Cost of insulin and availability of dexcom CGM in UK

[Doctorwhobbc]

Hi everyone,
My wife and I will be moving to the UK under the Tier One (Exceptional Talent) visa route (5 year visa). My wife is a type one diabetic and uses the dexcom g6 which has been amazing (I'm not exaggerating that it's changed our lives!). What isn't clear though is how much daily supplies like insulin, needles, alcohol swaps, etc, will be. We've paid the NHS surcharge, but in the fine print it mentions that prescriptions are not covered and will have a cost. My question is does anyone know roughly how much would that cost out of pocket for all the supplies on a regular basis? It's also a stretch, but is dexcom (G6) available in the UK? Basically just trying to work out if we'll still need to get prescriptions from the US and have them mailed to us every few months or if it will be cheaper in the UK. Thanks in advance!

 

[MeiChanski]

Hello, Welcome!

from my knowledge, I know Novorapid paid privately is around £40 from a pharmacist. I'm not sure on needles, but alcohol swaps you can buy anywhere, like Amazon. Also I think theres very few people who have CGMs in the UK funded by NHS. most are self funding for it, I am assuming around £250 or so.

EDIT: it's £159/month payment plan for Dexcom G6 and you may have to see a doctor for a prescription for medication.

 

[BeccyB]

The Dexcom G6 is available to us at a subscription cost of £159 per month, or available without signing up for 12 months at slightly more. Some people find they are able to restart sensors and bring the price down that way, it depends on how tolerant your body is to the sensor I think. T1s don't have to pay tax on this but I don't know whether you will be included in that - you will need to check, or hope someone comes along here that knows.

Alcohol wipes I get from Amazon but everything else has always been on a free prescription so I'm no help there I'm afraid.

If you are considering having supplies mailed to you bear in mind any insulin, and possibly other things, will need to be temperature controlled which would increase the price significantly I'd imagine.

Good luck

ps. Congratulations on being "Exceptionally talented"

 

[Dmitry Paramonov]

The Dexcom G6 is available to us at a subscription cost of £159 per month, or available without signing up for 12 months at slightly more. Some people find they are able to restart sensors and bring the price down that way, it depends on how tolerant your body is to the sensor I think. T1s don't have to pay tax on this but I don't know whether you will be included in that - you will need to check, or hope someone comes along here that knows.

Alcohol wipes I get from Amazon but everything else has always been on a free prescription so I'm no help there I'm afraid.

If you are considering having supplies mailed to you bear in mind any insulin, and possibly other things, will need to be temperature controlled which would increase the price significantly I'd imagine.

Good luck

ps. Congratulations on being "Exceptionally talented"

Hi everyone,
My wife and I will be moving to the UK under the Tier One (Exceptional Talent) visa route (5 year visa). My wife is a type one diabetic and uses the dexcom g6 which has been amazing (I'm not exaggerating that it's changed our lives!). What isn't clear though is how much daily supplies like insulin, needles, alcohol swaps, etc, will be. We've paid the NHS surcharge, but in the fine print it mentions that prescriptions are not covered and will have a cost. My question is does anyone know roughly how much would that cost out of pocket for all the supplies on a regular basis? It's also a stretch, but is dexcom (G6) available in the UK? Basically just trying to work out if we'll still need to get prescriptions from the US and have them mailed to us every few months or if it will be cheaper in the UK. Thanks in advance!

Dexcom is NOT reimbursed by the NHS in UK, I confirmed today from Dexcom staff directly. Libre is reimbursed but only for about 25% of type 1 population that meet certain requrements under NICE guidance. So net net for you - if Dexcom is covered in the US, get it there.

 

[Dmitry Paramonov]

Dexcom is NOT reimbursed by the NHS in UK, I confirmed today from Dexcom staff directly. Libre is reimbursed but only for about 25% of type 1 population that meet certain requrements under NICE guidance. So net net for you - if Dexcom is covered in the US, get it there.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Dexcom is NOT reimbursed by the NHS in UK, I confirmed today from Dexcom staff directly. Libre is reimbursed but only for about 25% of type 1 population that meet certain requrements under NICE guidance. So net net for you - if Dexcom is covered in the US, get it there.

To get a freestyle libre on prescription you will need to jump through a couple of hoops. Get your wife to see a tier 3 consultant (hospital). They are usually sympathetic but she may need to be testing/scanning x 8 daily and if she were having frequent blood sugar swings and especially lows before you used the fsl then that helps the case.
The budget for these items is run at CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) level so it may help if you can reveal where you are moving too as despite national guidelines, these things still seem to vary locally. I know that our CCG (Surrey Downs) has run over budget for FSL but it is still being prescribed anyway.
A typical requirement is for type 1s to have done a carb counting course too but if one is not available via her clinic then there is an online one (BERTIE run by Bournemouth uni) which might count in her favour.
Getting an annual prescription charge may be the most economic way of paying for her insulin etc. As type 1 I am exempt but you'd be charged nearly £10 otherwise each time.
I have to say that because of the insulin and other type 1 supplies I am never ever asked to prove that I am exempt!
Glad that the Dexcom is working well for your wife; I have a client whose daughter has it privately too and loves it.