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Frequently Asked Questions
This web page is designed to supplement, not replace, the good advice you receive from your medical team. Do not change any medications, diet, insulin, or make any other changes to treat your diabetes without consulting your doctor.
A-1 Diabetic Supply [back to top]
A-1 Diabetic Supply delivers diabetes testing supplies. We also offer personalized support, educational resources about diabetes, and more, including:
- A Free Meter to test your blood sugar as often as necessary
- Free shipping on all diabetes supplies
- Reminders when it's time to reorder your supplies
- Updated information on diabetes and diabetes care, all from reliable sources
A-1 Diabetic Supply delivers diabetes testing supplies right to your door. We will fill out all claim forms and bill Medicare and/or your private insurance company for you.
A-1 Diabetic Supply is always there when you need us, and we back that claim with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you have diabetes and are on Medicare, you may be eligible for this program.
Call A-1 Diabetic Supply at 1-800-732-2219 or fill out the form at the top of this page to see if you qualify.
With A-1 Diabetic Supply, you pay no membership fees, up front costs or shipping charges for diabetes testing supplies.
With A-1 Diabetic Supply, there are never any hidden fees.
Absolutely not! A-1 Diabetic Supply delivers all of your diabetes testing supplies to your door free of charge.
How much you pay depends on your private insurance coverage and the state that you live in. Medicare generally pays 80% of the cost of diabetes testing supplies for qualified recipients - after any applicable co-payments and deductibles have been met.
If you have qualified supplemental private insurance, you may be covered for the remaining portion - so you pay nothing. However, you will be responsible for any portion (including copayments and deductibles) that is not covered by your insurance.
We accept Medicare assignment on diabetes testing supplies. This means that we agree to accept direct payment from Medicare for your diabetes testing supply costs and will accept the Medicare-approved payment amount.
No. In addition to Medicare, we also accept private insurance plans, as well as Medicaid (in most states). Call us at 1-800-732-2219 or fill out the form above to see if your insurance qualifies.
No. However, if you have no supplemental private insurance, you will be responsible for costs not covered by Medicare.
Medicare generally pays only 80% of the cost of diabetes testing supplies for qualified recipients - after all copayments and deductibles have been met. If you have no supplemental private insurance, you will be responsible for the remaining portion (usually 20%).
Absolutely not! As a participating Medicare provider, A-1 Diabetic Supply will fill out your claim forms and will bill Medicare and your supplemental private insurance company for you.
A-1 Diabetic Supply provides the following Medicare-covered items to qualified recipients (copayments and deductibles may apply):
- Blood glucose meters (glucometers) and meter batteries
- Testing strips
- Lancing devices and lancets
- Control solution
- Hemoglobin A1c tests
In addition, your Medicare plan may cover other supplies A-1 Diabetic Supply offers, including [UNREADABLE], syringes, erectile dysfunction pumps and heating pads. Visit our store for a complete listing.
Diabetes [back to top]
Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body converts food into energy.
Normally, the sugar in your food is digested and broken down into glucose, a simple sugar. The glucose then circulates in your blood and waits to enter cells to be used as fuel. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose.
However, if you have diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cells do not react properly to the insulin that is produced, causing excess glucose in your blood stream.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In a person with Type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. A person with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.
Type 2 diabetes is the more common of the two, accounting for 90-95% of all diabetes sufferers. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity or a family history of diabetes.
A fasting blood glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes in children and nonpregnant adults. The test is most reliable when done in the morning. However, a diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on any of the following test results, confirmed by retesting on a different day:
A blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher after an 8-hour fast. This test is called the fasting blood glucose test.
A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher 2 hours after drinking a beverage containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. This test is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
A random - taken at any time of day - blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher, along with the presence of other diabetes symptoms.
Poorly managed diabetes can lead to a host of long-term complications including heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, blood vessel disease that may require amputation, nerve damage, and impotence in men. However, research has shown that if people keep their blood sugar as close to normal as possible, they can reduce their risk of developing some of these complications by 50% or more.
For Type 1 Diabetes: Healthy eating, physical activity and insulin injections. The amount of insulin taken must be balanced with food intake and daily activities. Blood glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose testing.
