Can I claim insulin pumps and glucose monitors for diabetes on health insurance? 

If you’re living with diabetes, your doctor may have recommended devices such as insulin pumps or glucose monitors to help you manage your health. If you don’t qualify for government funding, some of these devices can be a high ongoing cost. Currently in Australia, insulin pumps are only subsidised for people with type 1 diabetes under the age of 21, while continuous glucose monitors and flash glucose monitors are only subsidised for type 1 diabetics. Here’s how health insurance can help with the costs of some diabetes devices. 

Does health insurance cover insulin pumps? 

Yes, insulin pumps are covered on Hospital Cover, usually only on Gold policies – the most expensive level of cover. However using the healthslips.com.au Calculator, we found some Silver Plus policies that included the Insulin Pump clinical category, so it pays to shop around. 

Before you buy a policy, check with your insurer: 

• Will it cover insulin pumps provided outside of hospital? Legally, insurers don’t have to cover Hospital Cover claims for treatments outside hospital (e.g. in a clinic), however many choose to.  

• What are your insurer’s rules about pump replacements? Some only allow you to claim a replacement after 4 or 5 years.  

• What consumables will be covered (e.g. infusion sets and reservoirs for the pump)? Will limits apply? 

You’ll need to get pre-approval from your insurer before you get your pump. Contact your insurer to confirm the process and documentation you’ll need from your healthcare professional.  

How much does health insurance for insulin pumps cost? 

Using the healthslips.com.au Calculator, the cheapest policy we could find covering insulin pumps for one adult in each state or territory was: 

Remember that a waiting period may apply. If you had signs of diabetes in the 6 months before buying your policy, or upgrading it, there might be a 12 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions before you can claim for an insulin pump. 

Does health insurance cover glucose monitors? 

Regular glucose monitors are covered by Extras Cover, but usually only on top level policies. Look for Extras policies that include the Blood Glucose Monitor treatment category, check whether consumables (e.g. monitoring strips) are included and what limits apply. Also ask your insurer about waiting periods – some policies have waiting periods as long as 36 months for Blood Glucose Monitor cover. 

Flash glucose monitors (Flash GM) and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are not covered by health insurance. They are funded by the government for people with type 1 diabetes on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (check your eligibility here), but not for anyone with type 2 diabetes. 

How much does health insurance for glucose monitors cost? 

Using the healthslips.com.au Calculator, the cheapest Extras Cover policy including blood glucose monitors we could find in all states and territories for one adult was $16.15 per month, with a limit of $150 per monitor and a waiting period of 36 months. 

Find out more about other diabetes treatments you can claim on health insurance. 

How do I find the best health insurance for diabetes devices? 

There’s a massive range of prices for diabetes device cover, so it’s well worth a couple of minutes on the healthslips.com.au Calculator to search every policy in Australia and find the most affordable policy that meets your healthcare needs. We recommend using the ‘show differences’ button on the Compare page to highlight how the levels of cover are different.  

Use the healthslips.com.au Calculator to search for a new policy or compare your current policy to others for free, without having to give any personal details – try it today. 

healthslips.com.au does not provide general or personalised advice. Your particular circumstances are likely to impact the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information or results. Take this into account before making a decision and talk to an expert for financial advice.

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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