery. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover outpatient surgery and include an annual out-of-pocket spending limit, which Original Medicare doesn’t offer.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can cover chiropractic care, but some plans may cover services more than others. Learn about what’s covered, what’s excluded and how much your Medicare costs could be.
Medicare covers many telehealth services, and those benefits expanded during the coronavirus pandemic. Beneficiaries can use telehealth to access their doctor while also staying safe during COVID-19.
Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) doesn’t cover bathroom grab bars or other bathroom safety devices. Medicare Advantage plans can cover bathroom safety devices, but only in limited situations and only for beneficiaries who qualify.
Original Medicare covers some limited home health services. Medicare Advantage plans cover the same home health care services and may include some additional benefits.
Join our email series to receive your Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare.
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Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
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