Insulin Pump Cost
Having an insulin pump, like mine, can cost quite a bit, but when I talk about insulin pump cost here, I’m talking about much more than money. I’m talking about what goes into choosing the right insulin pump for you or your loved one, because there are a lot of things to factor in when deciding what insulin pump to get. Of course, price would seem to be one of the greatest, but in my opinion there many other things to consider. If you are going to spend at least a thousand dollars (this number varies greatly depending on your insurance coverage) here are some things that you may want to consider:
1. Price – I know that there are many different pumps out there to choose from. Some are much more affordable than others, however, even though the upfront insulin pump cost of from one company may be more affordable, you need to also consider the insulin pump supplies pricing. You might also want to ask yourself if you can live with fewer features, because that’s usually what you will get with a cheap insulin pump. I actually think that monetary cost is one of the least important things to consider, because after insurance pays their part (assuming that you have insurance) the difference in price becomes much smaller. I think that it’s more important to find a pump that you can live with, literally.
2. Customer support – Is there a good network of friendly people to help you get set up with the pump, help you order supplies, work with your doctor and insurance company? Are they knowledgeable about their own product, and willing to immediately help you when things don’t go right? This is a big issue, because things do go wrong. When they do, you want a company that will go out of their way to correct your problem.
3. Network of local representatives – Does the company have a local representative that updates doctors and diabetic educators with new products and updates? This is important for disseminating information to local health care professionals with whom you will come in contact.
4. Your endocrinologists and diabetic educators familiarity and preferences – This is actually fairly important, and may be linked to the previous item. Your endocrinologist needs to be on-board with your decision. If your care team doesn’t know anything about (or doesn’t like) your pump, it will be difficult for them to provide the type of care you need and deserve. You might think that this is an issue with the doctor rather than the insulin pump, but most people would rather choose a different insulin pump than a different doctor. Of course, if your endocrinologist doesn’t know about, or dislikes, insulin pumps in general, quickly get a new endocrinologist.
5. Availability and Price of Insulin Pump Supplies – Does the insulin pump have different choices for infusion sets and other supplies? How much will your insurance pay for different supplies? Is it easy to re-order them or just a huge hassle? Are the diabetes supply accessories so expensive that you can’t afford them, even thought the pump was affordable? This is a common “trick” in many industries. Sell you a fairly inexpensive item (or give it away free) and then charge exorbitant prices for the accessories or supplies that are necessary to use the item. This is very common with diabetic testing equipment such as glucose meters where the company may give the meter away for free and charge you (or your insurance company) a lot for the strips.
6. Size – As a female, this was pretty important to me. It’s nice to have something as discreet as possible. I’m never ashamed of being diabetic or having an insulin pump, but I really think that it’s nice to be able to wear a pretty dress without having my insulin pump sticking out or showing a huge lump under my clothing where the pump is “hiding.”
7. Wear-ability – Of course this goes along with size, but I’m thinking of something a bit different. How will you actually wear the pump? Does it have a nice clip? How is it for sports or other activities that could disrupt it? Does it seem like it would fall off easily? Can it be placed in many locations, or is it only going to work on your belt?
8. Features/Ease of use – I believe that this is probably one of the most important features. Is your pump smart? Does it have algorithms that assist you in making smart bolus and correction decisions? Does it seem intuitive and logical to use? Does it have a back-light to use at night? Is there a piece of it that’s not always attached that could get lost (like a remote) making some of the the insulin pump’s features useless? Does it have safeguards to make sure that you don’t do stupid things, because I know that I sometimes don’t make the best decisions when my sugar is low.
9. Compatibility with glucose meters or continuous monitoring systems – Having a pump that communicates with a glucose meter is pretty neat and convenient, as long as the meter isn’t a piece of junk. I am not sold on having a continuous glucose monitoring system, but if you are, it would be important to have a pump compatible with it.
10. Replacement/upgrade programs available – Is the pump company continually working on improvements and releasing new models? Does the company have a replacement or buyback program that makes the upgrades available at an affordable price? Many, especially younger, people will want a new insulin pump at some point. If the company will assist you in this upgrade, it’s much nicer and easier than buying a whole new insulin pump.
This list isn’t in order of importance but definitely encompasses things to think about before you make a decision of what insulin pump to get. I hope you now see that “insulin pump cost” isn’t just a money thing. This is something you’re going to live with every day, and you want something that you aren’t constantly “paying” for with your time, energy, money, etc.