Railroad Medicare covers
certain supplies if you have Medicare Part B and have diabetes. These supplies
include:
• Blood glucose self-testing equipment and
supplies
• Therapeutic shoes and inserts
• Insulin pumps and the insulin used in the pumps
Blood Glucose Self-testing Equipment and Supplies
Blood glucose self-testing equipment and supplies are covered for all people
with Medicare Part B who have diabetes. This includes those who use insulin and
those who do not use insulin. These supplies include:
• Blood glucose monitors
• Blood glucose test strips
• Lancet devices and lancets
• Glucose control solutions for checking the
accuracy of testing equipment and test strips
Railroad Medicare covers the same type of blood glucose testing supplies for
people with diabetes whether or not they use insulin. However, the amount of
supplies that are covered varies.
If you:
1. Use insulin, you may be able to get up to 100
test strips and lancets every month, and 1 lancet device every 6 months
2. Do not use insulin, you may be able to get 100
test strips and lancets every 3 months, and 1 lancet device every 6 months
If your doctor documents why it is medically necessary, Railroad Medicare will
cover additional test strips and lancets for you.
Medicare and Railroad Medicare will only cover blood glucose self-testing
equipment and supplies if you get a prescription from your doctor which
includes:
• That you have diabetes
• What kind of blood glucose monitor you need and
why
• Whether or not you use insulin
• How often you need to test your blood glucose
Medicare will not pay for any supplies not asked for, or for any supplies that
were sent to a beneficiary automatically from suppliers. This includes blood
glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets. Also, if a beneficiary goes to a
pharmacy or supplier that is not enrolled in Medicare, Medicare will not pay.
The beneficiary will have to pay the entire bill for any supplies from
non-enrolled pharmacies or non-enrolled suppliers.
