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Insulin pump consumables

Access to insulin pump consumables through the NDSS is restricted to people with type 1 diabetes.

There are a range of insulin pumps available in Australia. People living with diabetes have many options. When transitioning to an insulin pump (including the Omnipod Dash® System) or changing from an insulin pump to multiple daily insulin injections, we strongly encourage you to consult with a diabetes specialist (endocrinologist, credentialled diabetes educator (CDE), nurse practitioner) to assist you with this transition as it may cause unstable glucose levels. It requires specialist support to ensure you achieve the best possible outcomes.

If you have private health insurance your policy may cover the cost of an insulin pump. Please check with your individual insurer for details.

To apply to access insulin pump consumables (IPCs):

Send the above information:

  • by email to [email protected] (preferred option), or
  • by the methods described in the form.

Once the required steps are completed you can access subsidised IPCs through an NDSS Access Point (usually a community pharmacy) for the applicable NDSS co-payment.

Insulin Pump Consumable Access form

This form allows a person—who is already registered for the NDSS—to access IPCs through the NDSS.

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In certain circumstances, people who have been diagnosed with ‘other diabetes’ and ‘hard to manage’ type 2 diabetes can request special consideration from the Department of Health and Aged Care to access IPCs through the NDSS. If you wish to apply for special consideration for access to subsidised IPCs through the NDSS, you will need to provide the following information:

  • your name
  • your contact details, including your address and daytime telephone contact number
  • a letter from a diabetes health professional, such as your endocrinologist or credentialed diabetes educator, outlining the nature of your medical condition and why you need special consideration to access subsidised IPCs through the NDSS.

Send the above information to:

  • by email to [email protected] (preferred option), or
  • NDSS Administration, GPO Box 3156, Canberra, ACT 2601.

Your application will be considered by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Further information may be needed to support your application. If required, we will request this information as soon as it has been identified. We aim to advise you of the outcome of your application within 30 days.

Omnipod DASH® system

Omnipod can be accessed in a similar way as other insulin pump systems through the NDSS. The overall cost of using Omnipod is now equivalent to other insulin pump systems.

Omnipod DASH® Pods are partially subsidised and listed on the NDSS. After meeting the below criteria, a subscription payment is required to access the full Omnipod DASH® system. This may be covered by private health insurance similar to other insulin pump systems; OR by paying a no lock-in subscription fee to Insulet Australia of $168.27/month.

You will be able to access the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods if:

  1. You are living with type 1 diabetes and registered with the NDSS.
  2. You lodge the NDSS Insulin Pump Consumable Access Form that is certified by your diabetes health professional, nominating Omnipod® as your insulin pump.
  1. You are an Omnipod DASH® System user under your NDSS registration by one of these pathways.
With private health insuranceWithout private health insurance
If you have private health insurance, check with your insurer about eligibility to access the Omnipod DASH® System.

If approved, your insurer will cover the cost to access the Omnipod DASH® System, and you will become a registered Omnipod user, providing eligibility to the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods.

Without private health insurance, you will need to purchase a monthly subscription to use the Omnipod DASH® Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) device and software from Insulet Australia at a cost of $168.27 per month. If you have an existing PDM you will still need to purchase a monthly no lock-in subscription payable to Insulet Australia.

Once your subscription is confirmed you will become a registered Omnipod user, providing eligibility to the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods.

Once the required steps are completed and you are confirmed by Insulet Australia as a registered Omnipod user, you can access Omnipod DASH® Pods through an NDSS Access Point (usually a community pharmacy) for the applicable NDSS co-payment of $30.90/box of 10 Pods (general) or $23.40/box of 10 Pods (valid concession card holders).

If the subscription arrangements are not maintained, access to the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods will be suspended.

Insulet Australia can be contacted for general and access related enquiries at omnipod.com/en-au or on phone 1800 954 075 or +61 272 084 353.

Omnipod frequently asked questions

Omnipod DASH® pods are partially subsidised and listed on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). A subscription payment is required to access to the full Omnipod DASH® system. This may be covered by private health insurance similar to other insulin pump systems; OR by paying a no lock-in subscription fee to Insulet Australia of $168.27/month. 

You will need to continue your no lock-in subscription payments for as long as you wish to access the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods.

The NDSS Item Code is 690.

If accessing Omnipod DASH® Pods through private health insurance:

  • Step 1: Contact your pharmacy to place an order.
  • Step 2: Collect your order of Pods from the pharmacy you ordered from and make your NDSS co-payment of $30.90/box for general or $23.40/box for concession card holders.

If accessing Pods through a no lock-in subscription payment to Omnipod:

  • Step 1: Contact Insulet and make your subscription payment (Payment can take up to 2 days to clear).
  • Step 2: Contact your pharmacy to place an order.
  • Step 3: Collect your order of Pods from the pharmacy you ordered from and make your NDSS co-payment of $30.90/box for general or $23.40/box for concession card holders.

Explain to your pharmacist that you wish to order some insulin pump consumables and your consumable is the Omnipod DASH® Pod that has the item code 690. Please plan ahead to ensure you always have enough supply.

Omnipod does not offer any loan or trial program as it offers a no lock-in subscription payment option. Once you are confirmed by Insulet as a registered Omnipod user and have setup a no lock-in subscription of $168.27/month, you can access the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods.

Yes, you can switch between access to Omnipod on the NDSS with the no lock-in subscription to Insulet. Before changing devices, seek guidance from your diabetes health professional.

You will not need to complete another insulin pump consumables access form. Once your subscription is confirmed with Insulet you will become a registered Omnipod user, providing eligibility to the NDSS subsidy for Omnipod DASH® Pods.

You can order a maximum of 13 boxes of Omnipod DASH® Pods within a 12 month period.

Diabetes Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. We recognise their connection to land, waters, winds and culture. We pay the upmost respect to them, their cultures and to their Elders, past and present. We are committed to improving health outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by diabetes and those at risk.

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