Does Medicare Cover Test Strips?

Medicare does cover test strips, glucose meters and other essential tools to help monitor diabetes.

A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan can help cover your Medicare costs for test strips and other covered diabetes supplies. These costs can include things like Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, copays and more.

Medicare does cover test strips and some other diabetes supplies.

How Does Medicare Pay for Blood Glucose Test Strips?

If you have Medicare Part B (the medical insurance part of Original Medicare), you’ll likely be covered for the costs of test strips.

Medicare covers blood glucose testing strips as a form of durable medical equipment. As such, Medicare will typically pay 80% of the costs of test strips.

However, that means certain costs will still be left up to you. These costs may typically include:

• 20% of Medicare’s approved costs of test strips

• Any portion of Medicare Part B deductible ($240 per year in 2024) that you haven’t yet paid

Some Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may also cover diabetes supplies, insulin and other medications.

You can compare Part D plans available where you live and enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan online when you visit MyRxPlans.com.

Medicare Covers Some Other Diabetes Supplies and Treatments

Medicare Part B also helps cover the costs of some other diabetes treatment-related services, which can include:

• Lancets and lancet devices

• Blood sugar monitoring and control devices

• Therapeutic shoes or shoe inserts

• Insulin (only if the use of an insulin pump is medically necessary)

It's important to note that in order for Medicare to cover some diabetes testing supplies, you may need to go through specific durable medical equipment suppliers who are enrolled in Medicare.

Additionally, Medicare Part B covers some diabetes services. These can include:

• Annual eye exams

• Foot exams

• Diabetes self-management trainings

• Tests for glaucoma

• Medical nutrition therapy services

Medigap Plans Can Help Cover Diabetes Test Strips Medicare Costs

If Medicare covers your test strips and other diabetes supplies, you will typically be responsible for a number of out-of-pocket costs.

One way to get some help covering these costs is to apply for a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.

For example, each of the 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states provide coverage for the Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments you might face when you receive covered diabetes supplies, test strips and other services.

A licensed agent can help you decide on a Medicare option that works for you. Call today to speak with a licensed agent and compare the Medigap plans that are available where you live.

Christian Worstell is a health care and policy writer for MedicareSupplement.com. He has written hundreds of articles helping people better understand their Medicare coverage options.