[airtas]

I am trying to find insurance coverage but is it just me or do you have to pay $20 co pays for all the diabetic supplies?

lantus - $20
pen needles $20
test strips - $20

etc, etc

so i would have to pay my monthly fees plus copays? or most diabetic drugs 0 copay??

[princesslinda]

I'm T2 and have to pay $40/month for strips. Maybe a 90-day mail order would be cheaper.

[airtas]

im a type one......but you really need to pay co pays for all the medications?

that would cost me at least $300 a month just on medications

[princesslinda]

Yes, I have copays for all meds. I haven't seen any that didn't have SOME amount of copay for both office visits and medications. Mine is $5 for generic meds and $40 for brand name. I can get a 90 day supply for $80 for brand names if I do mail order.

If you don't have ins. and you have to pay for all this, can you count it off your income tax?

[mzizgayle]

Most insurances have a co-pay for all drugs. Mine is 5.00 generic, 25.00 or 50.00...luckily most of my husband's meds (12 different) and mine are generic except of course the test strips. These I get 3 months for the price of 2 when I use their mail order.

Yes, you can deduct any medical expenses such as co-pays, payments on accounts from taxes. If you pay outright for no insurance, do have your doctor write up a prescription order for the test strips, even tho you can buy outright. Medical deductions are for prescribed meds/doctor visits...You can also deduct mileage to and from a doctors appointment, (and I think to and from to pick up meds, but do verify that since I got 2 different answers)you can find the actual amount allowed per mile from irs. The only other thing is your med expenses must be 7% of your gross income.

[airtas]

Originally Posted by mzizgayle

Most insurances have a co-pay for all drugs. Mine is 5.00 generic, 25.00 or 50.00...luckily most of my husband's meds (12 different) and mine are generic except of course the test strips. These I get 3 months for the price of 2 when I use their mail order.

Yes, you can deduct any medical expenses such as co-pays, payments on accounts from taxes. If you pay outright for no insurance, do have your doctor write up a prescription order for the test strips, even tho you can buy outright. Medical deductions are for prescribed meds/doctor visits...You can also deduct mileage to and from a doctors appointment, (and I think to and from to pick up meds, but do verify that since I got 2 different answers)you can find the actual amount allowed per mile from irs. The only other thing is your med expenses must be 7% of your gross income.

can you get generic insulin??

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by airtas

can you get generic insulin??

That's an easy question. NOPE

The FDA has prohibited a generic insulin from ever being made. Supposedly there are certain standards generics have to meet and there is one standard that is a roadblock for the idea of a generic insulin even being created. However, the good news is that the federal government sees this and thinks they should lift that roadblack and then a huge savings will exist for the health care industry that may help to aleviate some of the financial crisis we are seeing for medical needs.

Bridling at Insulin’s Cost, States Push for Generics - New York Times

[mzizgayle]

I wish you could get generic strips, but the only generic diabetes drug I know is the metformin.

[sweetcheeks]

well my normal copays for all drugs are

8 for generic, 30 for name brand, and 50 for experimential drugs

mail order 90 days supply is 20 generic, 75 for name brand and 125 for experimental

my husbands company has a program for diabetics and people with high blood pressure, that you can sign up on for those meds and supplies so that all supplies are 8 per drug/strips/needles/insulin for those two situations

since being on that program and switching to 90 day mail order

i pay 20 bucks for my strips, 20 bucks for my metformin, and 20 for my blood pressure pills


before the program i was paying 8, 30 and a 50 per month

Old way = $88 Per month or $220 (90)
New way = $24 Per month or $60 (90)

So i really cant complain


but 20 dollar co pay is actually quite resonable considering if you pay for that stuff out of pocket you would be paying hundreds of dollars per month

If you buy insurance out of your pocket its outrageos in the costs, but if you get it through your employer or spouse's employer (if you have one) then you get the insurace at a cheaper rate, plus on top of that, you just pay the copay for your meds and your doctor visits

so yes most insurance companies you have to pay copays