Freestyle libre flash glucose monitoring system insurance

The NIHB benefits plan does offer coverage for the Freestyle Libre but the patient will need to also meet the criteria required for the Exceptional Approval category of the benefits plan. If you work with Indigenous peoples in Canada who have health benefits under the Non Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, you may have wondered about coverage for the Freestyle Libre using this health benefits plan. Non Insured Health Benefit (NIHB) Coverage It is best to call your plan administrator directly if you have workplace coverage for the Freestyle Libre as they will have the most current coverage amounts for you. Many 3 rd party insurers, such as those who provide workplace coverage, also cover the Freestyle Libre for people with diabetes but each plan differs in their coverage. A prescription is not required for the over-the-counter purchase of the Libre but is required if you want to be reimbursed for the cost by your health plan. This gets expensive and is cumbersome for the patient.Д¬urrently the Freestyle Libre is widely available in pharmacies across Canada. Often people with diabetes need to test at least 2 times (referred to in practice as вЂњtesting in pairsвЂќ) to have enough information to make treatment decisions. Self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is painful, expensive, and only offers a single piece of information to the person living with diabetes. People living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are excited for the ability to know their blood sugars in real time without fingerpoke testing. In Canada, the Freestyle Libre has been available since August 2017. The device estimates the personвЂ™s blood sugar based on the glucose levels of the interstitial fluid, which is fluid just under the skin. It is important to note the libre does not read a true вЂњblood sugarвЂќ in that the sensor is not sitting in the blood. The libre sensor holds 8 hours of blood sugar information and the user must scan the sensor with the reader every 8 hours to transfer that data over to the reader. The Libre differs from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in that the information is not вЂpushedвЂ™ to a separate device like it is with a CGM but instead the user must scan the sensor with the reader to see and transfer the information to the reader device. This impressive device captures over a thousand (1000) blood sugar test results each day for up to 14 days. The sensor records sugar/glucose levels every 15 minutes and also whenever the sensor is scanned. The Freestyle Libre sensor is a small wearable device, about the size of a Canadian вЂњToonieвЂќ ($2 coin) that is worn on the arm. The Freestyle Libre, which is both a sensor device that is worn on the arm and a reader (Libre scanner or smartphone), gives patients their current blood sugar levels, their blood sugar pattern over the last day or days, and also gives an indication of where their blood sugars are going over the next 15 minutes.

The Freestyle Libre gives information beyond the single blood sugar test and does this without the pain of a fingerpoke. People with diabetes need to know their blood sugar levels at any given time for many reasons including to help them decide how much insulin to give themself, to show their bodyвЂ™s responses to food and activity, and also to tell the patient if they are at a safe blood sugar level for exercise or to drive. It helps those living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to skip the fingerpokes and instead scan their arm to check their blood sugar/blood glucose and to see patterns in their daily blood sugar trends.

The Freestyle Libre is a blood glucose monitoring device that has become a popular piece of diabetes technology in recent years. A colleague recently asked me about non-insured health benefits coverage for the Freestyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring device so that prompted me to share some of what I know to help others learn as well.

As a Canadian Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) I have had the opportunity to assist many individuals to access and use the Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitor to assist with their diabetes management.

Freestyle libre flash glucose monitoring system insurance