Glucose Monitor Coverage Shifts for Diabetes Patients
Some insurers are switching brands in 2027, and Medicare may expand coverage for Type 2 patients who do not take insulin.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Diabetes
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Should Medicare cover glucose monitors for more Type 2 diabetes patients?
Abbott reported slower growth in its diabetes business during the third quarter and cut its full-year sales growth forecast. The company attributed the slowdown to fewer recent reimbursement expansions and pricing pressure outside the United States, a development that matters for U.S. adults managing diabetes who use glucose monitors.
Why it matters
Continuous glucose monitors are increasingly used by people with diabetes, and changes in which brands insurers cover can affect what devices patients can access and at what cost. Coverage decisions in the U.S. are now shifting, with federal and insurer policy both moving toward broader access for some patient groups.
The figure available comes from company reporting, with Dexcom stating that a pharmacy benefit manager accounts for less than 4% of its revenue. The size of Abbott's slowdown and the revised forecast are not quantified in the available information, and the Medicare coverage decision has not yet been announced.
The players
Abbott
Abbott is a diversified health care company whose diabetes care line includes continuous glucose monitoring systems used by people with diabetes.
Dexcom
Dexcom is a medical device company specializing in continuous glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS is the federal agency that sets Medicare coverage policy, including coverage rules for diabetes devices.
CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark is a pharmacy benefit manager that designs formularies determining which diabetes devices and drugs are covered for members.
Aetna
Aetna is a major U.S. health insurer whose commercial plans set coverage rules for diabetes devices through its formularies.
The details
Glucose monitors measure blood sugar levels continuously through a small sensor worn on the body, and insurers decide which brands they cover through formulary agreements. Some CVS Caremark and Aetna Commercial plans are moving from exclusive coverage of Dexcom devices to exclusive coverage of Abbott devices in 2027. Dexcom has also published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine reporting benefit for people with Type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin.
Timeline
June: Dexcom shared results of its glucose sensor study.
Third quarter: Abbott's diabetes business slowed.
Before the end of the year: CMS is expected to announce its coverage decision.
2027: Some formulary coverage switches from Dexcom to Abbott exclusive.
Health Landscape
Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors has historically centered on people using insulin, and an expected CMS decision would extend that coverage to Type 2 patients who do not take insulin. This would mark a shift in how federal coverage tracks the population that benefits from the devices.
If you have Type 2 diabetes and do not take insulin, it may be worth asking your doctor whether a continuous glucose monitor could be useful for you and whether your insurance plan covers it. Coverage depends on your plan's formulary, so checking which brands your insurer prefers can help you plan ahead.
The takeaway
Insurance coverage for glucose monitors is changing, and a federal decision on coverage for some Type 2 patients is expected soon. Talk with your physician about whether a monitor fits your care plan, and check which brands your insurer covers.
What happens next
CMS is expected to announce its decision on broader Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors for Type 2 patients not taking insulin before the end of the year.
Further reading
For broader context on managing the condition, explore our Diabetes coverage.
Live Poll
Should Medicare cover glucose monitors for more Type 2 diabetes patients?
