Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of
your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I am 80 years old, have Medicare to help, and my provider says I can have only
100 blood glucose test strips. When someone on Medicare
tests many times per day, how can
he/she get enough test strips?
Answer
Medicare sets coverage standards for the number of diabetes testing
strips beneficiaries can obtain. Medicare will cover 100 strips per
month those who use insulin, and 100 strips every three months for those
who do not use insulin.
If your physician prescribes a higher rate of testing, you can attempt to appeal to the DME carrier for coverage
of a greater amount. However, you will have to obtain a statement from your physician justifying the need for greater testing and the
theraputic benefit you would achieve. Contact your provider to learn how to file your appeal.
