Abbot to Discontinue Freestyle Flash

[notme]

I called Abbot today to try and get a new free meter as mine has been giving me Err messages lately. I was told by Abbot that the Freestyle has been discontinued in favor of the Freestlye Lite and the Freestyle Freedom. I got one of the few Flashes they have left in stock and ordered one of the new Freestyle Lites. The thing that is maddening is I have a HUGE supply of strips left for the Flash and the new meters do not use the same strips.

I am going to see my endo on May 15th and I will get an Rx for strips for a new meter. I need to decide what I am going to use now.

I have a huge supply of Flash test strips. Could anyone use some? I will be happy to send a supply to anyone that needs them as I will never use them all.

[Keezheekoni]

Great, so does that mean they're going to stop making the Flash strips? They can't, can they, since they are used for different meters...as well as the Cozmonitor! Grrr, stupid companies!

[morrisma]

Nancy,
I love my flash. So sad. I just ordered a lite but I too have a large supply of flash strips. I have a couple meters so I suppose there will be no problem using them up. :D
If no one else wants them, I'd gladly take your extra strips but as I have insurance and don't NEED them, see if anyone else in more dire circumstances asks first.
Mike

[Glucoweb]

They can't, can they, since they are used for different meters...as well as the Cozmonitor!

They got to have some plan in place, because so many people use the CozMonitor with their Cozmo pump. Hmmmm... It will be interested to see what strategy they have in place for those people.

[palefacegirl03]

They will change out the flash strips for light strips, that is what they did for my sister, she called and spoke with them Monday and they are sending her a new lite and 200 strips and she is supposed the send the flash and the strips for it back.
I also read about this on the Children with Diabetes forum and they have been doing the same thing for the parents that have called from there too.


The have a new Freedom Lite that uses the same strips that the lite does.

[notme]

From what I understood (correct me if you find out differently), you will start having a hard time getting stips from your pharmacies soon. Many pharmacies aren't carrying them anymore.

I love my Flash and am very disappointed.

[Mich]

I just wrote a letter to Smith Medical suggesting they change the Cozmonitor so that it does not require coding. Maybe they will trade our Cozmonitors in. I can't imagine not being able to get strips for it if they don't.

[Funnygrl]

I think they're going to stop making the meters, but continue making the strips for at least awhile.

[cindel]

If you still have the freestyle flash strips I'd be more than happy to take them off your hands. My insurance refuses to pay for any strips of any kind. It's so frustrating. I thought insurance was supposed to be a good thing.

cindel

[Funnygrl]

What state are you in? Most states have mandates that insurance has to cover strips.

[Glucoweb]

Most states do, but I believe they can also choose which meters and test strips they cover.

[Funnygrl]

Most states do, but I believe they can also choose which meters and test strips they cover.
Right, they can, but she said her insurance covers no strips.

[Glucoweb]

Sorry I misread. My mistake.

[RobiJo]

I have a huge supply of Flash test strips. Could anyone use some? I will be happy to send a supply to anyone that needs them as I will never use them all.

Notme I'd be happy to send you a Flash--I have a few of them, if you'd like to use up your strips. PM me.

[cindel]

Funnygrl,
I'm in Indiana. Since this prescription in for more than 3 months, I have to send it in the mail order pharmacy. When my doctor gave me the meter, I called to find out about the strips. They aren't covered. I asked about every meter that I could think of and nothing was covered. I asked if they could tell me what meter and strips were covered and they told me no. That I would have to tell them the names of ones I wanted to them to check. It's just soooo frustrating!!!!

cindel

[Funnygrl]

" Coverage for treatments, supplies, and equipment
Sec. 4. A health insurance plan issued by an insurer must provide coverage to the insured for the medically necessary treatment for diabetes, including medically necessary supplies and equipment as ordered in writing by a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5 or a podiatrist licensed under IC 25-29, subject to the general provisions of the health insurance plan.
As added by P.L.190-1997, SEC.1."

Indiana Code 27-8-14.5 (http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title27/ar8/ch14.5.html)

[cindel]

Great! Thanks. Since they won't "tell" me which is covered. I'll have to make a list of all of the meters, call them, and ask them individually which is covered. I'm new at all this so I only know a couple meter names. I'm sure with some research here on the board and internet, I can get a good list.

Thanks again.
cindel

[palefacegirl03]

Cindel,

Here is a link that list alot of meters and companies. This might help you some
children with DIABETES - Blood Glucose Meters (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0i_000.htm)

[Funnygrl]

Cindel, ask if OneTouch or Accu-Chek strips are covered. They seem to be preferred on most insurance plans.

[oldgram1]

I got a couple of the Quick Flashes on Ebay at very reasonable prices if you want to be able to use up your strips.

[typeone]

Great, so does that mean they're going to stop making the Flash strips? They can't, can they, since they are used for different meters...as well as the Cozmonitor! Grrr, stupid companies!

