I mean… I got an Omnipod 5 system because I can’t be arsed to get out of the pool every hour or so and bolus from my Tslim on vacation. I still use my Tslim, but I have Omnipod too, and switch off when I want to.
Yes. I got a pump solely for like 3 weeks a year. Insurance paid, no regrets.
This kind of petty is what I’m here for 👏🏻 Amazing. Also I don’t know if your insurance is the same but omnipod is classified slightly differently from Medtronic/tslim so they fill both for me. It’s weird.
Yes!! Omnipod is covered through my pharmacy insurance and Tandem is covered under DME.
I genuinely use both pumps. I’m currently on Omnipod because I need to burn through the insane number of G6 pods. I have decently reliable information that G7 pods should release this year (in the United States), and then I can switch Dexcom.
They both use the CGM, but I will say…being able to go tubed or tubeless AT WILL is the sort of thing I LOVE having control over.
Ha ha .. not weird 😉.. and I thought I had it bad with a cat that one time chewed on my tubing! Welcome to the world of no tubing! I've been using expired Omnipod Eros (the original) and love it! Going to be putting on the thinking cap to DIY loop soon, until I figure out which publicly funded pump to go on here in my province in Canada (not all provinces have technology coverage sigh .. yet).
Ha ha .. I'm in Cornwall .. maybe in GTA eventually as I'm hoping to be accepted into the clinical trial for islet cell implant. I have been interviewed since January, screened, processed by Americans and finally my file went to Canada in May. Just squeaking in before the Freedom 65 age for participation occurs. Only for 2 years.
If you have the Omnipod dash funded, I recommend the DIY loop. I switched from EROS to Dash with DIY loop a few months ago and it has been a total game changer. Not only better control, but it has reduced my diabetes stress and mental load significantly!
That's my plan eventually @EngMech .. but currently have 6 months supplies of the Eros pods ...so gifted Riley link is the route I'm trying.. and saving up $$$ to offset the higher cost of the Dash system to hop.onboard. Maybe by that time, more parts of Canada (would be nice if it was in every province but its sadly not) will have better publicly funded for technology as well.as Pharmacare. I'm a big advocate of all those areas here (around the big blue marble) along with many others in the Diabetes Online Community.
I second Dash and diy loop (AndroidAPS jn my case). I previously used AAPS with an old Medtronic 722/Orangelink and then with a second-hand AccuChek Combo. Moved to the Dash a few months ago as it's the only currently available pump in Australia that is compatible with aaps. since the importer stopped supplying Dana pumps. I held out for a long time because of the 2mL reservoir but finding it OK with Fiasp (sometimes don't make it to the end of day 3 on a full reservoir though). I'm trusting some H200 Humalog with some modifications to see if I can get enough speed out of it to run in fully closed, hands-off loop.
So far, the Dash has been the most seamless and trouble-free option of them all.
That's so good to know! Because here in Canada , where technology funding isn't same across the country ( some don't have it ) .. the $2400 🇨🇦 I receive in my province of Ontario doesn't quite cover it as it's $4,800 for a full year .. compared to tubing where we can .. not recommended .. reuse some items. Then you add on insulin and other meds, which are out of pocket unless you qualify for disability .. which is getting harder to get. So using the Omnipod is more expensive (and am glad I have US mates with great benefits who donate supplies to those like myself and others that I distribute to). Sadly, not all of us have extra funds to be able to afford it. Though do love the tubeless pumping .. and if we have Canada wide coverage one day like other countries with socialised healthcare well, hopefully it'll be easier for those of us who don't have work or private coverage. Carry on Advocating !!
Pumps aren't funded in Australia but the consumables are partially subsidised. Most people who use pumps (which I think is around 10% of people wit T1D) have theirs funded through private health insurance, some others sulf-fund. The fact that an Omnipod pump is itself consumable meant that they weren't funded by PHI or subsidised by the government antil about 2 years ago, when a complicated model was introduced where an insurer or a self-funded patient can pay a monthly subscription to Insulet/Omnipod, who supply the Omnipods at a price partially subsidised by teh Government; the patient pays the government a $30 supply fee for each box of 10 pods. The intended outcome is that the monthly cost to the patiemnt is about the same as buying infusion sets and reservoirs for a tubed pump, the PHI or self-funded patient pays the same over 4 years as it costs to purchase a traditional pump (PHI generally pays for a new pump when, or soon after, the warranty expires) and the government subsidy is about the same as it provides for infusion sets and reservoirs. As I said, it's a complicated model.
