Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies and Services
By Wisconsin Physician Service (WPS)
Did You Know?
Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, leg and foot amputations, pregnancy complications, and
deaths related to flu and
pneumonia.
So, if you have diabetes, it is important to know about  what diabetes supplies and services Medicare helps pay for.
Supplies and Equipment
Medicare covers certain supplies if you have diabetes, and have Medicare Part B.  These covered supplies include:
blood sugar (glucose) monitors
therapeutic shoes
insulin pumps
Blood sugar (also called blood glucose) self-testing equipment and supplies are covered for all people with Medicare who have diabetes. This includes people who use insulin and people who do not use insulin.
These supplies include:
blood sugar monitors
blood sugar test strips
lancet devices and lancets
glucose control solutions for checking the accuracy of testing equipment and test strips.

If you have Medicare Part B, have diabetes, and meet certain conditions, Medicare will cover therapeutic shoes if you need them.  The types of shoes covered each year are:
One pair of extra depth shoes and three pairs of inserts.
One pair of custom-molded shoes (including inserts) and two more pairs of inserts, per calendar year.
Insulin pumps worn outside the body (external), including the insulin used with the pump, may be covered for some people with Medicare who have diabetes and who meet certain conditions.

Medicare covers a range of services for people with diabetes:
. Diabetes self-management training
Medical nutrition therapy services
Foot care services
Hemoglobin A1c tests
Special eye exams
Glaucoma screening
Flu and pneumoccocal pneumonia shots

Your doctor must write an order or referral for you to get these services.

Diabetes self-management training helps you learn how to successfully manage your diabetes.  In addition to diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy services are also covered for people with diabetes.

If you have diabetes-related nerve damage in either of your feet, Medicare will cover one foot exam every 6 months by a foot care specialist, unless you have seen a foot care specialist for some other foot problem during the past 6 months. Medicare may cover more frequent visits to a foot care specialist if you have had a non traumatic (not because of an injury) amputation of all or part of your foot or your feet have changed in appearance that may indicate you have serious foot disease.

A hemoglobin A1c test is a lab test ordered by your doctor.   It measures how well you blood sugar has been controlled over the past 2 to 3 months.  Anyone with diabetes is covered for this test if it is ordered by your doctor.

Medicare will pay for you to have your eyes checked for glaucoma once every 12 months. This screening must be done or supervised by an eye doctor who is legally allowed to give this service in your state.

Medicare covers eye exams to check for diabetic eye disease.  Medicare does not cover eye exams for glasses.

Medicare will pay for you to get a flu shot once a year. Flu shots are available in the fall or winter. Medicare will also pay for you to get a pneumonia shot. One pneumonia shot may be all you ever need. Ask your doctor.

For more information on Medicare go to www.medicare.gov  on the web or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).  TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.