Financial help for a continuous glucose monitor
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) - like Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre, or Stelo - can be expensive out of pocket, and the sensors are an ongoing cost, not a one-time buy. Depending on your insurance situation, there are a few different ways to bring the cost down. Here is how they fit together.
If you have private insurance
Manufacturer savings and copay programs
The companies that make CGMs run their own savings or copay programs that lower what you pay if you have commercial or private insurance - a plan through your job or the ACA marketplace. As with prescription copay cards, these generally can’t be used if you have any government insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. Check the manufacturer’s own site for the current terms and to enroll.
If you’re uninsured
Patient assistance for those who qualify
Some manufacturers offer patient assistance for people who are uninsured and whose income falls below a set line, similar to the patient assistance programs that exist for prescription drugs. The income cutoffs and exactly what’s offered vary by company and can change, so the manufacturer’s own program page is the source of truth. If you’re new to how these programs work in general, the patient assistance explainer walks through who qualifies and what documents you need.
If you’re on Medicare
CGMs can be covered under Part B
Here’s a key difference from most prescriptions: continuous glucose monitors are generally covered under Medicare Part B (as durable medical equipment), not Part D, for people who meet Medicare’s coverage criteria. That means the path to help on Medicare is different from the manufacturer copay card (which doesn’t work on Medicare anyway). Whether you qualify depends on Medicare’s current rules and your prescriber’s documentation, so this is worth confirming with your doctor and your plan. For the broader picture of paying for medications on Medicare, see does Medicare cover your medication.
If you’re on Medicaid
Coverage varies by state
Medicaid can cover CGMs, but the rules are set state by state, so what’s covered - and who qualifies - genuinely depends on where you live. If you’re on Medicaid, the honest answer is to check your specific state’s program rather than assume a yes or a no. Your prescriber’s office often knows what their patients on your state’s Medicaid have been able to get.
See your specific monitor
Which CGM are you on?
We track the programs and current terms for each monitor separately. Open the one you use for the specific savings and assistance options we’ve verified.
The honest bottom line: which path is yours depends entirely on your insurance - private insurance points to manufacturer savings, being uninsured points to patient assistance, Medicare usually runs through Part B, and Medicaid depends on your state. Start by naming your insurance situation, then follow the matching path above.