Diabetes
We can help you manage your diabetes
Hearing your blood sugar is high can be frightening. Your plan can help support you.
Feel better, live better
We offer:
- Nutritional counseling and diabetic education benefits. Ask your doctor for recommendations.
- Tobacco cessation help. Ask your doctor for suggestions.
Doctor visits and lab work
You and your doctor will determine the best schedule for your care. Make sure to see an in-network doctor so that you pay less and avoid extra fees.
Sign in and use the Find Care tool to ensure your doctor and any labs ordered are in network for your specific plan.
Your diabetes care team
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to make sure you have a healthcare team. This could include:
The captain of the team is your main source of care. Some people with Type 1 or advanced Type 2 diabetes prefer to see an endocrinologist in addition to or as their primary care provider. If you have both, make sure they're in regular communication so no tests are missed.
If you have gestational diabetes, your obstetrician-gynecologist might act as your primary care provider. If not, make sure your primary care and OB-GYN are in communication.
People with diabetes must take greater care to prevent gum disease. Make sure you tell your dentist you have diabetes and keep your regular dental visits.
Registered nurses with special training and a background in caring for and teaching people with diabetes and nurse educators can help you learn the day-to-day aspects of diabetes self-care. Most plans cover health education for people with diabetes at no out-of-pocket cost to the customer.
A registered dietitian is trained in the field of nutrition. Because food is a key part of your treatment, a dietitian is very important. Your dietitian helps you figure out your food needs based on your weight, lifestyle, medication, and other health goals, such as lowering blood fat levels or blood pressure. Many plans cover nutritional therapy for people with diabetes at no out-of-pocket cost to the customer.
Diabetes can affect the blood vessels in your eyes, so annual exams are recommended. This is not considered a routine eye exam; therefore it's covered under your health plan, not vision.
A podiatrist is trained to treat feet and legs. The American Diabetes Association recommends annual foot exams. We cover these exams as your doctor recommends.
Don't underestimate the emotional toll a diabetes diagnosis can have. Your health plan offers coverage for counseling and mental health issues.
Book your diabetes screening
How supplies are covered
You might need to take medicine or test your blood sugar. For that, you'll need testing supplies and insulin shots or a pump. Some supplies are listed in your prescription drug benefit. Others are under medical equipment.
Refer to your plan's benefit booklet for details on what supplies are covered, excluded, and your cost shares. It varies by plan, but a general rule is, if it's disposable, it's covered under your prescription benefit. This can include needles, syringes, test strips, lancets, and glucometer solutions.
To help control costs, we regularly review medications and supplies to make sure they meet our high standards for safety, cost, and best medical practices. With that in mind, we've made LifeScan our preferred manufacturer for diabetes test strips. Make sure your doctor writes you a prescription for LifeScan test strips. Other test strips won't be covered except for certain clinical reasons.
To search for drugs in your drug list, sign in and go to Prescriptions to search by name and see if they are included, as well as see your costs and options.
Medical equipment typically includes insulin pumps and accessories, glucometers, injection aids, and orthotics and orthopedic shoes. These are covered under your durable medical equipment benefit. Some care and supplies require prior authorization to be eligible for coverage. Your doctor can help request this for you.
Benefits under your health plan may differ, so refer to your benefit booklet for information on what your specific health plan covers.
Your health plan covers preventive care services as required by state and federal law. For more information, please review the "A" and "B" rated services on the United States Preventive Services Task Force, immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and preventive care and screening recommended by the Health Resources and Services Administration. See the list on healthcare.gov.