[Linda]

Hello,
Having a bit of a problem with a brand new 'gifted' insulin pump. The medtronic people want me to send them $500. just to say the brand new pump can be mine. Are they kidding! They also tell me that the person who gifted me the pump had better be a 'close' relative or they cannot train me in how to use the pump or answer any questions if I call the helpline. My insurance deductible is $5,000. I could not have afforded this pump other wise. Now they are checking to see if they even want to train me --given that it was not an insurance deal. As a first time (Type 1) user I really wanted training but may have to learn via the web. Any ideas? Thank you, Linda

 

[Richard157]

Linda, tell us more about yourself. Are you a type 1 diabetic? if so, for how long? Are you experienced with carb counting? What is your insulin:carb ratio? you need to know so many things before you start using a pump.

I have never heard of a "gifted" pump. Are you sure it is the Medtronic people who called you? It sounds very fishy to me. You may send them the money and then never see the pump. It could be a scam. I don't mean to upset you, but this kind of thing happens every day. If you had relatives paying for the pump, why wouldn't they identify themselves? I was not aware that Medtronic sent pumps to anyone without a legitimate doctor's approval. I had to have an endocrinologist's approval for Medtronic to send me my pump in 2007.

Let us know how this turns out, I am very interested.

Richard

 

[Linda]

Hello,
Having a bit of a problem with a brand new 'gifted' insulin pump. The medtronic people want me to send them $500. just to say the brand new pump can be mine. Are they kidding! They also tell me that the person who gifted me the pump had better be a 'close' relative or they cannot train me in how to use the pump or answer any questions if I call the helpline. My insurance deductible is $5,000. I could not have afforded this pump other wise. Now they are checking to see if they even want to train me --given that it was not an insurance deal. As a first time (Type 1) user I really wanted training but may have to learn via the web. Any ideas? Thank you, Linda

Hello Richard,
The pump is from a relative who received it free from their Dr. and they did not want to change to a new kind of pump. The relative lives out of state and does not want their insurance company to know they are not using the pump. The pump is brand new.
I have been a type 1 for 15 years -from age 35. I work and have elementary school kids, so keeping up with insulin can be challenging. My doctor has recommended the pump many times. My insurance is $700.00 a month with a $5,000 deductible, so buying a pump was never an option I could afford. With a free pump I can afford the supplies -even though the now cranky medtronic rep insisted I pay the $500. to "register" the new pump with them. Then the rep. told me that pump supplies cost $500 to $600 a month. After the research I have done on line I believe this was a sour grapes remark. I have always been doing carb counting and have done the online pump classes. This is all above board -is medtronic cranky because they did not get $5,000 from me? So I need to pay a $500. penalty for them to acknowledge me?

 

[Richard157]

I understand your situation now Linda. It will be wonderful for you to get to use that pump. I sure hope everything works out well. It does sound like the cranky rep is annoyed by their getting less money, but we cannot be certain. Good luck with this!

Richard

 

[Noble520]

Hi. When I first got my pump, the training was done by the diabetes educator at the endo office. Also, if this pump was not used by your relative, there was no income to Medtronic for supplies. If you start using it, and buy supplies, they will surely make up that $500 extortion fee fast.

 

[Shanny]

Welcome aboard, Noble! Hope you'll be coming back & staying a little longer!