My 14-year old son Ben has had diabetes since age 3. We've used three different insulin pumps over the past 10 years. In 2016, we changed to an Omnipod system, which has no plastic tubing (a big issue for an adolescent). United HealthCare has been covering pump supplies for the Omnipod system since 2016.

Since January, we've been repeatedly denied coverage for his pump supplies with no explanation -- and plenty of phone calls, misinformation, and dead ends. Our wonderful endocriniologist spoke to a doctor at United HealthCare who told us that the United HealthCare doctor "claims that UHC in generally trying to "steer away" (his words) from Omnipod and that Medtronic is their preferred pump provider."

According to United HealthCare's website: "Children 18 and younger are not part of the preferred agreement with Medtronic and can continue using a non-Medtronic pump." https://www.uhc.com/content/dam/uhcdotcom/en/NewsRelease/PDF/UHC_Medtronic_FAQs.pdf

Please help us convince United HealthCare that children living with type 1 diabetes should be able to choose the insulin delivery system that best matching their lifestyle and preferences, and that brokering deals with DME companies may be great for shareholders, but are not in the best interest of patients.