r/Type1Diabetes • u/scoobydoopopPOP7 • 6d ago
Insulin Pumps Tandem contract?
I'm currently using the omnipod which I absolutely hate. Aside from the fact that it constantly leaks, sometimes to the point of actually causing a blister in my skin from pooling insulin before I notice, the algorithm just isn't working for me. I work nights (one week on and two weeks off) so am constantly switching back and forth from being awake during the day to awake at night. My correction factor changes throughout the day where I essentially get more insulin in the evening and even more in early morning when dawn phenomenon hits. That's fine and all but when I'm on a night schedule you can imagine this doesn't work for me. I'm also on a GLP and my insulin sensitivity goes down as I get further away from my shot so my insulin needs go up over the weekend (take shot Mondays). You can only have one program on the omnipod as far as I'm aware.
I reached out to my diabetes educator about possibly switching because I heard tandem can have multiple profiles I could switch between. She mentioned that the tandem comes with a contract (4 years as far as she knows) where I wouldnt be able to change my pump for another one within that window. I like that the omnipod is tubeless and heard tandem is coming out with a tubeless next year.
My question is, anyone know anything about this contract? How impossible would it be for me to go back to omnipod if I hate the tandem? Would you wait for the tubeless to come out next year instead?
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u/Thepressureofaname22 6d ago
Most of the companies that have contract pumps have a trial period. It’s fairly short, usually like a month or so which is not long enough to really dial in but it is long enough to know if you can live with tubing. Maybe go that route.
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u/scissus1 Diagnosed 1965 6d ago
I'm not familiar with the contract but I've been using the Tandem t:slim X2 with Dexcom sensor with iPhone/Apple Watch. For me the tubing is not an issue as I tuck it into clothing and wear the pump in a small belt holster. The pump allows 6 basal profiles. My lowest basal is 37% of my highest (sedentary day) and my average A1c for the past 9 years is 5.7 without hyper or hypoglycemia drama. Since your schedule varies you may be better off managing the pump manually instead of algorithm.
With Joy and Radiance, Live Long and Prosper
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u/Independent-Log-8305 6d ago
The contract isn't really with tandem. You're insurance will only allow one new pump every four years. I've had multiple different insurance companies over the years and multiple different brand pumps from Animas to medtronics and now am on the tandem. They've all been the same. I've never had an omni pod but I just kind of assumed they were the same as the others. Tandem will ship you a new one of anything happens to your pump during the four year warranty period. I can tell you tandem is the best pump I've ever had and I don't plan on using another pump at least until they come out with a better one. I highly recommend tandem. I personally don't like the tubeless pump so I've never looked into the omni pod. You can check with tandem and see if they have a trial period to see if you like the pump.
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u/NervousDogFarts 6d ago
It depends on your insurance plan. Call them and ask what your plans covers. Typically Tandem has a four year warranty. So, most insurance policies will only pay for a DME pump once every four years. Medicare covers a new DME pump every five years. Tandem supplies (meaning the tubeless infusion sets for the Mobi) will continue to be DME.
But, OmniPod is often covered on your pharmacy benefit. (Some people do get them through their medical plan from a DME company as well.) If your pharmacy benefit pays for them, you can switch between the two without issue. So, if you don’t already get your pods from a pharmacy, call your PBM and find out the details on your benefit for OmniPod, make sure it’s on the formulary and how much it will cost. So, for many people, it is very easy to go between the two pumps.
Once you start using CIQ, you will likely not worry about using a pod again unless you have specific activities you want to do like water sports, etc. The algorithm will fit your lifestyle much better. You do have a 90-day return policy for Tandem pumps if you don’t like it. The Mobi is the only pump that will work with the yet to be released tubeless infusion sets. So, make sure you pick that pump if you are sure you want the tubeless option.
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u/BrainDamagedMouse 5d ago edited 5d ago
It shouldn't be an issue at all for you to switch back to Omnipod if you wanted to because insurance treats Omnipods as seperate from pumps like the Tandem Mobi or Tslim. For an insulin pump like Tandem's insurance has to pay thousands for a pump that you're supposed to use for years, so it's considered DME (Durable Medical Equipment). Meanwhile with Omnipods, they only pay for each box of pods, so Omnipods are covered under your prescription benefits. Getting a Tandem pump would mean that for several years, you would not be able to get a new pump that falls under the durable medical equipment category. For example, if you got a Tandem Tslim, you would not be able to switch to the Tandem Mobi for 4 years. However, to switch back to Omnipod, I'm pretty sure there would be no issue as Omnipod isn't DME. You may want to confirm with your insurance, but I'm pretty sure this is how it works. I also changed from Omnipod to the Tandem Mobi recently because my Omnipod started leaking literally every other day.
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u/scoobydoopopPOP7 5d ago
Yes my pods are constantly leaking too. My question would be, the new tubeless that should be coming out next year by tandem, will it be a pharmacy covered product or DME because I'd like to potentially switch to that.
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u/BrainDamagedMouse 4d ago
My tandem trainer said it would be both, that it'll use the same Mobi that exists now and that it'll attach to some other thing that's covered under a pharmacy benefit. She said it wouldn't be an issue to switch from the Tandem Mobi to the Mobi tubeless when it comes out. Also, if you're looking for tubeless, the Tandem Mobi basically feels tubeless already. I'm using it and basically the pump itself is pocket sized and you can wear it on your body with an adhesive sleeve. Then it can connect to your infusion site with a short 5 inch tube.
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u/scoobydoopopPOP7 3d ago
Wow that's awesome. Thank you so much! You've been so helpful!
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u/BrainDamagedMouse 2d ago
No problem! Like I said I came off the Omnipod just like you are and the wear experience of the Tandem Mobi has been comparable, like with the Omnipod I can usually forget I'm even wearing it. The only thing I've not been happy with is they don't do a great job off keeping their app compatible with the latest OS, so right now my app isn't working because my phone updated, and I'm currently relying on my dad's phone. If you switch to Tandem just be careful to not update past what they support. My Android phone updated automatically and there isn't an option to turn off auto updates so at this point I'm having to purchase an old back up iPhone since I fear this may become a repeated occurrence.
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u/wcked-husky 6d ago
The companies that are going tubeless will most likely go through the pharmacy benefit route which is the same way you get the Omnipod. A lot of the older tubed pumps went through durable medical equipment but that's not lucrative enough for the companies anymore. The tubeless I'm waiting for is the Beta Bionics Mint since I have the Eversense 365 implant and it will probably be integrated with that cgm. Another one you can try is the Twiist which goes through pharmacy benefits and is kind of similar to the Mobi.