found out why my insurance won't cover syringes for B12

After spending a LONG time on the phone with both my prescription drug insurance company and Medicare, I know why they won't cover the syringes for my B12 injections.  I have Medicare, and Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs only.  Apparently syringes are not classified as prescription drugs.  The FDA classifies them as "misc. medical supplies."  This is not a decision of my insurance company, it's the FDA.

Well, I believe it's actually Congress that decided what each part of Medicare will and will not cover, and Part D only covers prescription drugs, not misc. medical supplies.  So I called Medicare and learned that Medicare Part B does not cover misc. medical supplies either, at least not for use at home.  Part B covers outpatients services like doctors visits, and they will cover supplies like syringes if they are used for treatment that you receive during a covered doctors visit.  But not for home use.

Blah.  At least they aren't expensive.

Kelly

Interesting.  I'm in Canada and have extended health insurance through my employer (government actually) and NONE of it is covered.  Not the B12 serum, nothing.

It just goes to show that there are no free rides, even with government running the show.

I'm not looking for a free ride.  I just though it strange that they would pay for the B12 but not for the syringes that you must have in order to adminster it.

Kelly

If you find the 6/$1, and do weekly, you're talking $8/yr

I know, it's always a shock to find when ins doesn't cover. The nice thing is that if they didn't cover the B12 itself, it's also cheaper than dirt to buy outright.

On yahoo grads, someone always has a finger on where the best deal is for syringes and, for those who need it, the veterinary B complex (for docs who won't write rx til you're half dead).

I usta shop all over the place, but so far Allegro has done very well for me, fast and they have a deal every week, so it's not like I ever have to (GASP) pay full price. LOL Even if I did, it'd be like 4/1$

But full price is not IN my vocabulary

My PCP wrote a prescription for 100 syringes.  Can you imagine?  They will last me FOREVER.  It was $24.95 for the box, so about a quarter a piece.  I don't mind paying for it, it just seemd really strange to me that my insurance would pay for the B12 but not for the syringe that you must have in order to adminster it.

Kelly

I metioned at to Don (dh). Mind you, we've been shooting for 10 yrs now. He says, "What? Insurance doesn't cover m? Why not??Are we sposta DRINK it?"

LOL

That boy leads a sheltered life.

I know, how crazy is it?

I pay $16/18 f a box of 100 and that includes shpg. And no stinking WA state tax.

Last time I bought4 bx, but there are 2 of, weekly and if I think f it, more often for me.

I also buy another size for something else so that helps the over all price.

I pointed out to the insurance guy on the phone, "This stuff is meant to be administered intramuscularly.  There is no way to get it into my muscle except to inject it with a needle and syringe."

He said, "Yes, ma'am, but your policy doesn't cover medical equipment, just prescription drugs."

Kelly

Used to have the same argument with insurance years ago they would cover Insulin but NOT the needles to use the insulin. Go figure - same thing here.

I'm now on an insulin pump, and I have to use a skin prep wipe to clean the site properly. but they call it a comfort item and is NOT covered. Hm. comfort I suppose. I won't want an infection, and just alcohol doesn't quite cut it when you have sticky tape on you for 2 to 3 days.  The prep protects the skin and keeps ti germ free.

I wonder what gauge needle you need for b12 -shots. 

25g makes it flow better

some use insulin needles but my levels fell so drastically when I did that, I just keep my 1" fire hoses. LOL