Apparently I am not the only one having problems with GreatWest Health Insurance. I just found a mother who is having a VERY similar problem with GW, getting coverage for an insulin pump for her son. Here is her story, copied off of a diabetes forum:

“Great West Nightmare”

Hello all ….

Am brand new to the site..and am looking for some guidance. My son was diagnosed back in October 06, at the time we were on KY State health insurance, and a few months down the road were looking forward to getting on the pump. Just as we were getting everything in order my hubby was hired to a new company and a new insurance company…Great West. All the information from the State Insurance was forwarded onto Edge Park and Great West..(mind you this took place in July/Aug 07 and the State Insurance was prepared to get the pump.) At that point everything kinda went haywire…We were denied the pump from Great West because his c-peptide level was normal.

At this point after many calls to our primary care provider, who I have great faith in..(if not his office staff -who refuses to return my calls), am at a loss as to what to do now..Do we need to retest his c-peptides..??..

I know the insurance company is playing the “game” but I am just sick of it. The medtronic folks I had originally talked to have all but vanished after assuring me they would help out in any/all appeals…

Do I need to camp out at my doctors office until he gets on the phone and makes the next level of appeals? My son in the meantime is going thru puberty…so his monitor levels look like a roller coaster ride…from 40’s to 300’s etc..etc.. depending on the day/time and activity level.
He is athletic and wants to play baseball and football again..(he played last year just after he was diagnosed.) but all these spikes are wearing on me. Is it me or is this is just plain nuts.

I kid you not! I have GreatWest Healthcare, I am trying to get a Minimed pump through Edgepark Medical Supply, I have a normal c-peptide test, and I TOO am being DENIED coverage from GreatWest! Our stories are too coincidental. I have been in touch with this wonderful mother, and we are going to share our tips and tricks so maybe both myself and her son can get GreatWest to cover our much needed insulin pumps.