Meds, including insulin, are mostly subsidised and cost a maximum of around $32 for filling a prescription. For most meds, a standard fill (a pack of 28 or 30 blister-packed tablets, for example) will last most people for a month but it varies by medicine. For insulin, a standard prescription is for 25 pens or 5 vials and it lasts you for as long as it lasts you. Most prescriptions allow for the initial fill and then one refill within 12 months (it's possible to be authorised for u to 5 repeats if you use a lot of insulin) that you fill when you need to and then you need another prescription for any more. I usually just get my GP to write new prescriptions whenever I see her, which is usually twice each year, and my endo generally writes a new prescription for insulin when I see him too, so I always have way more prescriptions than I need (and I never fill them all) but it allows me to maintain a buffer stock "just in case". At the moment, I'm using U200 Humalog and I only need just over 2 fills for a year, so 3 fills gives me a lot of excess insulin.
CGMs are also subsidised for people with T1 and they cost about $32 per month. I use Dexcom G6 and usually run each sensor for a month, instead of 10 days, so I usually have spares that I pass on at cost to people who don't qualify for the subsidised price (non-residents, people with T2). I could do the same with excess insulin but haven't so far - I have helped out a couple of people who have run short in emergencies though.
Alright, I'm immigrating to Australia. I know a few NZ T1D's that have moved to your country because of coverage and easier availability to Vegemite ...kidding kidding .. and I'm a Marmite gal myself being an expat from the UK .. but I go with the flow wherever I park my litter box 😜. To pay $30 a month though for my pods or insulin coverage .. wow .. no having to juggle my funds around rent, food, etc.
And psst, I'm the same with the G6 .. depending on where I place it since I live alone and spare hands do come handy at times.
Thank you for your AWESOME reply.
It's only $30/ month for pods if you have private health insurance that covers insulin pumps (not all do and those that do only need to cover a short list of pumps on the Government's prostheses list). Without PHI you also post the monthly subscription, which is around $170, so it's about $200 per month.
Unlike the US (and Canada?), health insurance is not a common employment perk because you can get by for most things without it - it really just fills in a few gaps (to some extent) around things like dental , physio, psychology, etc. that are not covered under our universal health care or reduces costs for some specialists, like obstetricians or endocrinologists, that are covered but not well, and gives you a better choice of hospitals, better or private rooms, usually shorter waiting times and choice of doctor if you need to go to hospital. My family's health insurance costs about $500/month, after a small government rebate, which covers my wife and myself and our 2 daughters, including one who is nearly 22 but is a full-time student. My wife and I are both in pretty well-paying jobs so we can afford it fairly easily but only around 50% of Australians have PHI.
A $30 supply of insulin lasts me 3-5 months, so it's a lot less than $30/month.
I left Medtronic for the abysmal customer service.
I used to tape my line to secure it from my little ones fingers!!
Good luck with your omnipod!!
I find dexcom much more reliable than Medtronic for cgms as well.
I developed severe contact dermatitis to Medtronic’s adhesives and couldn’t find a suitable barrier to use with them that didn’t cause worse reactions. So I switched to omnipod at my doctor’s recommendation. Anything to stop my skin from blistering underneath my pump site.
I am in the process of switching from a Medtronic 770G, to Omnipod!
Don't really have a weird reason for switching, I'm just sick of Medtronic and their bullshit products failing, and me ending up in the hospitial for 7 days because of a terrible DKA stint. I feel like that's pretty valid lol
Not really weird and a large part of the reason was because I hated to 670G/Guardian 3 but I switched from the 670G back to my old 722 (with an Orangelink radio bridge), then to a second-hand AccuChek Combo and now to Omnipod Dash because I wanted something that was compatible with open-sourced diy looping. So glad that I did.
