Medicare does cover the Precision Xtra in the sense that Part B covers blood glucose monitors and test strips as durable medical equipment for every beneficiary with a diabetes diagnosis, and coverage is defined by billing category rather than by brand.1CMS.gov. LCD: Glucose Monitors (L33822) The complication is that Abbott Diabetes Care has discontinued the Precision Xtra product line, so the real question is less about eligibility and more about whether a Medicare-enrolled supplier can still get you the meter and strips.2FDA.gov. MAUDE Adverse Event Report – Precision Xtra
What Part B Pays For
Blood glucose monitors, test strips, lancets, lancet devices, and glucose control solutions are all covered under Part B as durable medical equipment for anyone diagnosed with diabetes, whether or not they use insulin.3CMS.gov. Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies Medicare’s Local Coverage Determination for glucose monitors (LCD L33822) sets coverage by HCPCS code, not brand name, so Precision Xtra strips billed under A4253 fit the standard category in principle.4CMS.gov. Glucose Monitoring Supplies Compliance Tips
To get coverage, you need a prescription from your doctor stating the diabetes diagnosis, the type of monitor and why it’s needed, whether you use insulin, and your testing frequency.5Medicare.gov. Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies, Services, and Prevention Programs The supplies have to come from a pharmacy or DME supplier enrolled in Medicare, and ideally one that accepts assignment so you’re not billed above the Medicare-approved amount.
Quantity limits run every three months: up to 300 strips and 300 lancets if you use insulin, and up to 100 of each if you don’t. A doctor can request more with documented medical necessity. You need a fresh prescription every twelve months, and you have to actively request each refill. Medicare won’t pay for supplies a company ships you automatically.5Medicare.gov. Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies, Services, and Prevention Programs After the annual Part B deductible, Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount and you pay the remaining 20 percent.
The Discontinuation Problem
An FDA adverse event filing includes a manufacturer narrative from Abbott stating that “manufacturing and distribution of this product line has been discontinued.”2FDA.gov. MAUDE Adverse Event Report – Precision Xtra The meter itself had a useful life of no more than four years from its original purchase date.
Precision Xtra glucose and blood ketone strips can still be found through third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay, with some listings showing expiration dates into 2027.6Amazon.com. Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips Buying them that way is not the same as getting them through Medicare. For Medicare to pay, the supplies have to be billed by an enrolled pharmacy or DME supplier that submits the claim directly. An out-of-pocket purchase from an online marketplace is just that.
Plans That Still List the Precision Xtra
Some Medicare Advantage plans continue to list the Precision Xtra on their covered-supplies formularies. Highmark Health Options includes the Precision Xtra meter and both its glucose and blood ketone test strips as covered when obtained from a pharmacy.7Highmark.com. Preferred Diabetic Supplies Peak Advantage lists the Abbott Precision Xtra meter and test strips at a $0 copay through in-network pharmacies.8Peak Advantage. Covered Diabetes Meters and Testing Supplies 2026
Other plans go the opposite direction. PacificSource’s formulary classifies Precision Xtra test strips as Non-Formulary, meaning they aren’t covered as a standard benefit.9PacificSource. PacificSource Diabetic Test Strips Formulary So the honest answer depends on which plan you have and whether a Medicare-enrolled supplier it works with can still source the discontinued product.
Ketone Testing Is a Separate Question
Many people choose the Precision Xtra specifically because it reads blood ketones, which matters for people with type 1 diabetes at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Original Medicare Part B does not cover ketone test strips. They don’t meet Medicare’s definition of durable medical equipment.10Medicare.org. Does Medicare Cover Ketone Test Strips
Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover them. Humana Healthy Horizons in Florida covers Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips with a limit of 30 strips per month.11Humana. Diabetic Supply Policy Change Letter to Providers Other Advantage plans offer a monthly over-the-counter allowance that can be applied toward ketone strips. If ketone testing is the reason you want this meter, check your specific plan’s benefits before assuming either way.
Asking for a Specific Brand
Medicare’s competitive bidding rules protect beneficiaries who need a particular brand. A contract supplier can’t pressure you to switch away from your current monitor and strips. If your doctor documents that a specific brand is medically necessary to avoid an adverse outcome, including the brand name, its distinguishing features, and why those features matter for you, the supplier has to furnish that brand, help you find another supplier who can, or work with your prescriber on a clinically acceptable alternative.12Center for Medicare Advocacy. Medicare’s National Mail-Order Program for Diabetic Testing Supplies
This gives you a formal pathway to request the Precision Xtra, but it only works if an enrolled source still has the strips in stock.
Covered Alternatives Worth Asking About
Given the supply uncertainty, most people in this situation end up switching. Abbott’s own FreeStyle Precision Neo Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System handles both glucose and ketone testing, the same combination the Precision Xtra offered.13Abbott. FreeStyle Precision Neo Owner’s Setup Guide ATRIO Health Plans lists FreeStyle Lite and FreeStyle Freedom Lite meters alongside OneTouch Verio Reflect and Verio Flex as preferred meters at zero out-of-pocket cost, with FreeStyle Lite, FreeStyle, and FreeStyle Precision Neo strips among its preferred test strips.14ATRIO Health Plans. Diabetes Meters and Test Strips
Preferred-brand lists change. Check your current plan’s formulary before buying a new meter, because using a non-preferred brand can trigger prior authorization or higher out-of-pocket costs.
Where to Go From Here
Supplies come through two main channels: mail order from a national contract supplier, or in-person pickup at a Medicare-enrolled retail pharmacy or storefront.15CMS.gov. National Mail-Order Program Partner Article Either way, the supplier has to be enrolled in Medicare, and assignment-accepting suppliers will cost you less.
If you’re still using a Precision Xtra, the most practical next step is a conversation with your doctor about moving to a currently manufactured meter on your plan’s preferred list. If blood ketone monitoring is what you need, ask specifically about the FreeStyle Precision Neo, or check whether your Medicare Advantage plan covers ketone strips as a benefit or through an over-the-counter allowance. Medicare’s main line (1-800-MEDICARE) can confirm what your specific plan covers.