Newbie with a question

[dankap]

Hey there....

so i just realised that i get 100 test strips per month covered by my insurance company...thats the equivelant of testing 3 times a day...Since this is my first month i seem to have run out early...

Is the 100 per month normal or do i have a sucky insurance plan?

I have United Healthcare which has been good to me in the past.

thoughts?

[Funnygrl]

It depends on what your doctor wrote the prescription for. 100 strips a month is pretty typical for a type 2 not on insulin. You can usually refill after 25 days, for 4 tests a day. However, since you're new, it may be appropriate to get extra strips the first month or two so you can experiment some.

[princesslinda]

My insurance allows 100 strips every 25 days as a maximum for T2 not on insulin.

You can get the more generic Reli-On meter at Walmart and buy their strips for a good price...I have this one as back-up if I run out of strips.

[kgm0612]

Dan........

Call your doctor and ask him to write your script for 200 a month, rather than 100. I'm a type 1 pumper with United Healthcare. I get 300 test strips a month and at one point was getting 400.

Karen

[superemt]

My insurance only covers 90 strips every THREE months for type 2! That's 50 a month! I have a Wal-Mart Reli-on for a backup. I can buy a box of 100 strips for $42.98, which I use as backup. It's accurate as my Accu-Chek Aviva, usually within 2 points. In my case, it doesn't matter what the MD writes, 50 a month is it! I agree, some insurance plans suck but hey, I'm only an EMT with county insurance!:eek:

[Funnygrl]

90 every 3 months would be 30 a month, no? That stinks. Unless you're on Medicaid or Medicare, you should be able to get a letter of medical necessity.

[Tattoo azz]

I really feel for you guys who have to rely on your insurance, as i live in UK we get most of our healthcare supplies free. At least you lot get a lot more choice than us, but if you haven't got insurance it can be quite difficult so i'm told.

[notme]

I also have United Healthcare and I get 300 per month. I am sure some of that is based on being type one vs. type two and they probably have some sort of rule. Are you on insulin? If your doctor writes you a letter of medical necessity for more strips, the insurance company is obliged to send you the proper amount. Call your doctor.

[Phonelady61]

My insurance only covers 90 strips every THREE months for type 2! That's 50 a month! I have a Wal-Mart Reli-on for a backup. I can buy a box of 100 strips for $42.98, which I use as backup. It's accurate as my Accu-Chek Aviva, usually within 2 points. In my case, it doesn't matter what the MD writes, 50 a month is it! I agree, some insurance plans suck but hey, I'm only an EMT with county insurance!:eek:
I know someone who works 70 hrs a wk and cannot afford health insurance gotta love america !!

[Keezheekoni]

I have UHC also. Our prescription plan allows 6.6 strips per day or 200 strips per 30 day period. My doctor sent a fax to the Medco pre-authorization people saying that I'm a T1 and test up to 16 times per day. They went ahead and ended up covering 400 strips per month for my single copay of $10. 400 strips ends up being 13.3 tests per day, so I'm cool with that... It's not like I'm going to run out of strips anytime soon since I've got a stockpile of about 2500 strips for a different meter!

The point of this is to have your doctor call Medco's (UHC's prescription service) pre-auth line and get your coverage increased!

[dankap]

great advice, thanks....