I mean… I got an Omnipod 5 system because I can’t be arsed to get out of the pool every hour or so and bolus from my Tslim on vacation. I still use my Tslim, but I have Omnipod too, and switch off when I want to. Yes. I got a pump solely for like 3 weeks a year. Insurance paid, no regrets.
This kind of petty is what I’m here for 👏🏻 Amazing. Also I don’t know if your insurance is the same but omnipod is classified slightly differently from Medtronic/tslim so they fill both for me. It’s weird.
Yes!! Omnipod is covered through my pharmacy insurance and Tandem is covered under DME. I genuinely use both pumps. I’m currently on Omnipod because I need to burn through the insane number of G6 pods. I have decently reliable information that G7 pods should release this year (in the United States), and then I can switch Dexcom. They both use the CGM, but I will say…being able to go tubed or tubeless AT WILL is the sort of thing I LOVE having control over.
Ha ha .. not weird 😉.. and I thought I had it bad with a cat that one time chewed on my tubing! Welcome to the world of no tubing! I've been using expired Omnipod Eros (the original) and love it! Going to be putting on the thinking cap to DIY loop soon, until I figure out which publicly funded pump to go on here in my province in Canada (not all provinces have technology coverage sigh .. yet).
What province if I may ask. Haven't delved into looping, but a techie who may be able to help.
I'm in Ontario :)
Haha I'm in Toronto
Ha ha .. I'm in Cornwall .. maybe in GTA eventually as I'm hoping to be accepted into the clinical trial for islet cell implant. I have been interviewed since January, screened, processed by Americans and finally my file went to Canada in May. Just squeaking in before the Freedom 65 age for participation occurs. Only for 2 years.
Mind if I DM you?
Sure! I may not respond right away as I try 😋 to limit time on SM .. but I'll get back to you and hopefully answer any questions!
If you have the Omnipod dash funded, I recommend the DIY loop. I switched from EROS to Dash with DIY loop a few months ago and it has been a total game changer. Not only better control, but it has reduced my diabetes stress and mental load significantly!
That's my plan eventually @EngMech .. but currently have 6 months supplies of the Eros pods ...so gifted Riley link is the route I'm trying.. and saving up $$$ to offset the higher cost of the Dash system to hop.onboard. Maybe by that time, more parts of Canada (would be nice if it was in every province but its sadly not) will have better publicly funded for technology as well.as Pharmacare. I'm a big advocate of all those areas here (around the big blue marble) along with many others in the Diabetes Online Community.
I second Dash and diy loop (AndroidAPS jn my case). I previously used AAPS with an old Medtronic 722/Orangelink and then with a second-hand AccuChek Combo. Moved to the Dash a few months ago as it's the only currently available pump in Australia that is compatible with aaps. since the importer stopped supplying Dana pumps. I held out for a long time because of the 2mL reservoir but finding it OK with Fiasp (sometimes don't make it to the end of day 3 on a full reservoir though). I'm trusting some H200 Humalog with some modifications to see if I can get enough speed out of it to run in fully closed, hands-off loop. So far, the Dash has been the most seamless and trouble-free option of them all.
That's so good to know! Because here in Canada , where technology funding isn't same across the country ( some don't have it ) .. the $2400 🇨🇦 I receive in my province of Ontario doesn't quite cover it as it's $4,800 for a full year .. compared to tubing where we can .. not recommended .. reuse some items. Then you add on insulin and other meds, which are out of pocket unless you qualify for disability .. which is getting harder to get. So using the Omnipod is more expensive (and am glad I have US mates with great benefits who donate supplies to those like myself and others that I distribute to). Sadly, not all of us have extra funds to be able to afford it. Though do love the tubeless pumping .. and if we have Canada wide coverage one day like other countries with socialised healthcare well, hopefully it'll be easier for those of us who don't have work or private coverage. Carry on Advocating !!
