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View Full Version : Im diabetic and have no health insurance


Bigmike
05-10-2008, 09:01 PM
Hello my name is Mike i'm 45 yrs old have 2 kids raising by my self and no health coverage for myself Were can i get help for getting test strips?

notme
05-10-2008, 09:18 PM
Walmart has the Reli-On blood glucose meter for only $8.88 right now. The strips are very cheap at about $21.99 for fifty.

jacobsam622
05-11-2008, 08:41 PM
Hello my name is Mike i'm 45 yrs old have 2 kids raising by my self and no health coverage for myself Were can i get help for getting test strips? contact the makers of different meters some them will give you some for free if you tell them your story. As the poster above said the Reli-on Is one of the cheapest meters out their at least it is in the USA. The strip cost around twenty bucks for fifty. I bought one so I could test more then my doctor prescribed.

Scrabblechick
05-11-2008, 08:45 PM
Amen to the above, and if you can get a doctor to prescribe Metformin, it is about $10 a month, for 3 times a day.

Good luck and good for you in wanting to take care of your health!

pegasus
05-11-2008, 08:52 PM
I'm assuming you're in the US--what state are you in? Depending on your income, you may qualify for medicaid or disability or, in NY, family health plus (a few other states have similar programs) that offer extremely low-cost insurance.

Also, hopefully you have a doc--they get lots of samples, and he/she should be willing to give you some, including meters.

Good luck!

Kubilee
05-11-2008, 11:01 PM
I get Metformin at Wal Mart and only costs me $4 a month, I was prescribed 850mg twice a day but since my stomach can't take it, I take 3 1/2 pills a day, so makes it go further..... every little bit helps. If you tell your Dr that's all you can afford and your Diabetes is in check enough, I am sure they will put you on this without many questions, mine did. I told him to let me do that or I was screwed pretty much.

I have called many places trying to get help with strips and I have told them I have 4 kids to feed, on a budget, one income and all of it and I pretty well get met with "oh well, not my problem" kind of an attitude, I have yet to find one that goes above and beyond... :(

I also get my test strips at americanwholesalediabetes.com for a LOT less than I was paying at Wal Mart or anywhere else, about $20 cheaper per 50 than they are in Wal Mart.

I raise 4 kids on a tight budget and have no insurance on one income, so I am the master of making ends meet. ;) BUT I have yet to find any sort of REAL "deals" on strips.

BUT, I don't test but once a day or so, and yes, I do keep very very tight control, on my budget with no insurance to help if anytihing happens, I HAVE to..... if I eat something new or different, I'll test more for that, but as long as I don't stray too awfully far from the norm, I can get by with not testing 10-15 times a day. Some frown on this, I guess, but some don't live on my fixed budget either... YIKES!! If you have insurance or other such medical help, then 10-15 times a day is fine..... but not on a fixed income. I don't condone this method, it just works for me... because it's either live on the edge and NOT control it and land into more trouble than I can get out of, or keep insanely tight control where the risks are very minimal at best... so my budget forces me to keep it tight.... in case anyone wonders where my motivation lies. lol

My kids are all on medicaid, but my husband and I can't get on it because we're adults.... blah!!

archimeech
05-12-2008, 04:13 AM
I'd strongly suggest you find another job. Taking care of 2 kids is hard enough, but with diabetes as well, you need insurance. there are many companies and all sorts of fields that have good health plans. It doesn't have to be a fortune 500 career path, I've got friends at both Starbuck's and Barnes and Noble, you'd be surprised at the quality of benefits these companies offer.