And don't forget the Navigator CGMS and the Omnipod pump, both of which use Freestyle strips. :mad:

[karen]

**** Nancy I have a ton of strips for the flash, this sucks, one more thing for me to have anxiety about and my meter is freaking old

[palefacegirl03]

**** Nancy I have a ton of strips for the flash, this sucks, one more thing for me to have anxiety about and my meter is freaking old


Karen, if you need a flash as a backup, let me know. I have one that I only used the 10 sample strips with , so it has only been used a few times and I can send it to you if you need it.

Just pm if you would like it.

[notme]

Call Abbott karen. She said they still have a few in their stock. This is what I did. I told them my meter errors about once a day. Tell them that you have a couple of months worth of strips, but you don't trust the meter. They will send you a new one. She said there were a few left in their warehouse. They want you to send back the old one, but at least you will have a meter that you trust. Good luck!

[Keezheekoni]

I have a coupon for a free Flash with the purchase of the strips... All of the pharmacies around here still have them and I asked my pharmacist yesterday if she'd heard the news, she hadn't but said she'd call and find out what they say to her.

[alisa]

I get that some of you are frustrated because you have strips left, but as long as you have one flash you can use them up. I'm sure between my daughter and myself we have a few old flashes around if somebody needs them.
In case you dont know, the Lite is actually new and improved. The no coding is convenient. The numbers on the screen are larger and easier to read. The memory scrolls backwards and forwards. The lights are brighter. The meter is just as small as the flash and it is blue instead of gray so its prettier.:T
I like to have several of the same meter and there are a few ways to get free ones. Abbott has had some offers online and on dlife for free ones, or you can call them. Kelly got one free from her endo when she asked for a prescription. We have a CVS with a "diabetes care center" in it, they told me they had coupons for free lite meters if you get a dr's prescription. If you watch the drug store sales one will usually have the lite free after rebate, you might have to pay $20-$30 but you get it back with the rebate.
So use up those flash strips and get your Lite, your will like it :)
alisa

[notme]

Nobody needs to worry about having strips left over. Call Abbott and tell them you need a Freedom if your Flash has gone kaput. The Freedom uses the Flash strips.

[pdxdennisj]

My Flash gives me an error 4 message when one of the batteries goes low.

[lgvincent]

I like the Flash meter. In my opinion, it's one of the most accurate I've used. I wish they wouldn't do this.

[karen]

Ahhhh thanks Nancy, I went to buy batteries for a backup flash that I have that I have never used, but it gave me error messages, then where I stopped to get batteries only had one left. Diabetes is just all consuming to me these days.

[TexChem]

I have a FreeStyle Lite and nothing else to compare it to. I was diagnosed less than 3 weeks ago. I like the meter though. No coding. Works on a very small amount of blood. The lancets are fairly painless. Stores up to 400 readings in memory and will dispay a 7-day, 14-day and (I think) 28-day average. Diplays individual readings with time and date. Allows you to use calibration solutions without it being incorporated into your actual GB readings. Results in 3 to 5 seconds. I've already dropped the thing on the floor and it survived - not looking to repeat that test.

My co-pay on the meter was $40 but I got a $40 rebate offer inside the box. The strips and lancettes are entirely covered by insurance - 100 of each every 30 days. I guess this is fairly normal?

[notme]

I got my Freestyle Lite today. It is almost identical to the Flash. The color is dark blue and it doesn't need coding. Other than that.....seems about the same.

[Funnygrl]

The lite also takes 1 battery vs. 2 for the flash, has a larger memory, more averages, and you can scroll back and forward in the memory.

[notme]

Has an alarm too.... But then so does my pump, so I won't use that function.

[Funnygrl]

The flash had alarms too. I could never heard them though- even softer than my pump. I set my cell phone usually.

[RandallFlagg]

I have a Freestyle and a Freestyle Flash. I don't have insurance and pay for my strips out of pocket. I'm new to the board and in So. Cal. If you still have strips to spare, I'd gladly take some.

[did2007]

I like the Freestyle Lite monitor. No coding, fast, and a small sample. It is a little slower than the Freestyle Freedom that I got from Patient Assistance last year, but I seriously hate the coding. Anyways, I liked the One Touch until I tested the Freestyle...and the Freestyle's are more accurate than the One Touch. When I reapplied to the program, I said that the model I had was the Freestyle Lite. I hope if they renew it for me this year, I get the Freestyle Lite strips this year. If they don't, I am enrolled in the Freestyle Promise program and I can get the Freestyle Lite strips at half price. I still have a box of 100 strips with the Freestyle Freedom I have and a full bottle of 50 strips from when I went through the trial in April for the Freestyle Lite. (They sent me a monitor, 2 boxes of 50 strips, and the card that I enrolled in.)

What I wonder upon is the $20 coupons for the boxes of 100. I can get 100 strips for $50, so I wonder if I can use the coupon since the coupon allows a co-pay of $30 or more. I can possibly wait for a Target ad or a Winn Dixie ad that offers $$$ gift card (not usable on the rx) to match at CVS or Rite Aid for new or transferred rx's.

[Lloyd]

Abbott also uses the flash strips with codes on the newly released Navigator CGM.

They WILL continue to make the strips.


-Lloyd