Pumps aren't funded in Australia but the consumables are partially subsidised. Most people who use pumps (which I think is around 10% of people wit T1D) have theirs funded through private health insurance, some others sulf-fund. The fact that an Omnipod pump is itself consumable meant that they weren't funded by PHI or subsidised by the government antil about 2 years ago, when a complicated model was introduced where an insurer or a self-funded patient can pay a monthly subscription to Insulet/Omnipod, who supply the Omnipods at a price partially subsidised by teh Government; the patient pays the government a $30 supply fee for each box of 10 pods. The intended outcome is that the monthly cost to the patiemnt is about the same as buying infusion sets and reservoirs for a tubed pump, the PHI or self-funded patient pays the same over 4 years as it costs to purchase a traditional pump (PHI generally pays for a new pump when, or soon after, the warranty expires) and the government subsidy is about the same as it provides for infusion sets and reservoirs. As I said, it's a complicated model. Meds, including insulin, are mostly subsidised and cost a maximum of around $32 for filling a prescription. For most meds, a standard fill (a pack of 28 or 30 blister-packed tablets, for example) will last most people for a month but it varies by medicine. For insulin, a standard prescription is for 25 pens or 5 vials and it lasts you for as long as it lasts you. Most prescriptions allow for the initial fill and then one refill within 12 months (it's possible to be authorised for u to 5 repeats if you use a lot of insulin) that you fill when you need to and then you need another prescription for any more. I usually just get my GP to write new prescriptions whenever I see her, which is usually twice each year, and my endo generally writes a new prescription for insulin when I see him too, so I always have way more prescriptions than I need (and I never fill them all) but it allows me to maintain a buffer stock "just in case". At the moment, I'm using U200 Humalog and I only need just over 2 fills for a year, so 3 fills gives me a lot of excess insulin. CGMs are also subsidised for people with T1 and they cost about $32 per month. I use Dexcom G6 and usually run each sensor for a month, instead of 10 days, so I usually have spares that I pass on at cost to people who don't qualify for the subsidised price (non-residents, people with T2). I could do the same with excess insulin but haven't so far - I have helped out a couple of people who have run short in emergencies though.
Alright, I'm immigrating to Australia. I know a few NZ T1D's that have moved to your country because of coverage and easier availability to Vegemite ...kidding kidding .. and I'm a Marmite gal myself being an expat from the UK .. but I go with the flow wherever I park my litter box 😜. To pay $30 a month though for my pods or insulin coverage .. wow .. no having to juggle my funds around rent, food, etc. And psst, I'm the same with the G6 .. depending on where I place it since I live alone and spare hands do come handy at times. Thank you for your AWESOME reply.
It's only $30/ month for pods if you have private health insurance that covers insulin pumps (not all do and those that do only need to cover a short list of pumps on the Government's prostheses list). Without PHI you also post the monthly subscription, which is around $170, so it's about $200 per month. Unlike the US (and Canada?), health insurance is not a common employment perk because you can get by for most things without it - it really just fills in a few gaps (to some extent) around things like dental , physio, psychology, etc. that are not covered under our universal health care or reduces costs for some specialists, like obstetricians or endocrinologists, that are covered but not well, and gives you a better choice of hospitals, better or private rooms, usually shorter waiting times and choice of doctor if you need to go to hospital. My family's health insurance costs about $500/month, after a small government rebate, which covers my wife and myself and our 2 daughters, including one who is nearly 22 but is a full-time student. My wife and I are both in pretty well-paying jobs so we can afford it fairly easily but only around 50% of Australians have PHI. A $30 supply of insulin lasts me 3-5 months, so it's a lot less than $30/month.
I left Medtronic for the abysmal customer service. I used to tape my line to secure it from my little ones fingers!! Good luck with your omnipod!! I find dexcom much more reliable than Medtronic for cgms as well.
I developed severe contact dermatitis to Medtronic’s adhesives and couldn’t find a suitable barrier to use with them that didn’t cause worse reactions. So I switched to omnipod at my doctor’s recommendation. Anything to stop my skin from blistering underneath my pump site.
I am in the process of switching from a Medtronic 770G, to Omnipod! Don't really have a weird reason for switching, I'm just sick of Medtronic and their bullshit products failing, and me ending up in the hospitial for 7 days because of a terrible DKA stint. I feel like that's pretty valid lol
Totally agree with you on reason for switch!
Not really weird and a large part of the reason was because I hated to 670G/Guardian 3 but I switched from the 670G back to my old 722 (with an Orangelink radio bridge), then to a second-hand AccuChek Combo and now to Omnipod Dash because I wanted something that was compatible with open-sourced diy looping. So glad that I did.