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Blood Glucose Monitor / CGM Devices

Blood glucose monitors and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are tools used to measure and track blood sugar levels for individuals with diabetes. A standard blood glucose monitor requires a small finger-prick blood sample to provide a reading, while a CGM system uses a small sensor worn on the body to record glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night.

How It Works

Glucose monitoring generally falls into three approaches: capillary blood glucose monitoring (CBG), real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM), and intermittently-scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM). An rtCGM system uses a small disposable sensor with a filament inserted under the skin that tests glucose levels every few minutes and sends the information to an attached transmitter, and generally on to a separate receiving device such as a smartphone or external reader. Most health insurance plans classify these monitors and CGM devices as eligible medical equipment or diabetic supplies, with coverage that usually reimburses the purchase or replacement of monitors and sensors plus accessories such as test strips, lancets, and transmitters. That benefit may be capped by an annual dollar limit, a reasonable and customary price limit, or a replacement frequency such as one monitor every five years. Coverage is included in many private insurance plans in Canada, though public coverage is inconsistent across the country, and most private insurers reimburse the Dexcom G7 CGM as a pay-direct pharmacy benefit for Canadians on insulin, regardless of diabetes type.

Example:

Suppose a Canadian living with type 1 diabetes has an employer health plan that treats CGM sensors as a pay-direct pharmacy benefit. After their doctor provides a prescription, they pick up replacement sensors at the pharmacy and the insurer reimburses a portion of the eligible cost directly, subject to the plan's coinsurance and any annual maximum. If their province also runs a public glucose monitoring program, that program acts as the payer of last resort and covers part of whatever the private plan does not, so the person should tell the pharmacy about both forms of coverage to coordinate benefits.

What to Watch For:

Some insurers require a physician's prescription or pre-authorization before they will reimburse CGM devices, and plans may apply separate sub-maximums to replacement sensors and transmitters rather than grouping everything under one limit. Because coverage is included in many private plans but public coverage is inconsistent across the country, it helps to confirm what your plan allows. Where a public glucose monitoring program coordinates with private insurance, the public program is typically the payer of last resort, meaning private insurance pays first and any unpaid portion is then sent to the public program.

Related Terms

Benefit

A benefit is the specific financial protection or coverage provided under an insurance policy. In health and dental insurance, a benefit refers to the payment or reimbursement made by the insurer for eligible medical, dental, or wellness expenses. Each benefit category - such as prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, or physiotherapy - outlines what is covered, how much the insurer will pay, and any applicable limits or conditions.

Benefit Period (Vision)

The benefit period for vision refers to how often your vision care coverage renews and allows you to make new claims for eligible expenses such as glasses, contact lenses, or eye exams. Unlike other benefits that reset each year, vision care often renews every two benefit periods, which can mean every 24 consecutive months rather than every calendar year.

Orthopedic Shoes / Custom Orthotics

Orthopedic shoes and custom orthotics are specialized footwear and inserts designed to support proper alignment, relieve pain, and improve mobility for individuals with foot, leg, or posture-related conditions. These items are often prescribed to correct biomechanical issues, provide additional cushioning, or accommodate deformities caused by medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or plantar fasciitis.

Private Duty Nurse

A private duty nurse is a licensed nurse hired to provide one-on-one medical care to a patient in their home or hospital outside of standard public healthcare services. This specialized care is typically required for individuals recovering from surgery, managing chronic illness, or living with a serious medical condition that requires close monitoring or skilled nursing services. The nurse may perform duties such as administering medication, wound care, post-operative support, or palliative care under a physician’s supervision.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is a type of coverage that helps pay for medical and healthcare expenses not fully covered by Canada’s public health system. It protects individuals and families from the high cost of prescription drugs, medical services, and treatments that fall outside provincial or territorial government health plans. Health insurance can be obtained through an employer’s group benefits plan or purchased individually from a private insurer.

Relevant Plans

Plans that relate to Blood Glucose Monitor / CGM Devices

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Basic

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Basic

Can apply at anytime, at any age.

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Enhanced

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Enhanced

Can apply at anytime, at any age.

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Enhanced+

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Enhanced+

Can apply at anytime, at any age.

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Premium

Alberta Blue Cross - Blue Assured - Premium

Can apply at anytime, at any age.

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