I need help as I have several long overseas trips planned and I’m wondering how I can get enough of my Dexcom supplies before I leave town. My next shipment is due right after I am scheduled to leave and I can’t figure out how to get Medicare to approve a vacation override. Has anyone had any experience with this? Since it’s open enrollment, is there a plan? I should add that would help with this?
Hello @DanielleHouret
Forgive me because I am not on Medicare, but I did the following search. “medicare vacation override form” on Google and instructions did come up indicating there is a form you can send to your medication (and CGM supplies) supplier. I apologize if you’ve already tried this. I’m hoping one of our forum participants with actual experience can help or if @CommunityAdmin has an ODST contact we can connect you with. 
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@joe I googled “medicare vacation override form” and didn’t get any relevant results. If you get a chance could you please link to the form you found for Danielle? Google Search is less reliable these days
@DanielleHouret Welcome. Do you have Medicare Part B or a Medicare Advantage Plan aka Medicare Part C?
Hi @spdif apparently the override is with the pharmacy you use, not Medicare. Also some pharmacies requirements vary from word of mouth to showing receipts for airfare. So my advice should have been “call your supplier and ask what is necessary for a vacation override”. Sorry for the misdirection.
Thank you so much Joe, I have not tried that but I will. What is an ODST contact?
@spdif I have regular medicare part B
No problem, good advice and will try that instead
I looked and couldn’t find anything allowing more than the standard 90 day supply and delivered no sooner than 10 days before you run out of CGMs under Part B. L33822 Seems to be a downside of CGMs being classified as DME instead of pharmacy items.
Hopefully someone knows something I’m not finding. Also call 1-800-MEDICARE, although sometimes the reps make mistakes so on something like this call 3 times, Worst case is you need to ask your doc to write another Dexcom prescription and pay out of pocket.
The ODST (online diabetes support team) was a group of people who supported online requests for help we had at least a couple people who were familiar with insurance and Medicare. Some of that team are here on this forum.
I’m not on Medicare yet but if you’re going to be overseas for an extended time you may need a new prescription while you’re gone. See if your doctor will write a new one now to replace the current one - new prescriptions usually override the old so your order can be processed sooner. I don’t know if the doctor can write a special authorization to get your sensors in bulk, but at least you would have a supply to get you started.
@DanielleHouret Welcome Danielle to the Breakthrough T1D Forum! You may have found the solution, but if you haven’t her is a pathway.
The most direct manner to achieve your goals is to go directly to your current device supplier who has your device history; request an extended order - or in your case your next scheduled delivery to be made ? weeks early. For 90 day supply your supplier would submit to Medicare Billing code A4239-KX,CG for which it is paid $733.33. I don’t believe that currently is a code that will pay for additional supplies.
The supplier will in effect, if willing, delay submitting the billing to Medicare for the second “early” shipment of sensors - all based on your history with the company. BUT, as you mention “enrollment period”, the supplier may insist that you guarantee that you will continue coverage so that the delayed billing is covered by Medicare.
Thank you so much for the information Dennis, I will try this. I appreciate your help.
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