Today we’re talking about insurance and non-medical switching, which relates to insurance. This is something I had to study and learn about, especially when I got my first job.
This episode should help diabetics who are confused about what insurance is, how it works, and why some options are better than others. We’re coming from the perspective of corporate employer insurance and not the Healthcare Exchange, which is more complicated and not something we have experience with.
Wins & Fails
Colleen’s Win: I’ve been trying to fine-tune my basal rates and had a perfect day of blood sugars!
Jessie’s Fail: Did a site-change but accidentally left bubbles in the reservoir. She was high all day before changing the site and experiencing a low blood sugar.
Tip of the Week
Sometimes when changing infusion sites, it takes a while for the site to “kick in” with the insulin. One thing Jessie and I occasionally do is give a small injection with a syringe to “kickstart” the site. We have to be careful with this as it won’t show up as active insulin (or insulin on-board) on the pump, which could affect boluses within that time window.
Diabetes Spotlight
Tandem’s Control-IQ Hybrid Closed Loop Algorithm Submitted to FDA
This is the algorithm that will deal with high blood sugars. Tandem’s Basal-IQ already suspends insulin for predicted low blood sugars, but this introduction of Control-IQ will help close the loop even further.
Now It's Your Turn...
What are some of your biggest gripes with insurance? And related to that, do you have any good experiences with insurance as a Type 1 Diabetic?
Mentioned in This Episode
- How Does Health Insurance Work? (MoneyCrashers)
- UnitedHealthcare Insulin Pump Policy (JDRF)
- Intro to COBRA Health Insurance (Investopedia)
- Non-Medical Switching Video (Alliance for Patient Access)
Community & Social
- Join us in the Half-Dead Pancreas Club, our private Discord community for people with T1D.
- Follow us on Instagram @thisistype1pod, @jj_crystalkat, & @type1ravenclaw
- Follow us on Facebook
Choose Where to Listen
Credits
Our music is by Joseph McDade. Check out his website here!