Changed insurance? Here's what to do with your leftover diabetic supplies

Last reviewed: August 2026

Every fall, millions of Americans go through open enrollment — and for Charlotte-area residents managing diabetes, it often means switching insurance plans, changing formularies, and ending up with the wrong supplies.

If your new insurance plan covers a different CGM, requires a different test strip brand, or changed what insulin pump supplies it reimburses, you may have boxes of perfectly good, sealed supplies you'll never use. Here's what to do.

Why diabetics end up with leftover supplies every year

North Carolina's open enrollment windows create a predictable surge of unused supplies each January:

• ACA Marketplace plans — Open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15. New coverage starts January 1 (or February 1 for late enrollees). Formularies change every year — a plan that covered Dexcom G7 in 2025 may prefer FreeStyle Libre in 2026.
• NC State Health Plan — State employees and teachers enroll each fall (typically October). The plan transitions administrators and coverage details regularly.
• Medicare open enrollment — Runs October 15 to December 7 each year. Over 2.2 million North Carolinians are on Medicare, and changing Part D or Medicare Advantage plans frequently changes which CGM or test strip brands are covered at the lowest tier.
• Employer plans — Most Charlotte employers run annual open enrollment in October or November. A job change, promotion, or new employer can also trigger a mid-year plan switch.

What typically gets left over after an insurance switch

• CGM sensors for a system your new plan no longer covers at a preferred tier (e.g., Dexcom G6 or G7 sensors when your plan changes CGM coverage, or FreeStyle Libre 2 when you're switching to Libre 3)
• Test strips for a meter your new formulary replaced
• OmniPod pods if your new plan covers a tubed pump instead
• Tandem or Medtronic infusion sets from a previous pump system — all of these qualify under our Charlotte diabetic supply buyback program
• Bulk lancets ordered through auto-ship programs before the switch

Can you sell supplies purchased through insurance?

Yes — with one important exception. Supplies purchased through private insurance (employer plans, ACA Marketplace, private pay) are your personal property and can be sold freely. The only restriction is supplies labeled "For Medicare/Medicaid Use Only" or "Not for Resale" — federal law prohibits reselling those, and no legitimate buyer will accept them.

If your supplies came through a private plan, you're clear to sell regardless of whether insurance paid for them.

How much time is left decides the value

Whatever your plan switch leaves behind, expiration dating matters more than anything else:

• Supplies with 12+ months to expiration get our best offers — see our Charlotte buyback page for full pricing guidance
• Supplies with 6–12 months still command solid value
• Supplies with 3–6 months are worth submitting — we'll tell you quickly
• Supplies with under 3 months typically cannot be accepted by reputable buyers

Selling them: Charlotte pickup or nationwide mail-in

We make the process simple for Charlotte-area residents:

1. Text or submit a description of what you have — brand, item type, quantity, and expiration dates.
2. We respond the same day with a firm cash offer.
3. Meet us for local pickup anywhere in the Charlotte metro. You're paid immediately via Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or cash.