For Type 2 Diabetes: Health eating, physical activity and blood glucose testing. In additional, many people with Type 2 Diabetes require oral medication, insulin or both to control their blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes must take responsibility for their daily care, and keep blood sugar levels from going too low or too high.
People with diabetes should see a physician who will monitor their diabetes control and help them to learn how to manage their diabetes. In addition, people with diabetes may see endocrinologists who may specialize in diabetes care; opthamologists for eye examinations; podiatrists for routine foot care; and dietitians and diabetes educators who teach the skills needed for daily diabetes management.
Physical activity can help you control your blood sugar levels, weight and blood pressure, as well as raise your good (HDL) cholesterol and lower your bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Experts recommend moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the wekk. Talk to your physician about a safe exercise plan.
Yes. You need to learn how to monitor your blood sugar. Daily testing helps determine how well your meal plan, activity plan and medications are working to help blood sugar levels in a normal range.
Medicare [back to top]
Medicare is a national health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some people under the age of 65 with disabilities, and for people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency which administers the Medicare program.
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, some home health care, and supplies. You are automatically eligible for Medicare Part A when you turn 65 if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were employed.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is optional coverage for which you pay a monthly premium. It helps pay for doctor's services, outpatient care, and other medical services not covered by Medicare Part A. It also helps pay for durable medical equipment and medical supplies, including diabetes testing supplies.
If you have diabetes, are covered by Medicare Part B, and your doctor has prescribed a blood sugar meter, you may qualify for Medicare reimbursement of the meter and related diabetes testing supplies.
Medicare Part C is also referred to as Medicare Advantage Plans. The types of Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Medicare Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, Medicare Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. These plans are available in many areas and often give you more choices, and sometimes extra benefits, than Medicare Parts A and B. Everyone who has Medicare Part A and B is eligible, except those who have End-Stage Reneal Disease (certain exceptions may apply).
If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will use the healthcare card from your Medicare Advantage Plan provider. You will pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. And you may also have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefts it offers. Medicare Advantage Plan participants don't need a Medigap policy (Medicare supplement insurance) because these plans typically cover many of the same benefits as a Medigap policy.
Medicare Part D was created as a result of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The new benefit means that as of January 2006, Medicare will pay for outpatient prescription drugs through private plans.
Diabetes testing supplies including meters, test strips and lancets will not be affected. Coverage will remain available under Medicare Plan B.
There are several other resources with information regarding Medicare Part D:
- Social Security Administration - For help with questions about eligibility for enrolling in Medicare, Social Security retirement benefits, disability benefits, as well help with costs of a Medicare prescription drug plan, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit the Medicare Resources section of the Social Security Administration website.
- Your supplemental private insurance customer service center - For questions about your existing health coverage, call the telephone number on your identifcation card
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Your state's Medical Assistance or Medicaid office - For questions about your state's Medicaid or Medigap programs, call the Medicare Helpline 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or use the form below to find your state's local number.
Contact Information: - Medicare & You - The official Medicare handbook for Medicare programs, including Medicare prescription drug plans.
- Medicare Helpline - For help with choosing Medicare prescription drug coverage, and for questions about medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Medicare Website - For help with choosing Medicare prescription drug coverage and for questions about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.
Medicare supplement insurance is also known as a Medigap policy. It is sold by private insurance companies to fill "gaps" in the original Medicare plan (Medicare Parts A and B) coverage. Most states offer 10 standard policies, labeled Plan A through Plan J.
Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or go to www.medicare.gov.
In order to qualify for reimbursement, you must be treated by a doctor for diabetes. Also, your doctor must prescribe a blood sugar meter (glucometer) and a complete a physician's written order. Afer you place your supply order, we will contact your doctor to receive his/her written order.
Medicare recommended guidelines for diabetes testing supplies reorders:
- Test strips - Every 3 months
- Control solutions - Every 3 months
- Lancets - Every 3 months
- Lancing device - Every 6 months
- Meter batteries - Every 6 months
- Blood sugar meter (glucometer) - Every 5 years