A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) tracks your blood sugar all day and night without finger pricks. It used to be a luxury for people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pumps. Now Medicare covers CGMs for a much wider group. Here is who qualifies, which brands are covered, and what you pay in 2026.
The short answer
Original Medicare Part B covers a CGM under the durable medical equipment (DME) benefit. You qualify if you have diabetes and either take insulin, or have a history of low blood sugar episodes that were dangerous.
Medicare pays 80% after your Part B deductible. You owe 20%, which Medigap covers. Sensors ship monthly through a Medicare-approved supplier. Popular covered brands include Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre, and Eversense.
Who qualifies in 2026
The eligibility rules expanded in April 2023. Today you qualify if all of these are true:
- You have a diagnosis of diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational)
- Your treating doctor confirms the diagnosis and orders the CGM
- One of the two clinical criteria below is met
- You see your doctor at least every 6 months to review CGM use
The two clinical criteria:
- You use insulin. Any type. Any frequency. Even one basal shot a day counts. This is the most common qualifier.
- You have a documented history of problematic hypoglycemia. This means two or more recorded episodes with a blood sugar under 54 mg/dL, or a single episode that needed help from another person.
Before 2023, you had to take insulin three or more times a day to qualify. The rule change opened CGMs to millions of people who use only basal insulin, or who have serious low blood sugar swings even without insulin.
Which CGMs Medicare covers
Medicare covers the current generation of therapeutic CGMs. The main ones:
| Brand | Type | Wear time |
|---|---|---|
| Dexcom G7 | Real-time CGM | 10 days per sensor |
| Dexcom G6 | Real-time CGM | 10 days per sensor |
| FreeStyle Libre 3 | Real-time CGM | 14 days per sensor |
| FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus | Real-time CGM | 15 days per sensor |
| Eversense E3 / 365 | Implantable CGM | Up to 365 days |
Your doctor picks the CGM that fits your case. Dexcom and FreeStyle Libre are by far the most common. Eversense is implanted under the skin by a doctor and lasts a year.
What Medicare covers with the CGM
Under DME, Medicare covers:
- The sensor (monthly supply)
- The transmitter (if the CGM has one)
- The receiver, if the doctor orders one and you do not use a smartphone
- Related supplies like adhesive patches
Medicare does not cover the smartphone or the app. Most people just use their own phone. If you do not have a compatible phone, the receiver is included in your order.
What you pay
After the Part B deductible, Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount and you owe 20%. The approved amount for a monthly sensor supply averages $250 to $300, so your share is around $50 to $75.
With Medigap Plan G or Plan N, your 20% is fully covered. Most CGM users with a Medigap plan pay nothing after their deductible.
Medicare Advantage plans set their own copays. Common structures:
- A flat monthly copay for sensors ($20 to $50)
- Coinsurance similar to Original Medicare
- $0 sensors on some diabetes-focused C-SNP plans
How to get a Medicare-covered CGM
Six steps:
- See your doctor. Explain that you want a CGM. Your chart needs to document the diagnosis and either insulin use or hypoglycemia history.
- Your doctor writes the order specifying the CGM brand and any supplies.
- Pick a supplier. You have two paths. A DME supplier ships sensors monthly. Or a pharmacy that bills Medicare Part B (not Part D) dispenses them in person.
- Supplier verifies coverage and delivers the starter kit.
- You wear the sensor. Most people learn the routine in a day or two.
- See your doctor every 6 months to keep coverage active.
The pharmacy route is faster to start and easier to swap brands. The DME shipping route is convenient if you do not want to pick up sensors every month.
The 6-month visit rule
Once you start a CGM under Medicare, you have to see your doctor face to face (or by telehealth) at least once every 6 months. Miss it and Medicare will pause your supply.
Set a reminder. Most primary care offices are used to this and will schedule the follow-up when you start.
How CGMs stack with other Medicare diabetes benefits
The CGM sits inside a bigger set of diabetes benefits. Under Medicare you also get:
- Insulin capped at $35 per month per Part D covered insulin (see our post on the $35 Medicare insulin cap)
- Test strips and lancets covered as DME
- Two pairs of therapeutic shoes per year, if prescribed
- Diabetes Self-Management Training (10 hours the first year)
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (3 hours the first year)
- Yearly hemoglobin A1c and eye exams
- Foot exams every 6 months if you have neuropathy
Read the full picture in our post on Medicare diabetes coverage in 2026.
Real-world example
Ron is 71, type 2 diabetic, takes basal insulin once a day. Before 2023 he did not qualify for a CGM under Medicare rules. His A1c was 8.4.
Under the current rules his doctor writes the order. He starts a FreeStyle Libre 3. Cost breakdown:
- Approved monthly amount: $270
- Medicare pays: $216
- Ron's share: $54
- Plan G covers his $54
- Out of pocket: $0 per month
Six months later, his A1c drops to 6.8 and he cuts his insulin dose. The CGM helped him see how food and activity moved his numbers.
Common mistakes
Assuming you have to be on insulin
Not since 2023. If you have hypoglycemia history, ask your doctor about a CGM even without insulin.
Getting the CGM through Part D instead of Part B
Some pharmacies bill CGMs as a Part D drug at retail price. That leaves you paying much more than the Part B route. Ask your pharmacy: "Are you billing this as Part B DME or Part D?" It should be Part B.
Missing the 6-month check-in
The doctor visit is a rule, not a suggestion. Miss it and coverage lapses.
Buying extras out of pocket
Adhesive patches, backup receivers, and some accessories are covered under the order. Do not pay for what should ship free.
The bottom line
Medicare's expanded CGM rules mean many more people with diabetes qualify now than a few years ago. If you take any insulin, or if your blood sugar has crashed dangerously in the past, you likely qualify. Cost with Medigap is usually $0 a month after your Part B deductible.
If you have Medicare Advantage, check your plan's copay for CGM sensors and whether a diabetes C-SNP could save you more. See our guides on Medicare Special Needs Plans and DME coverage rules for more.
You can also read CMS's official coverage notes at Medicare.gov continuous glucose monitors. Or book a free call and we will walk through your coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover a continuous glucose monitor?
Yes. Original Medicare Part B covers CGMs as DME for people with diabetes who take insulin or have documented hypoglycemia.
Who qualifies for a Medicare CGM in 2026?
Any diabetic on insulin, or any diabetic with recorded low blood sugar episodes under 54 mg/dL or requiring help.
How much does a CGM cost with Medicare?
Medicare pays 80%. You pay 20%, usually $50 to $75 per month. Medigap Plan G or Plan N covers your share.
Which CGMs does Medicare cover?
Dexcom G7 and G6, FreeStyle Libre 3 and 2, and Eversense are the most common covered brands.
Does Medicare Advantage cover CGMs?
Yes. All plans cover them to at least the same standard. Some diabetes C-SNP plans cover sensors at $0.
Do I need a prescription for a Medicare CGM?
Yes. Your doctor writes the order and must see you every 6 months to keep coverage active.