MedSource LLC Company Answers The Question - Does Insurance Cover Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

Insurance Covered Continuous Glucose Monitors, a MedSource LLC company that helps Americans qualify for a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) through their insurance, has published a new blog post titled “Does Insurance Cover Continuous Glucose Monitoring?”

The blog post acknowledges that diabetics can get the potentially lifesaving devices at a lowered cost as they are covered by Medicare and most private insurance providers. The company says that there are two CGMs covered by insurance – the FreeStyle Libre 2 and the Dexcom 6.

A continuous glucose monitor is a small wearable device that keeps diabetics updated about their current glucose levels in real-time. The device tests interstitial fluid to determine the amount of glucose in the bloodstream and can automatically collect and share that data with the patient. The device enables diabetics to predict the highs and lows in their glucose levels so that they can preemptively take the steps to stay safe and restore it to the target range.

Diabetic patients are recommended to consult with their doctors to determine whether a CGM is right for them. Some diabetics are still going to be better off using a traditional glucose monitoring machine that uses a finger prick to draw blood and determine blood sugar levels at any given time. CGM devices, on the other hand, are indispensable to diabetics and their family members who need to be alerted when blood sugar levels become dangerously high or low.

The FreeStyle Libre 2, for diabetics ages 4 and up, is a CGM that lets patients accurately monitor their glucose levels with a painless scan instead of finger sticks. Patients can use the FreeStyle Libre 2 app on their compatible smart device to track their glucose levels, wherever they are and whenever they need it. When the patient scans the sensor, they get to see a current reading of their glucose levels. It also shows glucose trend arrows to determine whether glucose levels are normal, on the rise, or dropping. The app also provides a graph showing 8 hours of glucose history.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 does not need to be calibrated with a blood glucose meter, eliminating the need for finger sticks. It has a long-life sensor approved for up to 14 days of use. The slim, water-resistant sensor can be safely submerged in up to 1 meter (3 feet) of water for no longer than 30 minutes. The device has a simple one-button-push sensor insertion mechanism with an auto-applicator. The sensor is FDA-approved to be worn on the upper arm. The app supports customizable alerts for low glucose reading, high glucose reading, loss of signal between sensors, and the FreeStyle Libre 2 app or reader.

The Dexcom G6, for patients ages 2 and up, is a CGM that tracks glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night. The glucose readings are sent to the Dexcom G6 reader or the patient’s smart device as frequently as every five minutes. The Dexcom G6 translates the readings into dynamic data alerting the patient before their blood sugar gets too high or too low to enable them to better manage their diabetes treatment without scanning or finger sticks. The device also doesn’t need to be calibrated with a blood glucose meter.

The device’s slim, water-resistant, long-life sensor is approved for up to 10 days of use. The sensor is FDA-approved to be worn on the abdomen, upper buttocks, or upper arm. The Dexcom G6 sensor prevents clinically significant interference from acetaminophen. Patients can set up customizable alerts and share glucose data with up to 10 loved ones. The device also provides a warning 20 minutes before a potentially severe hypoglycemic event (55 mg/dL). Alerts can be customized for two periods of time within 24 hours for both day and night schedules.

Readers interested in the two CGMs can find out more about the devices and the process to determine eligibility under their current insurance provider by heading over to Insurance Covered Continuous Glucose Monitors’ website at insurancecoveredcgm.com.